Tuesday, July 24, 2012

34 weeks - Are we ready?

Ahh! What the heck is down there?

34 weeks!
(June 24th)

During this week, Chad and I went to a Childbirth Prep class offered at the hospital I'll be delivering. I was feeling very unprepared for labor, delivery, and having a baby placed in our arms (and care) before this time so I was very anxious for the class. Don't get me wrong.....I am still completely overwhelmed thinking about all of that but I'm not as much of a hot mess about it as I was before the class.

You would assume that I got answers to all my questions about everything there is to know about babies, labor and delivery as well as saw a schedule of just how childbirth will go for me (since it's all so predictable after all), how breastfeeding works and how me and the baby will do with it, found out the day, time, and exact location I would be when I went into labor, and last but certainly not least got a pamphlet with everything there is to know about caring for a child for 18+ years...right? Well turns out, they actually can't tell you any of that. Although, literally I think that's what some of the couples in there were expecting to hear.


Which brings me to my point. The class gave us a better peace of mind. And not because we got the run down of the different stages of labor, saw some traumatizing videos, and heard fun words like meconium and lanolin. (Sidenote: Who can seriously hear the word "lanolin" and not think of the movie Anchorman? "Your name is Lanolin? Like sheep's wool?") No, the peace of mind for me came from the realization that lots of people have babies. Turns out, I'm not the only one that's having one, had one, or will have one. And you know what else? There are a LOT of idiots out there and most of them are reproducing. Too harsh? Or too honest?


I can do this. I have too much love in my heart to give this kid, we're gonna be just fine. Chad and I will figure things out each contraction, diaper blow out, 2 year old temper tantrum, bad report card, and missed curfew along the way. We are incredibly lucky to have so many friends and family on our side too. I'm so freaking excited for all of the really wonderful people this kid will meet soon and will be a part of his/her life. I know they'll all be there to support us, listen when we need to vent (ie: give Momma some wine), give our kids sugar when we're not looking, and just love the crap out of them when they don't know what else to do. Did you know not everyone is lucky enough to have that? 


And just when I'm at my wits end and questioning everything I do as a parent.....I hope Chad and I, as well as all parents out there, can remember a really REALLY important thing......

Being a mother or father is not a right, it's a privilege. 

If everyone thought like that...don't you think it would make the world just a little bit of a better place to live in?

-Deep Thoughts by Brooke Johansen. :)

2 comments:

Brittany said...

Right?! I have to remind myself of this often when McK is driving me nuts. She's definitely trying my patience. But I'm learning so much from her. She makes me a better person, without a doubt. I can't wait for you and Chad to be parents. It's the most amazing, scary thing EVER.

Brooke said...

Thanks Brit, well said. :)