Antenatal Class

Our ante natal class' last session was last night. We were told in the previous week's session that we will be touring the birth suite, the nursery and the ward so I really nailed MCJ that we should not be late, as we always did in the last three sessions (the downside of living in a place where heavy traffic rarely happens), coz we might miss the tour and won't really know where to go when the Big Day arrives - it might be the time that we're both panic-stricken especially if I am already in the onset of third phase of labor. But I didn't really know if we were late or not because we had missed an exciting news of the week or night yet we were the 2nd last couple to arrive.


And the great news was, one of our classmates already give birth to a gorgeous baby girl last
Sunday by CS. The new family were our guest for the evening. It was really interesting as the mother experienced almost all of what had been discussed in the previous sessions. She's diabetic and had high blood pressure so she was induced last Friday. She only dilated up to 2cm and ended up having an emergency CS. The couple shared their experiences and we were all ears to them. I think, most of us were wondering if what would be our experience when it's our time? Oh and the Dad! He was the most proud Dad in the world I would say.


This class was very helpful for first time mums. I have mentioned sometime that what was discussed in the first session were all available in the magazines and internet but as we go along and progress, with the active interaction of all the participants, we touched indepth cases and practical scenarios. It is really like preparing you emotionally, physically and mentally to the real thing unlike when you're just reading that you almost forgot almost everything after a couple of hours. Videos were shown how new parents cope in the major change of having a baby, bathing and settling the baby, and actual labor plus the exercises on how to lessen the labor pain. We were also taught how to put on cloth and disposable nappies. And yes, we (especially the support person) practice how to give massage which I didn't get much chance to do because I am so ticklish. :D


Lots of reading materials and references were also given. I read almost all of them when we got home but left those practical one out for the real scenario. I am sure, I will be referring back to them in the near future!


My attitude towards the arrival of our little bub and being a mum is more of being lax or just go with the flow type. I am an idealistic person but in this case, I don't want to be too hang up and get stressed. I just hope, I'll have this same attitude when the time comes. They said, giving birth feels like you're being hit a by a truck physically and then you have your baby to look after. And then, there's the breastfeeding process which for some doesn't come natural. I need loads of "the secret" dose.