Prepping for childbirth

I never thought that I could ever attend a childbirth class especially since I am getting very close to popping. I inquired with several childbirth/lamaze/Bradley method teachers back in Manila but I couldn't afford any of them -- financially and schedule-wise. I was not willing to shell out Php 4,000 and give up six consecutive Saturdays for it! SO finding and finally attending a one-day class here in the U.S. at no cost was truly an unexpected blessing! :)

I took the class ("Super Saturday Childbirth Preparation") last Saturday, January 27th at Cypress College from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. My teacher was a very nice lady named Kathy Miller, a certified childbirth educator, registered nurse and mother of four. There were about 7 couples in the class plus single me! Boohoohoohoo. I was the only one without a husband-coach in tow which turned out great for the class because the teacher used me as a "demo" for most of the exercises. She became my coach & told me to take note of the important stuff I needed to cascade to my husband (who I said was on a "business trip").

The course, sponsored by Pampers through its Pamper Parenting Institute (see http://www.pampers.com/en_US/aboutPPI/page/default.do;jsessionid=LQXKGC41104ZNQFIAJ0X0NY and click on "programs), covered the following:

• Anatomy of Pregnancy & its Discomforts


• Overview of Labor


• Stages of Labor


• Coping


• Contraction Patterns


• Breathing Exercises


• Position Changes


• Coaching Skills


• What to Pack for the Hospital


• Medical Procedures & Options


• Medications & Anaesthesia


• Drafting a birth plan (will blog mine soon)


• Recovery & Post Partum

We were given handouts and we watched several videos of different types of labor and delivery. I guess I won't really know what I will be getting myself into until I am there but at least I already know what to expect. :) Moms-to-be out there, a generic class like this may just be worth the investment -- in time, at least. There is a free on-line childbirth class on www.about.com that can be taken in five weeks (or a marathon of a couple of days) that. I went through it and the scope is essentially what the course I took covered.

Since Ale was not there, my dad and I decided to hire a Lamaze teacher to come over and give Ale & I lessons next week. It will be a 2-night private class for only $50. :) I guess this one will be different because we will be having more exercises and not really lectures. :) Funny lang that I already warned forewarned the instructor that "I believe in pain-free birth -- with an epidural!" Hahahaha!

We'll tell you about it in the next update...God bless...