First Class

33 weeks - getting closer.

Last night we attended our first of six birthing classes. Our instructor was highly recommended by our doctor and she was awesome. To clarify, these aren't the free classes provided by the hospital. We chose to do this series, pay for this series, since as with everything else in this pregnancy, we only want the best...and we hear she's the best, from our doctor who we know is the best.

In our first class, we had an anatomy overview, which was helpful so we could better understand all the parts involved with helping baby ultimately arrive safely. She even had a knitted uterus, complete with a nerf ball inside to help show a baby's head crowning. She had us mold play-doh into the different stages of a cervix effacing and dilating. Creative learning, I'm all for it!

Then we moved on to pregnancy exercises with positions very similar to prenatal yoga. The competitor in me kicked in and so I had to attempt all the positions just to show the other moms-to-be that even a tiny gal with a big belly like me could do em just as good as they could. The hubby got a bit worried. But me and baby pulled it off just fine. Whether or not I'll continue to do them at home is another story.

Our next lesson was in relaxation techniques. We had mock contraction sessions with our coaches, and so the hubby would coach me through some breathing techniques. We also had a quick meditation session where all us moms-to-be laid down on our yoga mats and pillows and just relaxed while our hubbies/coaches watched on. Needless to say the real deal, won't be as relaxing, this I know. But our instructor advises us to try our best to find our happy place and just breathe. Ride the contraction out. Though I've mastered the mock contraction drills, we shall see how good I'll do during the real thing=) The hubby doubts I'll remember my breathing.

Then we ended with some homework assignments. Seriously.

All in all, the hubby and I enjoyed our first class first class, and are looking forward to the next one.