We Have a Baby License

On Saturday we attended and successfully completed a birthing class. After the 8 hour course, they gave us a certificate with our names on it. I'm sure you've made or heard comments like, "people should have to get a license to have a kid", well went and got one.

The class consisted of us and about 10 other couples who were also having their first baby. Most were due in the next 2-3 months, and surprisingly, 30% of us were not going to find out the sex of the baby. I was expecting us to be the only ones.

We did everything from watch videos, gave massages to our partners, and practiced breathing exercises. We talked about the different options for pain management (hard drugs, epidurals, au naturale) and the pros and cons of each. I don't think anyone was going full-natural birth, mostly epidurals. The instructor (a delivery nurse veteran) also predicted the sex of the baby for all us surprisers. She says we're having a boy.

The videos made everyone a little squeamish. When they showed the first pictures of crowning during a delivery, it was a strange mix of gasping and loud silence. I have a new found amazement for women and what their bodies are capable of. Oh, and all the women shown during active delivery we naked. Even the instructor had no idea why.

All in all, the class was good for both of us. I learned a lot and enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I'm excited to put our baby license to good use.