ante natal class last night

[claireyfairey]

I really enjoyed it actually!

We were a massive group - at least 20 couples, so there were a LOT of people! We all introduced ourselves and then we did a game (the midwife split the group in two) where we had to list a group of pregnancy symptons under the headings 'Normal' and 'Abnormal'. Our group got them all right But I was surprised at how many people didn't realise that certain things are abnormal during pregnancy - I must have done a lot of reading because I knew them all But didn't say so, don't want to be a smart arse!

Then we talked about signs of labour and when to come into the hospital. We were also shown this scary looking device which demonstrated each stage of dilation - so it showed us 1cm, 2cms, 3cms etc all the way to 10cms! It looked like a giant spaghetti measurer but it was quite frightening seeing it like that! A lot of us cringed and got the giggles at that point!

Unfortunately, we didn't get the tour of the labour ward - there were too many of us there to all go up, so we were split in two - some of us would go last night, some of us in 2 weeks time. However, the 1st group weren't able to go up as the delivery suite had a few emergencies and were stretched a bit thin, so they're going next week and we're going the week after. I'm disappointed I have another 2 weeks to wait, but there were others in the group who are like 35 weeks and also two ladies expecting twins, so they ought to go before us earlier ones! Oh, and on the topic of checking out bumps, I was the 2nd smallest there There were a few 29 weekers and even they had bigger bumps than me Oh well, guess that's a good thing! We were also one of 4 younger couples who were there, the rest all seemed a lot older than me, but that doesn't really matter.

Next week we are doing pain relief in labour! As I know the midwife running the class, I volunteered to bring in my gym ball to do some demonstrations on she said she only has a few, so an extra one will be useful! We're all going to practise birthing positions which I'm sure is going to be hillarious!

So all in all it went well!

C xxx

 

[dannii87]

Glad it went well! Mine was rubbish!

Ooh I bet the dilation thing was interesting! We got shown how a baby moved down and is born, but I kind of knew how a baby comes out anyway

It's amazing how much we learn from this site don't you think?! You don't even realise until you're put amongst women who have no idea!!

I've seen your bump pics Claire, and unless you have a load of biffas where you live, I doubt you'd have been the second smallest!!

xx

 

[Chrissy1]

I booked mine the other day but I can't get in until 18th September!!

I can't wait for them and I can't believe how excited DH is about them too

Glad yours went well for you

 

[Mildly]

Glad you had fun

At ours the midwife passed round a piece of card that had the 10cm dilation hole cut out of it - that was really scary. I could fit my fist through it

 

[claireyfairey]

Dannii: Must be a lot of biffas then I know I'm carrying my baby awkwardly though....my bump seems to be a different shape to most people's, baby's really high up and my belly button hasn't popped....it seems odd to me anyway. My OH says I'm the smallest pregnant woman he's ever known though, I've gained about 2st but it's only really gone on my bum and thighs which is quite easy to hide....so I give the appearance of being small (I'm 5"4 too)....I don't know. Can you tell I've thought a lot about this?!

C xxx

 

[kerryp]

at our antental class on tuesday we did nothing like that... all we did was go through relaxation techniques (only spoken while we were all sat round a table) & when to go into hospital (or call midwife if your having at home) - which basically was when we felt we couldnt cope anymore on our own! i think i had the smallest bump there as well... all felt very odd & like i wasnt really due on 21st sept coz i cant possibly be big enough