The First Class

I love the first night of class

We started a new Lamaze class last night. Couples began to come a few minutes early, which is always a good sign. We start as strangers eager to learn about each other.

We introduce ourselves. As nurse/childbirth educator and lactation consultant I have the obvious role of teacher but mostly a first night is about the couples and getting to know each other. I ask the group to turn to another couple and spend a few minutes trying to find 3 things they have in common... other then being pregnant. This is of course the obvious commonality. When you are pregnant you feel like the only one in the world going through this experience. In the real world though you have lots of company. Your first pregnancy is full of questions and new experiences. It's fun and scary as you watch your body grow and feel the new little person growing inside. You and your partner start preparing for the arrival.

We begin introductions and I always ask couples to tell their due date and one thing they've done to get ready for the baby.. but it has to be unique. If someone says they've put together the crib someone else can't say they did that. It's always fun to hear the answers, cleaning out the spare room for a new baby, reading a book about fathers and daughters, putting together the swing, preparing a family heirloom cradle for the soon to appear new baby, and all the traditional things couples do to prepare for a new baby. Since the beginning of time parents have prepared the very same way. Just as in the miracle of birth a family begins to form as it has throughout the generations. We find out that we have lots in common.

The class then turns to the obvious focus.. birth. The word alone has taken on a whole new meaning for the couples. We start by finding words that describe birth, "birth is... exciting, expensive, unpredictable, amazing, but then I ask for the four letter words that describe birth... hard, long, pain, messy, SCARY! As a group we come to realize that this normal process of birth has many unknowns. A woman and her partner need to take time to examine what birth means to them. What questions do you have, what fears are hidden inside, how will partners help? The nine months of pregnancy gives us time to prepare. In childbirth class we will begin tonight learning the ageless strategies that women pass on. We begin talking about "Healthy Birth Practices" that Lamaze has collected. Lamaze has looked at studies from all over the world to find simple practices that help a woman and her family work through labor and birth.

1. Labor begins on it's own
2. Find a loved one, support person or doula to help you through labor.
3. Move, walk, follow your need to move around during labor.
4. Avoid routine interventions, unless medically necessary.
5. Stay upright to give birth
6. Keep mother and baby after birth, preferably skin to skin, allowing baby to breastfeed as desired.

These simple practices give women and their care givers a guide for care. We will be learning more about the "Healthy Birth Practices" in the remainder of class. Be sure and spend some time exploring the Lamaze.org website and watch a video on what happens in a Lamaze class.
Prepare your home, your heart, and yourself to bring this new person into your family. Examine your feeling about giving birth. Name your strengths, your partners strengths, your questions. When you put all your questions on the table you can deal with them. Work toward increasing confidence. You will know how to give birth and take care of this baby, just as you are growing this baby. It comes from care, love and surrounding yourself with loving supportive people.

I love the first night of class. I get to share in the joy of the miracle of birth with a new collection of families. I meet new friends. We will share in this amazing experience. Each family will tell a different story, each baby will be a new and shiny person.