T.A.C.O.

Kris says he will never see Taco's the same again (and no that is not what I am talking about so get your mind out of the gutter). 

We had our first childbirth class last night.  Wednesday we went and took a tour of the labor and delivery floor at the hospital.  I have been there a couple of times and was fairly familiar with the basics of what they had to show us and say, but it was good to just really see it all and where different things go on and what our stay will be like.  I would recommend it if anyone is going to deliver there. Anyway, last night we had our first real class though.  Apparently a tour is part of our class so we will be going up there again (oh well we didn't know this).  Still the teacher, Kim, said she will show us a labor bed and how it breaks down and sets up and we will talk more in depth about the aspects of that event then the tour covered.  I guess that is good.

There were a few things in particular from class last night that we walked away with.  First is the taco.  TACO is Kim's acronym for what to pay attention to if your water breaks.  Time, Amount, Color, and Odor.  Apparently is the color is not clear and it is greenish or brownish the baby may have pooped in the sack and you probably need to be checked out and if there is a strong bad odor you may have an infection and need to be checked out... So Kris says he won't think of a taco the same again.

Second was that we already watched a birthing video... hmm.  it wasn't bad, very little graphic shots and all.  It focused more on the stages of labor and how the man and woman supported each other.  I liked that the lady said she liked changes positions often because it made her feel like she was doing something about her contractions.  I told Kris that is what I think I will like (who knows really, but) I generally prefer feeling like I am doing something about it, whatever IT is.  So then this with my previous epidural issues... I will want to hold off on the epidural as much as I can, but maybe I will feel like I need it?  I guess I will just go and see what comes moment to moment.

Also weirdly I took from the video that she brought a focal point tool with her.  So it was a picture of their cat.  In the video the women says she knows it is strange, but for some reason that really helped since it just gave her something to do, a distracting task - focus on the picture.  I have often wondered about the whole focal point thing and why people brought things to look at, that made sense to me, it doesn't really matter what it is, but if your mind it just on focus, look at the cat, then it isn't as much on the pain or discomfort.  It might help the time pass a bit just as a distraction.

Oh yeah we also got to hold a life size and weight 33 week baby.  I mean it was rubber but was weighted and actual size.  It had an actual size rubber uterus with it too.  Yikes no wonder everything is so squished up that thing gets huge.  Anyway it was strange that that baby already felt pretty heavy and was only 33 weeks and that is really too early to deliver all things being "perfect." I mean ideally they want you at 39 or 40 weeks.

I think the class will be good.  I feel like I am somewhat familiar with the concepts, much of the vocabulary and generally what is happening but for me knowledge is power.  The better and more I understand the stages of the labor, how I can expect the contractions to progress and the mechanics of what is actually happening with the baby and why birthing can even happen (amazing) the more I will be calm and less fearful therefore less tense and more productive in my labor, this is what they tell me anyway.  Again if you aren't sure if birthing classes are for you I recommend them, yes there are some awkward moments and maybe it conjures some scary images, but the demonstration of the pelvis and a baby passing through it and how that really can work puts your mind at ease too.  Most of all I think Kris will feel more like he knows what is happening too and be better prepared to at least have some sensitivity for me and what it really happening to my body.