Lamaze

First Impressions
When Tim and I first talked about taking a birthing class I laughed at the idea.  I thought it was silly and felt it was something you only see in movies or something only people who have a lot of money can afford to (or care to) do.  I thought I'd read as many books as I could, talk to other mothers, and do what my doctors told me and I'd be just fine.  Last but not least, and worst of all, I was arrogant.  I don't need or want to say how.  I didn't need some movie-like birthing class to show me how to breath a certain way while I'm trying to bring my baby into the world.    
"Lamaze promotes a natural, healthy and safe approach to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting. Knowing that pregnancy and childbirth can be demanding on a woman’s body and mind, Lamaze serves as a resource for information about what to expect and what choices are available during the childbearing years."  (Lamaze International website)  
All-knowing/All-powerful!
I left the first class with twice as much knowledge and with a new perspective on child birthing.  I'm not saying I'm all-knowing after one class.  I'm really saying how little I knew before, and that there is so much more to learn.  On the first day of class we learned that birthing a child is natural.  The body has all of the equipment and tools it needs to do this on its own without any unnecessary interventions.  I learned to ask my doctor questions that I would've never thought of on my own, I also learned that I have   My favorite thing about lesson one in Lamaze was that my partner was going to be with me every step of the way, and that he was going to learn what to say, what to do, and to be in total communion with me.  I also learned more about my baby, skin-to-skin contact, slow-chest breathing AND effleurage.  (You rub your belly lightly with your fingertips in a very sensual feel-good way.  Not sexual! Sensual!)
We cover so much in Lamaze and I can't go back and do a recap of my first 3 classes.  There's to much information and not enough time or space for me to organize my thoughts and write about it.  I'll just write about today's class.
Today our teacher, Janice, used props to demonstrate the different ways in which a baby may be delivered.  Her props included a baby doll, a pillow and sheer sack uterus, and an umbilical cord (like a stuffed animal)  She sat in the chair with her legs wide apart and showed us different ways the baby might come out.  The most ideal situation is when the baby's face is facing your butt and not your pelvis (or was it the other way around, I will check my notes)  This is a position that the baby normally and naturally will get into on their own!
Interventions, Epidurals, Narcotics! Don't ever take Cytotec (google it!)
We also talked about interventions.  A lot of doctors use them for medical reasons and some for their own convenience, but we have the option of declining them unless they are absolutely necessary for the baby's or mother's safety.  We learned that labor is so much harder then we even imagine it to be now, but by knowing the stages of labor we can be prepared with a conditioned response to each and every situation that arises (practice required).  Easier said then done, and that's where our partner comes in!  
We also spent some time talking about epidurals today.  She says we all have the choice of having one but she does say that it can prolong labor and increase the risk of an episiotomy or a tear.  We also need to find out what's in the epidural.  Some of them have narcotics in them some don't.  We need to ask our doctor what type of epidural they give.  The narcotics will get to the baby and that has the potential to be dangerous.
Questionable
Lamaze methods have been proven to work... we're not guaranteed anything at the beginning of our class.  We are given knowledge and are supposed to practice the different tools we learn in class.  I believe we can make it work.  There are some things in the class we talk about that seem a bit silly and picky to me, but everyone has their preferences for child birthing.  It's an amazing class and I would recommend it to everyone.  Even women who already have babies.  (We actually have several second time mom's who are taking the class with their husbands for the second time!  YES! Same Baby's daddy as the first time lol)
Birth Plan
I could go on and on about this class so I'll just end by saying that Tim and I are working on our birth plan.  We want to keep it as natural as possible and "we want to have a spontaneous labor without any unnecessary interventions."  I have to put it into quotations because that is what my teacher said and I can't find another way to say it better.
I'm so excited for our little boy to get here, and a bit scared.  So many things to prepare and plan but we are trying to be as ready as we can be and I'm so happy I have a partner and friend who takes such an active role in all of it.  Tim is already such a good dad and I love him so much.  2 more Lamaze classes to go!