8/17/09
Being 24 weeks along, I have a while to go until my first birthing class, but I can’t help wondering what it’s all going to be like right now, which is why I put the DVD Laugh and Learn About Childbirth on my Netflix queue. (If you don’t have Netflix, you can buy the DVDs at Laugh & Learn.)
The course is led by Sheri Bayles, an RN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and certified Lamaze instructor, and spans two discs. I’ve watched the first so far, and so far so good. In that two and a half hours, I learned the three steps of labor, medical terminology that the staff will be using (which otherwise would be gibberish to me), and the disadvantages of getting an epidural.
The class also includes an anatomy overview, which is helpful in understanding late pregnancy symptoms, as well as the signs of early labor to help you know when to get ready.
Bayles continually recommends using gravity to help in childbirth—which means avoiding lying down for as long as possible. To help you do that, she suggests using an exercise ball, which opens up your pelvic bones and allows you to bounce away your tension in between contractions. Bayles also talks about the benefits of a tub. It can greatly help relax your tense and tired muscles. So, don’t hesitate to ask your hospital if they are equipped with these helpful tools.
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