Turns out Friday night at childbirth class wasn’t so bad!
Except for the figuring out dinner part. Luckily at 5pm I was ready for a snack, so I made a dinner-sized snack instead.
Cheese n jam n lettuce {from the garden!!!!} sandwich on High Five
Plus a glass of milk
Seems simple, but was pretty filling amount of food. Matt packed a PB&Banana sandwich and ate it during class.
The hospital campus is absolutely gorgeous – views of the mountains and rolling hills!
I’m going to go into detail on things I learned on BERF, but I really enjoyed tonight’s class. I just like talking about all things pregnancy and labor : ) Matt seemed to have a good time too and although we both couldn’t stop cracking jokes during the role playing, I think deep down we really did learn things about how we interact.
I spent most of my “labor” tonight on the ball. I think I’m going to love a ball when the time comes! Sitting on it, draped over it, rolling with it. Probably won’t be smiling so much though…
Did you notice the clothespin on the ear? That was contraction practice. I actually joked with the teacher when the exercise was over: “Whew I’m glad we didn’t have to do ice cubes!”
And what does she bring out not a minute later with a big smile directed at me!?
ICE!!
However, I took on the challenge and actually did pretty well with the ice squeezed in my palm (because of the ball – and Matt’s gentle massage on my back!)
We enjoyed some juicy watermelon during our break while watching the sunset. And I just had a tiny mug of cereal as a bedtime snack.
Tomorrow we practice pushing techniques and talk about some of the interventions and things that can happen if things don’t go swimmingly along. Gulp.
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
I actually never thought to put cheese, jam and lettuce together on a sandwich, but that looks incredibly good!!
It’s one of my favorite sandwiches and so easy to throw together!
Yay for baby BERF!!!
Ooooh a close pin on the ear sound SO painful! Definitely would not have enjoyed that!
sounds like an interesting class, and I’m always up for fun on stability balls! haha
Yes, yes, yes to the birthing ball!! I used one with all three of my labors and it was awesome. Sitting on the ball during the contractions is the best. I tell everyone who is pregnant to get on the ball. Good luck to you!
Love love love to hear the class details! Can’t wait for the BERF post
And seriously, how bad is it that I look at that clothespin and think, “OMG HOW AWFUL?!?” How on earth will I ever have a baby?! hahaha, ridiculous. Give me the ice any day!
Haha…we had to do the “ice holding” trick too. Not exactly on par with labor, I have to say
I used my birthing ball some in the weeks leading up to labor, but never used it in actual labor (I pretty much curled up in the fetal position for that, ha). BUT– baby LOVES being bounced on the ball in my arms now, so it definitely was money well spent!
The ball is also great for bouncing with newborns! I’ve had a few friends tell me that bouncing with their baby was a sure way to get them to sleep or settle down from crying.
I love your shirt–where’d ya get it?
Motherhood maternity… lol!
That color is beautiful on you & the bump is looking so cute
haha that looks very intense for practice! cheese and jam still intrigues me though. sounds crazy enough to work. a friend told me her grandmom always used to make grape jelly and american cheese sandwiches. she must’ve known what she was doing!
Ice? Hahaha you know you’re a newb, when you don’t get that
I have one word for you: EPIDURAL.
(but mad respect for whatever road you choose!)
Hooray for birth class! I have a feeling I’m going to like the birthing ball too, just cause I already love sitting and bouncing on it. Makes moving easy. Our last Bradley method class is on Tuesday… kinda sad they’ll be over then!
Lettuce on cheese and jam is a new one! Sweet and savory is usually a hit, though.
This was a cute post.
And you have a cute belly!
You, and all moms. are so brave. I feel queasy just thinking of giving birth…oh dear…
I love the thick slice of cheese in the sandwich!
Are you thinking of going through labor without any meds?
That’s my wish
I just saw the movie “What to Expect When Expecting” last night with Cameron Diaz & Jlo..I really enjoyed it and I think you would too (and probably be able to relate to some scenes
)!
Pushing techniques…the urge to push will likely be so overwhelming at a certain point, you will just…do it! The ball was my chair for the second half of my pregnancy…loved my ball!
I never went to a birthing class but I wish I did! I did everything wrong, and just growled and yelled at everybody until it was time for the “emergency” cesarean 18 hours later… Then, it was like finally it’s going to be OVER! LOL
Is this going to be your only birthing class? Are you going to do anything else closer to your due date?
Yes, but we have a doula we’re working one on one with too. Plus lots of reading.
You can also get hypnobirthing relaxation exercises for your MP3 player that will help a lot with preparing for labor! I did this with my third in preparation for my homebirth—listened to a script every night before going to bed so that it was easy for me to recall that feeling of relaxation when the real thing started.
I’ve never heard of a birthing ball. What d’ya know!
oh my! i remember the clothespin on the ear contraction practice!!!
Ouch a clothespin on the ear sounds painful!
I had to do the clothespin on the ear when I took my hospital class with my first but I’ll tell you what’s even better for practice (to have to have something to relax “through”)–with my childbirth students I have them pick up a plastic baggie filled with ice. They hold it lightly as the “contraction” begins and then as we get to 30 seconds in (the peak), they hold it tight and then as the contraction starts to ease away, they loosen their grip on it. I find the building discomfort of the ice simulates contractions a lot better than the clothespin since the pin is an acute pain that doesn’t ease in or out like a real contraction does. I have my couples use the ice while they practice relaxation techniques at least 3 times week but more would be better so it’s second nature to you in labor
Totally didn’t read the last part of your post before I posted LOL Well, at least you’re well-versed in all kinds of pain now
Ah! So exciting you got to use lettuce from the garden!
And haha – I’ve never heard of the clothespin-for-contractions technique but that’s actually really clever!
I did not use a ball during my first pregnancy, but I may for the second.
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
yum! I need to try a cheese, jam and lettuce sandwich soon! What kind of cheese did you use for your lunch?
Sharp cheddar!
Long time lurker…love your blog! 3 babies here: 2 epidurals (both inductions, boo), and one all natural (came on his own and fast), and I MUCH preferred the drug-free experience. Good luck!
The clothespin on the ear is a new one to me — we used ice in my class. I’m pretty impressed with what they covered for a hospital-based class. The main thing now is continuing to practice (yes, WITH the ice and/or clothespin) — my childbirth instructor, also a doula, really stressed practicing a few times every week up until the birth so the pain-coping skills are second nature. Sure, the pain simulation sucks, but you can have Matt give you a back massage every time