Last night was Ryan and my first time entering the world of “birth classes”. There is a whole world I knew existed, but was never invited into. The name of the center is Best Start and they teach all sorts of baby classes from traditional lamaze to breast feeding lessons. My friend Joy gave me some brochures including one called Hypnobirthing. Now I realize I am a little behind the times in birthing trends because Good Morning America and Dateline have all done shows about hypnobirthing years ago. As we learned tonight…the definition of hypnosis is “deep relaxation”. So in its simplest definition, hypnobirthing is just getting yourself into the deepest state of relaxation you can and “ride” the pain instead of reacting to it. The lady who runs Best Start is a nurse, lactation coach, hypnobirth specialist and the list goes on and on. When I called to register us for the free intro class, she engaged me in a 25 minute conversation asking me a million questions. I could tell on the phone I would like her, but she would be incredibly opinionated! Little did we know that the intro class consisted of me, Ryan and HER! Intimate!
Now I am no more a granola girl than I am considered tall. Don’t get me wrong….I love crunchy girls! I have several friends whom I adore and admire who have had homebirths or natural births, who wouldn’t dare put meat in their mouths, and live in Birkenstocks. They rock my world and I have gleaned much from their lifestyle choices. I am also a realist. I am almost 30 and not about to change too much. I have always loved trendy clothing and makeup and can’t stand not having a tan. I am in no way prissy. If I don’t have my hair done or makeup on, it doesn’t deter me from leaving my house and going about my business in public….I just PREFER to have my stuff together. I say all this because I know as I take birthing classes there is going to be a NOT SO SUBTLE pressure to do everything natural. I am not saying we won’t have a natural birth, I just need to educate myself on all birthing options and pick the best one for me. Everything that was said tonight was 100% one-sided…can you guess what side? She kept asking if we had any questions and we didn’t have any. I mean hypnobirthing makes sense. God has done an amazing thing by how he creates this whole process from conception to delivery. I know our bodies were designed to do this and I am excited to not be in the dark about this whole mystical experience called “birthing”. Next week we go back to Best Start for an introduction to the New Parents class. This will be an interesting experience and we will keep you updated on what we are learning.
Poor Ryan….we got to watch a hypnobirth happen. It was pretty amazing how calm, quiet and stress-free it seemed. You actually don’t even push in the end, you “breath the baby out.” It was quite bloody and gooey…but as soon as that baby’s head came out and you saw the face, it just takes your breath away how incredible the whole process is.
So here is Ryan and I getting ready to go to class with our hypnobirth brochure in hand. Ryan was a GREAT sport and I feel so blessed to have him enthusiastic and willing to come to all the different birthing things I will be dragging him to over the next 5 months.
Just breathing the baby out?? Hello, is that even possible?? I can’t imagine just laying there, laboring down and *breathing* the baby out - I just kept wanting to push! But as with almost everything else in life, there isn’t just one way to give birth. And whether you choose natural or not it doesn’t matter as long as you make the best decision for you.
So was Ryan scarred by watching the birth? That was Tim’s favorite part of the class… *insert sarcasm and eye roll*
OMG - you and your little belly are SO CUTE! Look at you being all pregnant and trendy. Okay, I’m gonna need you to go ahead and make a scrapbook of your pregnant outfit options and just make me a copy and send it on up. That’s be great. Thanks!
Okay, seriously, though - don’t feel pressure about ‘natural’ birthing - no method is right for everyone, and you have to be comfortable with your choice. Not everyone is a candidate for natural or homebirths, so don’t feel the pressure. In the meantime, learn as much about hypnobirthing - might help you through some rough end-of-the-year classes, too!
Yes, you do look very cute, isn’t it neat watching your body change? I really don’t think I could do a natural birth, I WANT drugs. If you decide that is what you want, then DO IT, if not, that is GREAT too. Hope the classes really pay off, and that you get to use what you learn in about 5 months!
i bet some of the women who do ‘natural’ birthing have mustaches too… and i bet their armpits and legs look a lot like mine too.
you thought i was not going to be able to incorporate mustache may in this comment did you?
Okay, can I just make one thing clear to those of you who don’t know me or my family. Joey Joe Joe is my brother-in-law and sadly enough….Uncle-to-be. He has a twisted sense of humor and this month he declared it Moustache May and has decided to grow this nasty, pedophile moustache. He thinks it is funny to work this into all his comments. You either get it or you don’t, but don’t be offended….he is harmless….just keep your children close!
Kel- it has been too long since I browsed your blog! Your moving????! That is so great! The house looks cute. You are look adorably pregnant too! Do you need help moving?
My DH complains about going to the classes, but as soon as I do something with out him–he has a million questions. Then, he seems bummed out that he didn’t come with. I usually give him some sort of reward for coming with (like we can have lunch at his favorite restaurant).
I did hypnobirthing with my last two babies… I am SO glad we took the courses. It worked fabulously for me… except at the end. Like Candace said — breathing the baby out? HA HA HA HA HA. That was the part where the hypnobirthing just wasn’t cutting it for me anymore and I was making noise (prior to that had been laboring quite calmly) and feeling everything. However. I did get baby out both times in under ten minutes, so it worked out OK that way.
i’m a nice guy…
really.