We started our antenatal classes last week, and they go on for 5 Saturdays. We had our second one yesterday, and one of the OB-GYNs at the hospital we'll be delivering at talked about the birthing process. Anyone who has ever known me for 5 minutes knows I am terrified of labor and delivery. I've always known it was inevitable because I want children, but to say I'm not looking forward to labor is a vast understatement. By the time the doctor finished discussing episiotomies and pushing, my eyes were filled with tears, my heart was racing, I was tense all over, and I felt sick. Next week is the birthing video - what on earth am I gonna do? Please someone reassure me...NOW!
Okay just some senseless stuff to brighten up this terrifying post. :) The classes are on a floor of the hospital that must've been an afterthought because the ceilings are incredibly low. Everyone looks like a giant when they stand up. Here's James on the way to class:
Here is Andrea and I pretending to do our breathing exercises, which is weird since we haven't had that lesson in class yet:
And lastly, here is a week 25 picture of me. I don't have an outie - yet - the bump poking out is just my drawstring from my pants:
10 comments:
Cute belly pic! I like your suit - is it new? When talking about your reaction to the birth talk, you forgot to talk about how you were sighing and making all kinds of scared sounds :) You can do it Emily!! That pic of us is funny! I look like I'm balancing that water bottle on my head...
hey! I just noticed your baby ticker says 100 days left! whoo hoo! cool! That means tomorrow you go into double digets! cool!!!
Hey Emily, hang in there. Having just gone through over 12 hours of labor myself, I can honestly say that you can do it!! Ok, so it's not easy, but the truth is that the minute you hold Hazel in your arms for the first time you'll totally forget about the pain.
You are so cute! I wish I had some reassuring words... sorry friend! Know that He will never put you through more than you can handle... and so that means that you can handle this! Praise to Him! I love you!
ALISON
O.K., I have known you for more than 5 minutes and I'm surprised you didn't run out of the room, crying hysterically and no one being able to talk to you in a reasonable fashion. :) The good thing is, when you have your epidural, you won't feel the worst part and when they tell you to push, you will think it is a piece of cake. I couldn't watch all of the birthing film. I kept telling Dad to tell me when certain parts were over and I hid my eyes. You will do just fine. But, do not have Hazel before your due date because I won't be there til the 12th!
Love you.
it's gonna be great! don't worry!
Hey Em...just a reassuring comment from your favorite cousin Tristan. Believe me....it is NOT that bad. I had NO-NONE-ZIP pain meds at ALL...and it didn't hurt. The labor pains- contractions themself...hurt me more than the actual labor and baby coming out. SERIOUSLY!! And I didn't even feel the stitches when they put them in. I only had one so they said...but I think maybe it was like two or three. Still no pain, the afterfact...going home and careing for (yourslef) if you know what I mean...doesn't really hurt, it just burns or stings a little. YOU WILL BE FINE!! And I didn't even take classes..I went into it knowing NOTHING except by seeing what I had seen on TLC's a baby story..lol and that shows NOTHING like what really happens...lol Anyways I love you Emily and I will be praying for you . You'll be fine.
Don't watch the video. I repeat, don't watch the video. There is a reason God made our woo-woo where we can't see it. We are not suppose to see how painful it looks. But seriously, it is not that bad. I was actually the one taking all the pictures right after Kai was born (cutting the cord, cleaning him off) Your heart is filled with so much love that you really don't feel anything else.
ok Em here's how it rolls from one India mom to another:
first of all, the video they will show you- the baby that is born is definetly older than us. Has nothing about the birthing process changed in the last 25 years?
Secondly, it is a white Midwestern US family. Why are they showing that in India? Do they not have any Indian women brave enough to have their birth captured on video and shown to expectant parents for the next 40 years?
Thirdly, they just left all us classmates in the room with no teacher.
Fourthly, there are some traumatizing scenes and they just JUMP onto the screen before you have time to avert thine eyes. And its doubly traumatizing because you are in there with no one else who has ever given birth before so you must fend for yourself.
I seriously hope they are still showing that video. I can't wait to hear about it.
But- it made labor and delivery seem well kinda normal after that thing. I can't say it didn't hurt.... but it was all all all worth it. And I would do it again. In America. Where they WILL give me an epidural next time (don't take any baby aspirin before you go into labor!)
Cheers!
definitely not whatever I wrote up there
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