Class Number Three/Two
We wagged class last week.
It's ok our excuse was legit. We were one and a half hours drive away and to drive three hours for a two hour class didn't seem like the best idea.
Last weeks session was on breastfeeding which is something I have about five thousand books on but seems to be something that no matter how many books you read or classes you attend is one of the trickiest things a woman will ever do. This fills me with confidence.
Anyway, The third class was all about the first stage of labour. Pre labour, active labour and transition. The word transition has been etched into my mind as this fearsome and wild time of life I am both looking forward to with curiosity and fearing with every inch of my being. Yes, I'm being melodramatic.
We learnt some coping mechanisms and positions to try out during the first stage to try and encourage the little fella down to the right spot and to help relieve the tension. We watched this amazing video where a rather rotund (in more than just her belly) pregnant lady did some swaying exercises that looked a bit like a slowed down version of a Beyonce film clip. It got better when her husband joined in on the act with his hands, back and knees helping that booty to rock. The class was in stitches.
We talked about what to do in prelabour and one of the things to do was to prepare. Someone suggested we pack our bag. The midwife stopped... she asked who in the room had packed their bag yet.
Nobody raised their hand.
She breathed out a long sigh. "Promise me," she said "That you will all go home and pack your bags this week."
There was a collective gasp around the room. This week? We thought. But surely our babies wont be born for aaaages.... oh nine weeks or less. The could come at any time from now?
The full impact of the impending little one hit me in an instant. She could come tomorrow. Or next week! Only 5% of babies are born on their due dates.
But what to pack? We were given a list. Here is what I'll be packing. (May be slightly tongue in cheek)
- My entire underwear drawer. Apparently childbirth can get messy. (May need to pack this later on.)
- wet weather moo moo. Something to wear in case I decide to go with a water birth.
- toiletries. toothbrush, toothpaste, deoderant, shampoo, massage oil, lady things.
- music. ipod and speaker or guitar and violin? A suggested coping mechanism was to sing. Sound of Music the whole way through anyone? I can do it.
- Something that smells nice. Fragrance diffuser, moisturiser, freshly baked muffins?
- They suggest drawing or reading material. I think I might be a tad too distracted for that. Although, labour can last a loooooong time.
Are there other things to pack. I think I am officially the worlds worst packer. I don't know how but I always seem to pack completely useless stuff. I'll probably end up in the birth centre with a sun hat and jeans.
I think a big part of me just doesn't want to pack. Pregnancy has been such a fun journey. Packing means that it is ending soon.
Ill get around to it eventually.
