Last class.
April 1st 2009
Well, we had our last prenatal class last night. They are held at the County-City Health Unit, and so far seem to be quite different from other people’s classes I have read about.
In our first class, we arrived to see a line of fake babies lying on the floor. The “dads” had to pick up a baby and a swaddling blanket and swaddle the baby. I was almost in hysterics to see the variation in how the fake babies were picked up. Some dads would grab one by an arm or leg, and the floppy thing would get tossed ungently into a waiting lap. Chris scooped his up rather gently, but then handed it to me upside down by one leg. HIs swaddle was the saddest thing I have ever seen…but, he’s never done it before so I guess he gets a pass there. The nurse said to wrap the baby like a burrito, so maybe that makes sense as I don’t think I have ever seen Chris wrap a burrito that doesn’t explode on the way to his mouth.
Our fake baby also sent me to hysterics later in the class because when it was set lying down on its back, it was rather unfortunately bloated, so it looked like it had been sitting in the sun dead for a little too long. Really funny, but oh so wrong.
But anyhow, last (fifth) class last night. We mainly talked about c-sections, newborn care, home care after the birth, and the transition to parenthood. I was reminded yet again how different I am than some of these women when we had to gather in a circle and talk about things we had concerns about in the transition to parenthood. I went first as no-one else wanted to talk and I said that I really thought I would miss my job, and it was a concern to me. Well, I can tell you I felt like the biggest freak in the room based on the rolly-eyed agog expressions levelled my way. Even after class, one of the women came up to me and said “what do you DO?!” — my answer apparently wasn’t as exciting as the elaborate fantasy job some of these women apparently conjured up in their heads for why I would have the temerity to think I might miss working in favour of staying home with a child.