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3rd Trimester
Birth Class vent and a ? (copied from August board)
So I worked really hard making up hours at work, and DH got off clinicals (not easy) in order to attend our all-day birthing class on the 11th. I called and enrolled the first week of May. I was a little nervous that I wouldn't have my class until I was 35 weeks, but I figured it was still ok. Well, we get to the location of the class and they told me they got the date wrong. It's actually on the 23rd. I pretty much started crying right there. #1: I worked 5 9-hour days and a half day Saturday at no overtime to make up for the time I would miss, #2: DH has to make up each clinic he misses 2 for 1, so that's two clinics he'll have to take, #3: I'll be two days shy of 37 weeks on the day of the class, and #4: the 23rd is our 5th anniversary. I am beyond mad, because it turns out there was a birth class last month, but the lady who enrolled me was looking at the CPR calendar, plus she obviously figured out her mistake later because I'm enrolled in the birthing class on the 23rd. Anyway, DH and I ended up going to Tulsa to celebrate our anniversary on the 11th since we had all day off. It was fun, just a little unexpected.
But then yesterday my doctor said that if I go into labor any time after the 18th, he'll just let it happen. My question is this: do any of you know a good online video that DH and I can watch in case I go into labor before the birth class? I will have my mom there, and I've read up on a lot of stuff, so I'm fairly confident, but DH knows next to NOTHING about the birthing process and he will have no clue what to do. I am going to attempt to go natural, so videos on pain management would help and anything on birth partnering. I could search myself, but I figure a lot of you ladies would know of some good videos. TIA!
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Re: Birth Class vent and a ? (copied from August board)
I am sorry I don't have a video to recommend - I just wanted to say that something similiar happened to me too and everything turned out okay. They cancelled my class that I had scheduled when it was convenient for us and rescheduled it to a week before my due date. It was a Saturday and I ended up having my son two days later on that next Monday! Let's just say I remembered everything I learned and knew my way around L&D since I had just got the tour... As far as the actual birth process, I found the nurses very helpful - I asked lots of questions and they were always happy to explain things and what would be happening next. Hopefully you make it to the class and it all works out. I remember after our all day class we went out to dinner - so maybe you can still celebrate your anniversary that night.
Can you Amazon Prime a book to you or stop by a bookstore? If so, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth or a Hypnobabies book or the Bradley Method book. I think you definitely need to prepare as much as possible if you plan on going natural. It's a shame you didn't get to any birth classes because I think those were pretty helpful, esp for those who wanted to go natural. You can do it, though!
If you are looking for something geared more towards partner-involvement, get the Bradley Method book. It's all about husband-coached childbirth.
Aww, thanks.
That makes me feel better.
Thanks!! I'll check out the Bradley Method book for sure!
I think the biggest thing H got out of our childbirth class was "Do what makes your wife comfortable and don't take anything personally". She stressed how quickly labor changes what makes you comfortable, so one minute you may want him to rub your back and the next any touch drives you crazy. Make sure to communicate with him what you need (rub my back, hold my hand, leave me alone, etc.) and he needs to be open to following the direction.
Another tidbit I thought would be helpful (but haven't tried yet) was to pee every hour and change positions every 20 minutes or so. Don't get discouraged or scared if a position that was giving you relief one contraction suddenly stops working, just change position.
I also liked the idea of thinking (or trying to think) of each contraction as a separate event instead of a series of events. Think to yourself "30 more seconds and I can rest" or "I just need to get through this contraction" instead of thinking "holy hell I've got 6 more hours of this?"
House / Baby blog
yes! this is so true. my doula wouuld force me to go to the bathroom every hour, even if i didn't have to or didn't want to. same w/ changing positions.
Hahaha! That made me lol... Actually, my husband is very "wife-focused" and just wants everything to be perfect. He is also going to graduate as an eye doctor this next May, so he's very medically minded. However, that tends to make him want to know EVERYTHING that's going on and if there is anything he can do to fix it. I think the classes would just help him to understand the process and that there are certain things he can do to help and other things that will NOT help, even if they are done with good intentions.
I have no experience but came across this online birthing class today... someone from another board posted it and the reviews look pretty good. Again, I have no experience but wanted to throw it out there for you: https://www.laughandlearn.com/
MH got a copy of these videos when the hospital class made him nervous that he didn't know enough. He thought they were great, and my doctor highly recommended all of them (childbirth, infant care, breastfeeding).
My MW recommended "The Birth Partner". It is good for both Mom and Dad and goes through the stages of labor and natural coping techniques. Hopefully you make it to the class. GL!
My Dr. actually told me that a lot of the classes are unnecessary, so I haven't taken one yet either. BUT! I did find this great article for Dad's. I really liked it and shared it with my husband. Seems like a quick overview of what to expect for labor/delivery:
https://www.babycenter.com/0_a-childbirth-cheat-sheet-for-dads-to-be_8244.bc
I can't really help you with the video or anything, but the doctors/nurses will tell your DH what to do if he asks. We went to classes and it was good because suddenly everything I had been telling him for months was true because someone else was (lol) but when we got to the hospital he was like, "What do I do?" (In class they just said generic stuff like, "Comfort her. Don't take anything she says angrily too personally. Do whatever she wants." blah blah blah) so it was good to ask at the hospital. Our OB specifically told him, "Hold her leg, like this, hold her hand, hold the oxygen mask on her face." (I kept taking it off because it was ticking me off lol) etc.
So tell him to ask!
I just finished the Laugh and Learn one (https://www.amazon.com/Laugh-Learn-About-Childbirth-Bayles/dp/B000PLXFSS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310746317&sr=8-1)
Her sense of humor is a little crazy but it is VERY informative. I got it because I hated my birthing classes - thought they were horrible and did not feel prepared. I should have skipped the classes and just watched this video.