Our first Official Antenatal Class

So today we had our first antenatal class at the hospital with Livia one of the midwives. Have to admit it was pretty interesting.

It was really great to be around so many other pregnant couples. Some of the people there were also at the physio class that I did a few weeks ago but there were some new faces as well. Of the eight other couples that were there I was due the latest, the earliest was due early September - which would have been cutting it a little close if it was me. We compared notes on how we were feeling both physically and emotionally and the positives and negatives of pregnancy. It's nice to know that I'm no different from anyone else and I'm so incredibly normal.

After this we discussed a 'normal' birth and what we could expect. I had never seen a doll with an umbilical cord and placenta attached before - it was pretty funny. Then it was time for the video of both a natural and a caesarian birth. It was the first time that I had seen a baby being born and it bought tears not only to my eyes, but I noticed to Jochen's as well. It is all starting to get incredibly real. It really sunk in that in no time at all that will be us. Arrhhh.... very scary thought.

I had to laugh though at one of the videos that was used... it was a little old (late eighties I guess) and made in the U.S. which makes some things not relevant to over here. There were two men who were meant to be helping their partners during labour - but I'm telling you now that if Jochen did what they did - well let's just say it wouldn't be pretty. One guy got so up close to his partner's face whilst she was having contractions that he wasn't just encroaching on her personal space but I'm sure he was trying to get inside her body. Apparently he really thought he was helping - hmm... that is definitely help that I could do without. The other guy kept pointing his fingers right in his partner's face as she was having contractions - I don't think I have to worry about that one though, as Jochen whispered to me as it was being shown "I'd bite that idiots fingers off" or something to that extent. Actually one thing I'm not worried about it how supportive Jochen will be, he knows me so well I don't think I could get anyone better.

Lunch was at the hospital canteen - my first taste of hospital food. It occurred to me when we walked back from lunch to the room that we were in, that with so many pregnant women all together there should have been a truck at the front with a 'Wide Load' warning in front of us all.

After lunch there was a lot of talk about natural pain management methods, and medical intervention that may be needed. I love the fact that the hospital is very focused on trying to manage labour with the least amount of intervention as possible.

It was a long and tiring day for me but I'm looking forward to the next session in two weeks time - we will get to do a tour of the new birthing suites and actually see many of the things that we have talked about. I wonder what those forceps look like - they certain sound scary enough.