We signed up for a few classes through our hospital and our first one, Breastfeeding Basics, began at 6:30 p.m. yesterday evening. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the class and upon our arrival, we were instructed to select a doll or teddy bear from a bin and find our seats.
I told Ryan I picked this curly-haired beauty because she looked hungry and ready for some quality feedings.
The class touched on a variety of topics related to breastfeeding, including breast milk storage guidelines, the benefits of breastfeeding, cluster feeding, hunger cues, latching your baby and more.
We also practiced holding our dolls and “nursing” in a variety of ways and I’d be lying if I said everyone in the class kept it all together and didn’t let out a few laughs during this part of the class. It’s hard not to crack a grin when you look over at someone practicing the “football hold,” pretend-nursing a neon rainbow teddy bear.
It was very educational and the class made me feel all the more pleased with the hospital Ryan and I selected for our delivery. We walked away with a lot of information and I’m already looking forward to the additional classes we have on our calendar to take before our baby is born. We have a hospital tour next week and I can’t wait!
32-Week Appointment + Today
Yesterday I ended up working for most of the day, but my quick break for my 32-week prenatal appointment went well. My mom joined me at my OB/GYN’s office and heard our little one’s heartbeat for the first time! I learned that my belly is measuring a week behind but that our baby is already head down, which was great news for me since I had absolutely no clue about his positioning going into the appointment. I asked my doctor a bunch of questions that have been on my mind before we made our way home for lunch.
I dug into a hot ham and turkey sandwich on fresh bakery bread served with a side of grapes before I had to head back to work.
I was able to get off a little early and prepared a delicious appetizer for everyone (recipe to come!) while my mom prepped dinner and then Ryan and I headed out to our class.
Now we’re pretty much all caught up!
Breakfast this morning was another Greek yogurt bowl topped with fresh strawberries, raspberries, granola, cacao nibs and crushed raw almonds.
Plus a hot mug of pregnancy tea!
Plans for today include work and nursery organization. I’m also hoping to squeeze in a workout of my own at some point, but we shall see. Hope you have a great Tuesday!
Question of the Morning
- Moms/Moms-To-Be: Did you take and classes before you had your baby? Did you find any particularly beneficial?
In addition to the breastfeeding class we took last night, Ryan and I are signed up for a childbirth prep class (<—I feel like I desperately need this one… for my nerves more than anything!), parenting a baby class, infant CPR and a hospital tour.
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We took the Bradley Method Course and loved it! We’re also looking into taking some kind of infant/child CPR class yet too before August.
We only did the hospital tour, which was extremely helpful and eased some nerves. What helped me feel more prepared mentally was prenatal yoga. I learned some great stretches to make the last few weeks more comfortable and work on the mental preparation for labor. The relaxation and visualization techniques I learned were helpful during labor and made me feel more connected to my little peanut before he was born.
Our hospital didn’t offer many classes. I did have a birth plan to bring with me with my first but we didn’t use it because the labor and delivery was a bit complicated. Labor and Delivery is very “in the moment” and trusting my doctors over the need to stick to my plan was very helpful. The second one was a breeze in comparison. Partly, because I knew more of what to expect this time.
We didn’t take any classes. I didn’t want to get frustrated when things might not go like the classes teach. I knew our hospital had a great lactation specialist and felt the real thing would be more beneficial. I had no problems breast feeding. The huge thing is teaching him how to latch and fed. The same with child birth classes. Each pregnancy and L&D are so different. I figured my body would know what to do. I was able to deliver without medication. A complete surprise to me. I went into the whole experience with no plan and expectations. I figured it is out of my control and what happens happens. Do what is best for you.
I was living in the Netherlands when I had my first baby, but I didn’t speak Dutch, so I couldn’t take a childbirth class. Instead we basically watched a bunch of youtube videos – sounds crazy, but they were actually pretty helpful.
The most important thing, in retrospect, was understanding the idea of “transition” – it’s hard to recognize in your first labor, but the video said something that was really true: Just when you’re absolutely positive you can’t do it anymore, you’re almost done. The only time I’ve felt panicky and like I wasn’t going to make it in either of my labors was just before it was going to be time to push. When that feeling comes, don’t let the panic take you – you’re close. Transition usually doesn’t last more than 20 minutes, and it can be much less. And once you’re pushing, although it’s got its own set of challenges, it’s no longer an out-of-control ride that you want to get off. If you’ve made it to transition, you’re going to make it all the way!
Good luck with everything!!
We took one class and thought we wasted our time. The midwife on duty helped me a lot and reminded me how to breathe. (: she was a life savor.
You’ll love getting a hospital tour. I found it super informative & the tech who gave us a tour answered so many questions I didn’t even realized I had. I think infant cpr is a great idea, too!
We took the childbirth/lamaze class. I agree with McKenzie that just the tour was worth it. Where to park/enter/register when you arrive in labor, etc. I ended up having a c-section because our little guy was breech, so all the labor and breathing ended up being for naught (although we didn’t know it at the time). I wish we had taken a breastfeeding class. It was definitely the hardest thing to do.
If there are any La Leche groups in your area, you should definitely check one out. They can be a bit crazy with it all (I belive that I’ve heard the term Boob Nazis thrown about), but the overall group feeling is definitely supportive. You just just have to remember that whatever you decide is your decision.
We took one labor class and I thought it was a waste of time. If you are planning to get the epidural (which I was) then you dont really need to know how to breathe. I feel like when it comes down to it your body will know what to do. We also did the
maternity floor tour which was very helpful we knew exactly where to go and what the process will be like so when it came down to it we weren’t scrambling, stressed or in a hurry we knew where to go. As far as breastfeeding goes you just don’t know what it will be like until you hold your baby. It might be super easy with your baby latching perfectly and having an abundance of milk or you may encounter some challanges along the way. It is all up to your baby and your body so I suggest finding out if your hospital has a lactation consultant on staff, their hours and if the nurses are breastfeeding trained to help you latch.
I thought the breastfeeding class was the best one that I took while I was pregnant! I totally had a teenage boy moment in mine, too. The teacher had a full on stuffed boob! Like a stuffed animal but shaped like a boob. I was dying. My husband couldn’t come to the class with me, so you’d better believe I sneakily took a picture of the stuffed boob with my phone to send to him! I could not stop snickering every time she whipped it out to demonstrate a position!
Our childbirth class was kind of a joke. We actually only went to one of the two all-day sessions because after the first one we realized we’d be better off just reading the book that was provided. It was really just because the teacher was bad, though, so hopefully you will get a great teacher! I was really nervous about labor too, and to be honest it was pretty bad, but going through it is the only way out, so just know that you will get through it! My labor was fairly long and not very smooth and I ended up with a c-section after about 24 hours of contractions. It turned out that my baby had a short umbilical cord which was causing her heart rate to drop with every contraction. But, after it was all over, I had absolutely no regrets and a beautiful, healthy baby girl! In the long run, it will just be a tiny blip on the radar and the end result is so worth it!