Birthing Class #1

I think my husband may be scarred for life. He tried to not watch during the "gory parts" of the birthing video, but I think he caught a little of it. Now that he knows where babies come out of, he's wondering how in the heck it's possible. lol And I get to do it twice in a row! I told him he really doesn't have to watch the "gory parts" of my delivery. I think if he did he'd never want to make love to me again and that's no good at all. The twins were kicking up a storm during the video too. I think it freaked them out. "You mean I have to do WHAT?? I'll get squished! You must be joking..." The rest of the class was great too. Very informative and I think my husband learned TONS about labor and delivery. Hopefully he won't listen to anything I say during transition. His feelings get hurt easily, so if I call him names, he'll pout and be all upset about it. And that's why I'm getting a doula! So she can help me through the pain, and hopefully I won't say anything mean to the hubby. :-)

I'm still on the doula search. I've interviewed a bunch and so far no one has struck me as perfect. One lady was very sweet, but old enough to be my grandma--waaaay too weird. Most are old enough to be my mom, and that's pretty weird too. I'm hoping to get someone who is in her 20's even if it means she doesn't have as much experience. I mean it's not like she's delivering the babies, she's just helping with the pain and being overall supportive. And if she can do that, why do I need someone older with 15 or 20 years of experience? I did find someone whose fee is only $400 and she sounds young over the phone, so I'm hoping we click well. My goal is to pick someone by the end of January, and I think that is 100% doable.

Classes & Doulas

Shmuel & I went to a parenting multiples class today. Shmuel learned how to change a diaper and swaddle a baby, and we got this great binder full of tips and resources. Tomorrow is our first birthing class! I'm really excited about that.

I've been interviewing doulas right and left. So far prices range from $550 to $1100 with most being about $900. Unfortunately, my two favorite are both $900. Maybe one of them will lower their price so I can afford it. The one who's $550 sounds on the phone like she's old enough to be my grandma, so we'll see how I like her when I interview her tomorrow.

Birthing Class

So here's where you get to know Elana more than you thought possible...

I enrolled in a birthing class today. Now for the background story. :-) When I was a kid, I was always fascinated by pregnancy and childbirth, but also completely embarrased by it. I could watch the same footage of someone on a TV show giving birth (completely fake, of course) a zillion times, but I'd be rediculously embarrased if someone was watching with me or if someone "caught" me watching it. It's not like I was watching pornography, but it still felt weird. Anyhoo, if someone else was in the room, I couldn't even watch someone on TV in a birthing class without my face getting all red! So now you know how I feel about this. I'm terrified that I'm going to be all embarrased just being in a birthing class with my hubby! Heck, I'm terrified that I'm going to be embarrased giving birth in front of anyone--hubby, nurses, even the doctor. So I'm all excited to be going to a real birthing class (where I probably know all the info anyway from watching all those tv shows and reading everything in sight), but I'm also embarrased that I'm even signed up. lol Maybe I should just stay home and give birth by myself in the bathtub. :-) I'm a weirdo, but that's why you love me!