Labor and Delivery

Well.. last night we went to our first of two labor and delivery classes at the IWK. I was unsure what to expect. As some of you know, I have been very "on the fence" about these prenatal classes that I was taking - finding that they had some useful information, and then some "one sided" information. I enjoyed the class on breastfeeding, but that was pretty much it! haha.

Anyway, this L & D class was AWESOME! I feel so much better about delivering at the IWK now that I went to the class. I was pleased to hear the many "coping" things that they had in place - such as a birthing ball and a birthing tub. Although you don't actually give birth in the tub (and obviously not on a ball) - It is really nice to have some options. They also talked about how they encouarge you to walk around as much as you can, get out of bed, and deliver in a position other than laying down if that's what makes you comfortable. I seriously thought that delivering in a hospital stopped me from doing a lot of this. I am thinking now that I will be able to deal with this pain a whole lot longer if I have these "distractions". She said if I want music, bring music, if I want to be in the dark, they will turn the lights off!

Mind you, most of these things I don't think interest me, but it's still nice to feel like I have the control over my birthing experience and not my doctors. They also gave me a "birth plan" that I will fill out and put my requests such as after the baby is born, I want him/her skin to skin with me, BJ wants to cut the cord, who I will allow in the room and who I won't. - Of course, if there is a medical reason for any of these things to NOT happen, then they won't.. but still nice that the choice is on me.

I am thinking that now I will be able to endure the pain much longer. I asked about an epidural - thinking (and maybe I'm the only one who thought this?) that with an epidural - I wouldn't be able to walk around because my legs would eventually get wobbily, and that I would be "attached" to it, so I would have to stay in bed. Well they said that the hospital gives walking epidurals, so you can absolutely walk with it - that being said - every patient reacts differently to drugs, so I could be someone who DOES completely freeze up.. (which, honestly, doesn't sound that bad either! HAHA).

So, I am continuing with my "birth plan of not having a plan" - I am going to tolerate the pain as long as I can, and if I end up having to get pain meds, I am certainly not going to feel bad about myself. Same with breastfeeding - I want it to work, I will do everything in my power to make it work - if baby decides he/she doesn't want to work with me, then that's whats going to happen I guess. The nurses made me feel really good about this.

Anyway, so I feel better about everything now!! I can't beleive September is only 2 months away!

Oh and I should add - the movie we watched, scared the s### outta BJ! lol.. you should have seen his face.