Well, apparently MJ and I are ready for our baby to arrive, because we've graduated from the Childbirth Preparation program at our hospital. Last week was our third and final class, and this one focused on postpartum care and newborn care.
Since MJ had never swaddled a baby before, or had much exposure to newborns, this class was pretty helpful for him. We discussed the recovery time for moms and what kinds of after effects to expect, which was helpful for me. And then we covered breastfeeding, how to care for the belly button stub, and things that we can do to make our lives easier (pre-made frozen dinners, limiting visitors, online grocery shopping, etc).
MJ has finished reading two books for expectant dads, and he is full of questions for me. What kind of music do I want him to load on his iPod for me? What do I want packed in the hospital bag? Where can we get the carseat inspected? I love that he's getting so involved and thinking through this. He's even making plans for how he can adjust his work schedule to spend more time with the baby.
This past weekend I wrote a "wish list" for our labor and delivery (the childbirth class instructor recommended that we call it a "wish list" instead of a "birth plan" to show that we understand things don't always go according to plan). MJ read through it too and we both agree that it's short enough for the nurses to easily read, but it covers all the important points. I will bring it to one of my upcoming OB appointments and go over it with my doctor to make sure we have reasonable expectations.
No comments:
Post a Comment