Classes: Rough start...happy ending

So last night DJ and I went to our first child birth education class - a.k.a lamaze. It was quite an interesting experience to say the least.
The evening started out with DJ getting home from work at 6:30 - did I mention the class STARTS at 6:30!!??!! So needless to say, we had the embarrassing experience of walking into a room full of people late. I hate being late.
So the class was in full swing and the teacher seemed nice enough and very passionate about teaching child birth education. For some reason, DJ and I were like a couple of sixth graders - we were very shy and did NOT feel comfortable talking about pregnancy, our baby, and all that comes with those things in a room full of total strangers. That's coming from me - someone who speaks in front of a hundred people for presentations at work. I don't know - there's just something different about having a small room full of people and talking openly about being pregnant, having a baby, etc... that was totally not my cup of tea. It's so personal!

I wanted to leave.

DJ had to speak in front of the group first. (Phew...I could stall for a few more minutes.) The question was "why are you here?" I can't even remember what he said, but all I can tell you is that my face was bright red when he was done talking. Something about "I guess I'm here to support Heather...". Seriously don't know what he said, but I was next. Crap. My turn.

I think I said that I was there mostly because I am apprehensive of doctors/hospitals. Seriously ... the answers just poured out of our mouths - not even sure we were conscious of what we were saying! Thinking back now, I would have given a much more thoughtful/accurate answer like "Because I want to be as prepared for being mom as I can, and because this is our first baby and I know that we don't have all the answers, and that because you read/hear all of these horror stories about labor and delivery andI want to seperate what's true from what's not." Nope...just "I'm scared of doctors." Sheesh.
But ... thankfully... the evening turned around.
I ended up learning SO much in the first night alone (five more sessions to go). The most exciting things I learned about:
- how to sleep so that it doesn't feel like my stomach is coming apart from my body when I wake up in the morning
- the fact that DJ pulling me up off of the couch or floor is actually really bad for my back
- babies born sunny-side-up cause back labor.
- the importance of knowing my effacement, dilation and station numbers prior to delivery
All news to me!

On the way home, DJ said he was so glad he went because it made him feel closer to me and the baby (aww). I started the night out being angry with him for being late, but then loving him even more at the end of the night for being so supportive. I can't imagine going through this alone. Thanks babe. Love you.