Childbirth 101

Dan and I attended our first baby-related class this evening. Held at the local hospital, it was the first of four in the Cooley Dickinson Hospital "Childbirth 101" series. There were 8 or 9 other couples present, all due within a month or so of each other (duh...). It seems like a pretty nice group of people, some diversity but no major extremes.

I was a little surprised that the topic of basic prenatal diet/nutrition needs was discussed, however briefly, in a class you don't sign-up for until you're a month or two from the end of pregnancy. Oh well, I learned a few more sources of iron and that cottage cheese packs a wicked protein bang for your caloric buck. Good to know.

The instructor, Juniper who is a doula, demonstrated a "normal" or optimal birth with a model of a pelvis and a relatively proportionally correct "doll." Very interesting to observe, especially after her explanation of the Gallant or Swimmer's Reflex (look it up). It helps get the baby into position above the birth canal. Though the reflex should still be active several days after delivery, Dan Coady is not allowed to try it after the baby is born. We also viewed a "look at how well these women are handling labor and delivery" video. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Not every labor/birth is life or death, down to the wire...but I don't for a minute believe that they're all water births, even breathing, nearly silent introspective journeys either. I wonder when they'll show the middle ground.