Birthing Class

Last night we attended our first birthing class. This class will meet every Wednesday in the month of May for three hours a class. I was really excited for this class to start so that we could meet some other pregnant couples and to learn more about the whole labor and delivery process.

First, let me discuss the demographics of the class. Dave was concerned we would be in a new age, hippie class and have to hug the other couples and talk about our feelings. This was not yoga but remember we are still in Boulder. The majority of the couples were quite a bit older than us and about a third of the class has a midwife rather than a doctor.

That being said, our teacher is new to Boulder from Washington D.C. and she mainly stuck to her posters and powerpoint presentation for the first half of the class. She sufficiently scared me with her life size pictures of the womb and her real pelvic bone prop complete with a baby doll banging into the bones to show the causes of back labor. How do women do this again? I think I asked about 80% of the questions during class.

We did some nice breathing exercises for the early stages of labor and ended the class with the lights off, listening to music and doing a total body relaxation practice. A little new agey maybe, but trying to breath and relax while bringing a child into the world can't be too bad a thing right?

1 comment:

Kristi said...

Carlita, bring on the new age part! From my experience, breathing and relaxing are the only things that really matter on the big day. They are the only things that you have control over---the rest just happens as it comes, totally out of your control. Don't get too freaked out by the images that the class puts in your mind. You won't remember anything about two days later, but the breathing and relaxing really do help!!! You are going to do great. I love you, Kristi