I'm debating about classes, but I'm also a FTM... I think the one I really want to take is the breastfeeding one, because everyone I've talked to so far says it's harder than it looks. I've already lined up a hospital tour in a few weeks with my hubby. I'm wondering if all the reading I'm doing will help because unless a childbirth class is free, I'm not putting money into it. I feel as though I have a decent idea of the possibilities during labor, and I don't have a plan on how things are going to go. I'm a go with the flow kinda person, which is why I've had my nose in books and forums, as well as asking my friends and family about their experiences. Am I being naive?

I started packing my bag and the baby's diaper bag this weekend! Makes it seem a little more real. I have 10 weeks to go and both my boys were at least a week early.

Nothing else is ready for her though. Hubby and I spent the weekend stripping 5 layers of paint off a gorgeous oak wardrobe to go in her room. He was took the day off today to finish that up and hopefully we'll be able to paint the inside and varnish the outside this week. I still have a lot to get done in her room and need to make a list and start checking things off. Her crib and bassinet are not up. Changing table/dresser is upstairs put covered in crap. I did get her cloth diapers washed this weekend and put away. And clothes are washed and in dresser or hanging up in the spare closet.

It is getting so close! Other exciting news - She finally dropped out of my ribs over the weekend. I can breathe again and no longer having heartburn or burping when I eat or drink. There was literally no room for food in there for quite a while! Getting so very excited!!!

I did not go to a class with my first, I wanted to but it never happened.
Now, since I have been through it once before and have been to other people's births in between too, I dont feel the need.
I have never been to a breastfeeding class but have heard that those are a waste of money if your hospital has a lactation nurse, you will get more help and education from her than from a class.

Curious: what are y'all packing in your hospital bags?

Adding onto the already awesome list that the others have started....

*Big Brother Presents for our sons
*Pennant bunting to wrap around the bassinet so that she is easy to spot in the nursery
*Stocking Hats and No Scratch Mitts for the baby
*Our favorite kinds of tea bags, to-go thermos for the tea as I dislike the little styrofoam cups, trail mix, and fresh fruit for snacks as I seem to be ravenous the first few days after labor
*Thank you cards that are prestamped. When people come I get their address right then and there and if I have time I'll write the note that same day. Saves from forgetting later on.
*Pacifer in case we need it. Hint for when baby gets their shots - is dip the pacifer in sugar water and let the baby suck on it. For some reason sugar water is a natural pain reliever. At least that is what my doctor told me, and she'd always check with mom when she would do circumensions if she could do that. So I had it done with each of the boys with their circs and told the lab gals to do it with their shots and blood draws. Only time baby got the pacifer though, and make sure you take it out of the bassinet so they don't use it in the nursery.


Question for you ladies - Have any of you ever requested that they do all procedures for the baby in your room rather then the nursery? This is the one thing I am really worried about. We are delivering in a different hospital then where we delivered our sons. The hospital we delivered the boys at I worked there at the time on the medical floor. I knew all the staff. I knew the procedures. It did not worry me. I could request which nurse or lab tech came and do what test, as I knew who did a good job at it. That hospital is a small community hospital and they lost a couple of the doctors who did OB, so at this time they are not doing OB until they are able to replace them. Hence the reason for new doctor and new hospital. I love the midwife we are going to and not concerned about the labor/birth because we are on the same page with that. But when we had the tour of the hospital delivery and then post partum suites that was the one thing the tour guide kept saying. Baby has to go to nursery for this, and baby has to go to nursery for that. And I am thinking... Bull$%&# the whole time. This is a large hospital and it seriously petrifies me the thought of her leaving my room. The first bath and all that follow have to be in the nursery because they have a 'special' tub they do those in. I told the lady it was not happening because we videotape the first bath and it will happen in our room or I will just do it myself. Same thing with labs, I want them to happen in my room so that I can calm the baby immediately. I know how the labs work (helped do them a hundreds of times), I am not going to freak out that my baby is crying (it happens and I know they are mainly pissed about their foot being held and squeezed), what does concern me is that after they finish with labs they will just wrap her back up leave her crying and move to the next baby to do labs on. I want to be able to hold her and comfort her as soon as it is complete and I don't trust them to bring her back as soon as they are done. Also at our old hospital, my doctor did the baby's examine in the room and then would do mine each morning. At the large hospital, the midwife will do my examine and a ped doctor will do the baby's. I want that done in my room so I can ask the doctor questions and was told nope they only do examines in the nursery and then will come and talk with me. So after they do 20 exams how will they know which darn baby was even mine.

It makes me so frustrated already thinking about it, and I feel and kinda of know that if I put up a big enough stink that I probably will get my way. I am paying for this service, so they have to meet my request if they are not out of line. But are these out of line. What do you guys think?

I am with you on that one. Put up your stink and maybe you will even get your way.

I am going to the same hospital with this baby as I did my last. The only thing they took the baby out for is the stupid hospital policy that mom has to get some sleep and if mom is sleeping then baby can't be in the room, because baby always has to be attended.
Well, with this baby now I am married and will have my hubby with me, I won't be alone this time. So, I am hoping because my husband is in the room to watch him then they won't take him while I am sleeping.

Wow I have never heard of that rule! We would take the babies to the nursery when the mom went to bath/shower because (small hospital) there was not one in the room and they had to go down the hall. But if anyone was there that mom felt comfortable baby staying with then baby could stay in the room. Just had to stress that they had to stay in the room because occasionally 'Grandma would come walking down the hallway to the waiting room to get a cookie carrying the baby' type example. But again small hospital that was maybe 50 feet away from the OB unit and we'd just turn them around and go get what they were after.

The only time I had my baby taken out of the room was for their circumsions. I was fine with that as sterile procedure they needed to set it up where it should be done, etc. And then on my second night with my second child, the night nurse aide came in and took the baby so I would sleep. I was so glad she did because I was exhausted, but knew they were busy so I did not want to 'bother them' but he would not stop crying and just wanted to be held and scream. She kept him over there for about 2 hours before he finally started to act like he was hungry and brought him back and by then it was 4am. He slept pretty well after that snuggled with me in bed. But again I was fine with this because I worked with them. I trusted them. I knew that my baby was in perfect hands. I knew they would follow my request. I could literally walk out my door and knock on the nursery door/window and they'd bring him back in. This big hospital I just feel like we are going to get lost in the shuffle and they will do things their own way.