We are prepared for childbirth (at least we think so)

A large chunk of today was spent at Childbirth Preparation Class. And outside of being the only couple in the room that wasn’t a month away from their due date–a bit awkward, but my wife’s a planner–the class was perfectly fine. Admittedly, we weren’t really surprised by the majority of the information provided (again, my wife’s a planner). But it was nice to have clarification on some topics, and the visuals were helpful as well.

But here’s the thing. We watched three videos–on standard labor/childbirth, types of anethesia, and C-sections. No problem. But they’re easily 25 years old. Really? VHS tapes? We haven’t updated these topics in 25 years. Opinions on childbirth and medicine haven’t changed, oh, 25 times since then?

The least we could do is have videos that have been updated to the plaid and grunge of the early 90s… that’s not so much to ask.

All this said, there’s a part of me (the selfish part, I’ll admit) that really misses the days of yore when the men spent their time in the waiting room smoking cigarettes nervously while their wives were doing all of the work. This emotion is not born out of laziness or lack of interest in my child, not at all. I’m just squeamish about blood and stuff.

Now before you get all up in arms about that, keep this in mind: I’ve been to every appointment; I’ve let my wife buy every piece of maternity clothes she thinks she needs; I’m going to all of the classes; and I do plan on being in the delivery room, squeamishness and all.

I want to be involved. I’m going to be involved. But if I’m being completely honest, I can’t deny the extraneous thoughts of “ahh, remember when the men didn’t have to be in the room?” I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s thought that… especially after seeing the birth videos.

(As an aside, do you know how effective these birth videos would be at STOPPING premarital and teenage sex? Particularly if the video was directed by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez? Yeah, I thought so.)

Anyway, looks like we’re as prepared as we’re going to be for the event (ain’t that the truth of everything of this magnitude?). So to close, here’s some quick cool information, courtesy of IVillage:

• One in four women have C-sections (and some are ELECTING to have them? What? Why?)
• At 28 weeks (where my wife is at the moment), the baby’s eyes are finally able to be opened
• The baby looks much like he/she will when he/she is born

That’s the update on the baby for now. Mother and baby are doing great.

Tagged as: becoming a dad, becoming a father, childbirth, father, Fatherhood, ivillage, new, new dad, pregnancy, quentin tarantino, robert rodriguez