Labor And Delivery Class
Great news! Today I feel decent! YAY!! My tummy pains are gone and I don't feel weak anymore. Plus my pain bubble pain is pretty low today, and I managed to get a cumulative 8 hours of sleep last night. Now it wasn't at night, it was during the day, and it wasn't 8 hours in one stretch, but I'll take it just the same!
Tonight was my labor and delivery class. I have been very nervous about labor as it looks and sounds absolutely horrible. It also is fact that everyone likes to share their horror stories of the knowledge of their worst labor story of all time. This does not help. Well, I was hoping that the class would ease my nervousness and help me feel less anxious about the process. NOPE! Was a total fail. Let me start from the beginning...
The class started and we had the grandma type instructor that taught my newborn essentials class. I was a bit bummed about this because she's a little more not with it and doesn't know her material as well. She's very sweet, but just needs to retire. The other teacher is totally kick ass and is efficient and quick and doesn't make us do the "Share your story" crap this lady does.
So we start the class with people introducing themselves (Don't teachers know we really hate this?) and then we got started. All that we talked about boils down to this: relaxation is key during labor. So we discussed the various relaxation techniques such as: Breathing, massage, visualization, focal points and counter pressure. I knew a lot of the information already, but I did learn a few things. I didn't realize that bringing tools to help me deeply relax would be so helpful.
Here are some pros and cons of what I learned tonight:
PROS:
1) On our hospital tour, they mentioned the bathtubs, and at first I wasn't interested in them because I know I don't want a water birth. Well, turns out they don't even allow water births, they are just for relaxation. So then I changed my mind and decided I want one after all! I always feel relaxed in water and I think it would be good for me to do a stretch of laboring in the tub to help me. It also will be a change in environment, which will be a great distraction when I need it.
2) I asked about how I will go to the bathroom when I have an epidural in me and they said they would do a quick in and out catheter to empty the bladder. Best news: painless! WOOP! I was worried about this. I also will have the opportunity to go right before the epidural is administered, and right before going up to post partum. The reason for my concern is that with all the pressure I feel with him lower in the abdomen, I always feel like I have to go and it's always uncomfortable. And you know the second you lose access to getting up to go to the bathroom, you'll have to go. But I'm hoping that with an epidural numbing me, I won't feel the urge like I do un-medicated.
3) The nurses are very accommodating. We were told they are very flexible with our requests, and one lady said with her last labor experience, that she wanted the lights off and the nurse came in with a flashlight to input all the information so that's great. I know I do better with relaxation music and lights off so I was relieved that this would be an option.
4) Each labor room has it's own thermostat! I love being in control of this and can already tell you that I'll want it on 60! If you choose to visit, bring a coat! :0)
5) I get to choose whether or not I want my epidural to wear off at the end. I was always assuming I wouldn't get the choice, but turns out I do! I do think I'm going to ask to do this because I've heard stories of women not being able to push correctly because they can't feel what they're pushing, and sometimes this leads to unexpected C-sections. I would be very upset if I spent all that time in labor and then ended up in surgery if it could have been prevented. SO, I have decided that I want to choose to wear off at the end.
CONS:
1) This is the biggest and most upsetting to me. I'm actually more nervous about it more now than I was going in. I've heard and read many things regarding the timing of the administration of the epidural. I've had some say that you have to be at a 5, I've heard some say that they give it to you as soon as you want it, etc. Well, I asked this question and I didn't like the answer. They said they wouldn't give it to me until I was at a 4 to a 6 in dilation. Now in the big picture, I know this isn't TERRIBLE, but knowing how long it may take to get to a 4-6, it scares the crap out of me. We're talking possible HOURS of laboring before relief. Now I know I may just be being a baby, but it's something I'm really scared of. I'm hoping it's one of those things that isn't as bad as I was expecting, but watching all the videos just makes me nauseous. It's hard seeing people in that much pain. They just cry and it lasts FOREVER! And this lady was in a good 6 hours of labor before she was at a 4. It just makes me uneasy to know I will have to go so long before I get relief. :( :( :(
2) We can't eat or drink. We get ice chips, that's it until after delivery. Depending on when I go into labor, this could be a really long time without eating or drinking. I think if I know I'm going into labor, I need to eat before I get there, knowing it'll have to hold me.
When I discuss my fears about labor with people, I often get the response, "But it's so worth it." Well DUH! Of course it's worth it or I wouldn't have done so much to make this happen! But that doesn't mean I'm not scared of the labor. I do have a good support system in place, and I'm hoping that will sustain me through it. But yeah, I'm terrified, and I doubt I will sleep tonight. And I might want to stay with my mom the week of my due date so I'm not royally freaking out. I wish I could just shut my brain off. No such luck!
So yeah, informative, yes. Reassuring, no. But I'm grateful for the positives and I know my little man will be totally worth all the scary. Let's pray that he will hold the record for the shortest labor ever recorded! Cross your fingers! I know I'm crossing mine!!
Tonight was my labor and delivery class. I have been very nervous about labor as it looks and sounds absolutely horrible. It also is fact that everyone likes to share their horror stories of the knowledge of their worst labor story of all time. This does not help. Well, I was hoping that the class would ease my nervousness and help me feel less anxious about the process. NOPE! Was a total fail. Let me start from the beginning...
The class started and we had the grandma type instructor that taught my newborn essentials class. I was a bit bummed about this because she's a little more not with it and doesn't know her material as well. She's very sweet, but just needs to retire. The other teacher is totally kick ass and is efficient and quick and doesn't make us do the "Share your story" crap this lady does.
So we start the class with people introducing themselves (Don't teachers know we really hate this?) and then we got started. All that we talked about boils down to this: relaxation is key during labor. So we discussed the various relaxation techniques such as: Breathing, massage, visualization, focal points and counter pressure. I knew a lot of the information already, but I did learn a few things. I didn't realize that bringing tools to help me deeply relax would be so helpful.
Here are some pros and cons of what I learned tonight:
PROS:
1) On our hospital tour, they mentioned the bathtubs, and at first I wasn't interested in them because I know I don't want a water birth. Well, turns out they don't even allow water births, they are just for relaxation. So then I changed my mind and decided I want one after all! I always feel relaxed in water and I think it would be good for me to do a stretch of laboring in the tub to help me. It also will be a change in environment, which will be a great distraction when I need it.
2) I asked about how I will go to the bathroom when I have an epidural in me and they said they would do a quick in and out catheter to empty the bladder. Best news: painless! WOOP! I was worried about this. I also will have the opportunity to go right before the epidural is administered, and right before going up to post partum. The reason for my concern is that with all the pressure I feel with him lower in the abdomen, I always feel like I have to go and it's always uncomfortable. And you know the second you lose access to getting up to go to the bathroom, you'll have to go. But I'm hoping that with an epidural numbing me, I won't feel the urge like I do un-medicated.
3) The nurses are very accommodating. We were told they are very flexible with our requests, and one lady said with her last labor experience, that she wanted the lights off and the nurse came in with a flashlight to input all the information so that's great. I know I do better with relaxation music and lights off so I was relieved that this would be an option.
4) Each labor room has it's own thermostat! I love being in control of this and can already tell you that I'll want it on 60! If you choose to visit, bring a coat! :0)
5) I get to choose whether or not I want my epidural to wear off at the end. I was always assuming I wouldn't get the choice, but turns out I do! I do think I'm going to ask to do this because I've heard stories of women not being able to push correctly because they can't feel what they're pushing, and sometimes this leads to unexpected C-sections. I would be very upset if I spent all that time in labor and then ended up in surgery if it could have been prevented. SO, I have decided that I want to choose to wear off at the end.
CONS:
1) This is the biggest and most upsetting to me. I'm actually more nervous about it more now than I was going in. I've heard and read many things regarding the timing of the administration of the epidural. I've had some say that you have to be at a 5, I've heard some say that they give it to you as soon as you want it, etc. Well, I asked this question and I didn't like the answer. They said they wouldn't give it to me until I was at a 4 to a 6 in dilation. Now in the big picture, I know this isn't TERRIBLE, but knowing how long it may take to get to a 4-6, it scares the crap out of me. We're talking possible HOURS of laboring before relief. Now I know I may just be being a baby, but it's something I'm really scared of. I'm hoping it's one of those things that isn't as bad as I was expecting, but watching all the videos just makes me nauseous. It's hard seeing people in that much pain. They just cry and it lasts FOREVER! And this lady was in a good 6 hours of labor before she was at a 4. It just makes me uneasy to know I will have to go so long before I get relief. :( :( :(
2) We can't eat or drink. We get ice chips, that's it until after delivery. Depending on when I go into labor, this could be a really long time without eating or drinking. I think if I know I'm going into labor, I need to eat before I get there, knowing it'll have to hold me.
When I discuss my fears about labor with people, I often get the response, "But it's so worth it." Well DUH! Of course it's worth it or I wouldn't have done so much to make this happen! But that doesn't mean I'm not scared of the labor. I do have a good support system in place, and I'm hoping that will sustain me through it. But yeah, I'm terrified, and I doubt I will sleep tonight. And I might want to stay with my mom the week of my due date so I'm not royally freaking out. I wish I could just shut my brain off. No such luck!
So yeah, informative, yes. Reassuring, no. But I'm grateful for the positives and I know my little man will be totally worth all the scary. Let's pray that he will hold the record for the shortest labor ever recorded! Cross your fingers! I know I'm crossing mine!!
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