38+5

So, after my... ahem... small rant the other day, I went to my NHS Parentcraft Class, dragging an incredibly sleepy Daddy Bear behind me. It was really interesting, and not at all what I expected. With a name such as 'Parent'Craft, I expected it to be about the first few days after baby, nappy changing, feeding, that sort of thing, but it was actually more focused on the labour and birth, which, with mine being very soon, was actually lovely.

Everybody was less pregnant than I, as I think your supposed to go between 28-34 weeks, and that's whereabouts most of the preggo ladies were! I felt there stares on my enormous belly and felt them wondering if I was going to pop in the FOUR HOUR class. I didn't. Bloody wish I did though. Anyway, she went through the stages of labour, early labour tips, wshen to go to hospital, what happens when you get there, coping and pain relief, birthing positions and options, what a birth partner can do for you, what happens immediately after the birth. It was so much information but all very relevant to us, and I think it was more beneficial to me as someone that was about to drop than perhaps the ladies less far along, some who looked very frightened at some things! Can't say some of it didn't scare the bejeezus out fo my but it's inevitably going to happen at some point within the next few weeks!

We then got to look around. Daddy Bear wasn't keen as he knows I'd love to give birth in a birthing centre such as this rather than a hospital, and as soon as I looked around, having been admitted to the labour ward at our local hospital before, much preferred the birth centre :(. There was a young girl who gave birth two days ago and was very happy to let us coo over her tiny bubba. Never felt so broody in my life. We got to see the postnatal room, the birthing suites and the birth pool, and I was really happy to see it, it made it feel very real.

I highly recommend the class to any first-time mum's who perhaps aren't so sure about the labour, like me, and want more information. If you've given birth before it would probably just be everything you already knew!

On another note, my desperation to have my baby focused on this 'supermoon' which apparently makes lots of ladies go into labour. I waited. Considered dancing naked in the moonlight. Still probably wouldn't have worked... Given my neighbours a shock perhaps though...

Still waiting the arrival of our little Baby Bear
xxx