Baby U

The 'Breastfeeding Basics' course on Monday night was great. Topics included the benefits of breastfeeding, the importance of a proper latch, different ways to hold the baby, and a crash course on pumping. We even received a very graphic and colorful hand-out on poop! I feel more confident now about going home right after the birth, especially with the long list of resources and phone numbers the instructor gave us. I've already been compiling helpful hints from websites, and have a few borrowed books on the subject (which I haven't had time to read yet, but hopefully will soon). I really hope breastfeeding happens naturally and easily for us, but even if challenges do arise, I am strongly committed to the process.

On Tuesday night, we attended our second of five Hypnobirthing sessions. I have never in my life felt so completely relaxed. This time we met in the lobby of the outpatient surgery pavilion where it was cool and natural light flooded in through the windowed front wall. First, we sat up and practiced deep 'sleep breathing' as we received a light massaging touch, or effleurage, from our birth partners. Later, we got into a comfortable side-lying position on the floor using yoga mats and mountains of pillows, and relaxed as Tammy read a lengthy Hypnobirthing script. Sonepheth fell asleep! I was awake and conscious throughout, but at times lost her voice and had to strain my sense of awareness to resume hearing her. I was slipping into and out of a very deep state of relaxation. Ahhhhhhhh. It was amazing... And strikingly similar to my experience on laughing gas when I had my wisdom teeth pulled twelve years ago!

I am starting to see how Hypnobirthing works. I understand now how it's possible for the women in the videos we watch in class to lie quietly throughout the entire process of labor, seemingly completely focused and relaxed. You rarely hear them make a sound. I hope that I am able to achieve this level of concentration during labor! I'm sure with steady practice it's possible. But if nothing else, the classes are an opportunity for us to spend some special moments together before the baby comes. And we know that these opportunities will soon be all too precious.