I Do Not Own CSI
"Hello everyone," the Lamaze instructor said as Sara, with the help of Gil sat down on the pillow on the floor.
"Hi, Sherry."
"Ok everyone, I want you to get into position, Husbands, boyfriends, partners, I want you behind Mommy, supporting her back."
"You ok," Gil asked as he shifted behind Sara.
"Yeah, can you adjust the back pillow a bit?"
"That better?"
"Great."
"Ok class, today being our last day, we're going to focus on our breathing exercises and breastfeeding your newborn as well as post partum depression and life after baby."
"Learning to breathe diaphragmatically is the most important tool for preparing for the labor and delivery experience. This means that when you inhale, you fill the lungs with air and expand your belly, allowing the diaphragm to drop into the abdominal cavity. As you exhale, the diaphragm will rise and the belly will contract," the instructor said as all the women in the room took giant breaths.
"Partners, this is where you come in handy. Rubbing Mommy's back and shoulders is a great help. And, if you're brave enough, you can give them your hand to squeeze. But don't be surprised if it's bruised the next day."
"You brave enough, bug man?"
"I think I can take it."
For the next fifteen minutes every pregnant woman in the room practiced their breathing.
"Are you taking deep breaths, too," Sara asked, feeling Gil's chest rise higher on her back.
"I'm feeling left out," Gil joked back.
"Oh honey, trust me, you are not left out."
"Now class, I want to throw in quickly about labour and pain. I can tell you from my own experience that childbirth is a lot of work and it can be very painful or not so much, although you will feel some sort of pain during the process."
"Did you take the drugs," Sara asked.
"For my second and third baby I did. When I was pregnant with my first child I decided to tough it out. My first birth was actually easier than my other two. My two other babies were another story. They were both very long labours."
"How long," Gil piped in.
"Brady, my second child, was 22 hours plus two hours of pushing and Michael was 23 hours plus another two hours of pushing."
"How come it took so long to push them out," Sara asked.
"Your OB has probably told you this. When you're pushing the baby out, every time the contraction ends the baby retracts back in a little bit; two steps forward one step back. Pushing drains your energy, fast."
"So with twins I could be looking at four hours of pushing?"
"Not necessarily, if your second baby is turned and ready to come down, it may not take long at all. Some women do shrink back after baby one is born, and it could be hours before you're ready to start pushing again."
"I think I'm starting to dread labour," Sara said timidly.
"You'll do fine," Gil reassured.
"And I'll be there every step of the way."
"Holding my hand?"
"Holding your hand."
"Ok, now we're going to move to breastfeeding. Now this can be a little daunting to new mommies, even second or third time mommies as well. Breastfeeding provides your baby with the best possible nourishment. For the first six months of your baby's life the baby is receiving all your antibodies to help build his or hers immune system so they can fight off coughs, colds, and the flu, among other things," she said as she handed out fake babies to the group, giving two to Sara.
"Pillows are a must when you're breastfeeding. Have them around your back, under your elbow or on your lap for added support," she said as Sara put the pillow on her lap, balancing a baby on each side of her.
"We got a quick learner over here. Sara, you've got a good hold on them. The only thing I would suggest for comfort is a football hold, so the babies' bodies are draped to your sides," she said as Gil helped Sara change the dolls' positions.
"Better."
For the next half hour the instructor went over proper holds and how to get your baby to properly latch on.
"How do I know if the baby is getting enough," Sara asked.
"Good question, Sara. One way is to count the number of wet diapers you're changing. A baby should wet at least six wet diapers a day."
"That's a lot of dirty diapers," Gil mumbled.
"And you get to change a lot of them, honey."
"Fluid intake is also an important factor. Moms, try and drink at least six to eight glasses of water a day and in between feedings.
"And don't forget you will have a nurse to help you with your first feedings at the hospital. Don't be afraid to ask for help as well," the instructor said, continuing on.
"Now, when you bring your baby or babies home from the hospital, you're probably going to be thinking, 'what now?' Do I sleep, clean the house, eat, what? The answer is, do what moves you.
"For the first while your baby is going to basically eat, sleep and poop. But I highly recommend that when your baby sleeps that you sleep, even if it's just for a half hour. Trust me, even though your baby isn't doing much you will feel exhausted.
Don't be afraid to let friends or family do a load of dishes or laundry and welcome meals that people want to make."
"Mom will like that."
"That's ok. She feeds me, I'll feed these two."
"But with coming home, Moms, be prepared for the baby blues. A lot of new mothers suffer from it."
"Did you," Gil asked.
"I did, but it went away about ten days after birth."
"What kind of symptoms should we look out for," Sara butted in.
"Mood swings are one of them, happy one minutes, sad the next. You may feel a little depressed or have a hard time concentrating. Loss of appetite and not being able to sleep are other symptoms."
"How long does it last," Sara asked nervously.
"Usually no longer than two weeks. If it's lasting longer than that, you should talk to your doctor; you may need medication to help.
"Be advised that post partum depression can start weeks and months after childbirth. Partners, this is where you come in handy. Be sure to look out for all these signs."
"So, Moms-to-be, now that this is our last class, how is everyone feeling?"
"Nervous," all the women said.
"And that is totally natural, for dads too. This experience is a life changing one. I can guarantee that your life will never be the same again. Now, if there are anymore questions, this is our last class so feel free to ask away."
"I have some," Gil said as Sara laid back into his chest.
"Shoot"
"It's about labour and delivery, what happens in the case of an emergency? What happens if the babies are breech?"
"Well, doctors will monitor the breech baby and consider turning it internally."
"And if it can't be turned?"
"Then a C-section is usually required."
"What happens if the cord is wrapped around the neck," he shot out quickly.
"Then the baby is delivered as quickly as possible. The doctor will usually find a way to unlatch the cord from the neck. If that can't be done, a C-section is on the table again. You won't know until you're in the delivery room."
"With a twin birth, what happens if one baby is turned the right way but the other is breech?"
"Again, the doctor will try and turn Baby B or decide to deliver feet first, or even opt for a C-section for the second baby."
"When is there a need for a vacuum or clamps," Gil asked as Sara closed her eyes in embarrassment as other women in the room started to cringe.
"They're just used to help get the baby's head out."
"Can that hurt the baby?"
"No, but it may leave a funny mark on the baby's head for a few days."
"What if Sara starts to lose too much blood?"
"Gil, stop asking questions," Sara muttered, looking apologetically to the other couples.
"The doctors will monitor the mother's blood loss, and will act quickly if too much blood loss is happening. Medicine is given to help slow the mother's blood loss."
"And what happens if.."
"Gil, enough!"
"Sara I just want to know what to expect."
"And you're scaring the other mothers in the room. These things you're talking about are worst case scenario things. We'll have doctors all around us monitoring things, stop worrying so much!"
"Sorry," Gil said guiltily, looking up at very nervous looking mothers.
"Sorry," he said again.
"Just remember that a baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, homes happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten and the future worth living for," the instructor said, trying to end the class on a happier note.
There was no sound in the room except grunts as expectant mothers stood up.
"I can't believe you asked all those things! No wait, yes I can," Sara said as Gil pulled her up.
"I said I was sorry."
"You owe me! I'm thinking a back and foot rub." A grunt from Gil was the only answer she got in response.
TBC
I had to have a lamaze class chapter, lol, and have grissom asking a bunch of worst case scenario questions!
A lot of people have been asking when the babies are coming and if the names have been picked out yet and the answer is yes the babies are coming soon and the names have been picked out. I'm thinking sometime late next week we'll get to the baby chapters, so don't worry they are coming!
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews!
Katie