Prepared Childbirth Class

Kip and I thought it would be a good idea to go to a prepared childbirth class since this is our first child and we didn't know much about labor except what people had told us. The class is offered for a couple of hours one night a week for 6 weeks or occasionally all day Saturday classes are offered. Since Kip works nights and has indoor archery leagues on Thursday nights the 6 week class was not ideal for us. We could either choose 2 Saturdays in January or 2 Saturdays in March. I chose the January classes because I assumed it would be cold and we wouldn't have any other plans. At only 20-21 weeks along it was definitely early for us to take the class (most of the girls were at least 32 weeks and some were closer to 38 weeks). 

The classes are from 9:30 a.m.to 5:00 p.m. (sounds fun doesn't it?) I am happy to report we survived our two week class, learned a lot, and are very happy that we took it. The days didn't seem that long. We had a wonderful teacher named Megan and we had breaks often plus an hour and a half for lunch. Little did we know that it would be 70 degrees outside on one of the two Saturdays (in JANUARY). We learned a lot about different labor techniques, the entire birthing process, and what to bring to the hospital. Before the class I was all for any type of medicine (and I am sure that when the moment comes I will probably be begging for drugs). However, they encourage you to use upright positions when in labor now which cannot be done if you have an epidural. I think the upright positions make a lot more sense than laying down and work with gravity instead of against it. The class definitely made me look at the labor process differently. 

Like I said, I have no idea how I will be when I am actually in labor and you never know whether a c-section will be necessary or not but I feel much more prepared for childbirth after my class!