Prenatal Class

I must say some parts of Prenatal class seem completely pointless, and others quite useful. I have found it has really gotten Ryan and I talking about certain things and situations that could come up that you otherwise wouldn't think of (similar to marriage classes I suppose). One example was given this week that suggested if you have a cesarean (planned or unplanned) to wait until mom is out recovery and you are all together as a family before dad calls anyone to tell them the good news. In the example the nurse who teaches our class was telling us that sometimes she's seen cesareans performed where mom is not awake, and when she wakes she finds everyone already knows what the sex of baby was except for her (as dad has gone and told everyone while she was in recovery). I can only imagine how devastated I'd feel if that were to happen to me! You go to sleep pregnant, wake up not pregnant, and the whole family is at the hospital admiring your little girl or boy and you don't even know what the sex of baby turned out to be.

There was a handout at class this week that I thought was really good, and might go up on the fridge next to the Anti-Rules I also suggested to Ryan we post it on the front door for everyone to read before they come in the house :)

DO'S

• DO call before you come by, and arrange to visit at a time convenient for the parents. Evenings, which may be more convenient for you, are usually the worst time for parents. This one I know from our friends who have a 4 month old, she is really crabby from 4-bedtime.
• DO keep your visits short. 15-20 minutes is good.
• DO bring food offerings. Suppers particularly come in handy. You may bring frozen dishes or plan in advance to serve an entire supper.
• DO praise the new parents about their growing parenting skills.
• DO offer your opinion when it is asked for.
• DO offer to wash some dishes, do some laundry, and run the vacuum.
• DO respect the parent's needs to do their own thing, their own way, in their own time. As an aside to this one I was reading my "What to Expect the 1st Year" book last night and they made a good point about advice from elders about the RIGHT way to do things...stating things have changed a lot in the years since they had newborns, such as lying babies on their tummies (now it is suggested you lie them on their backs in the crib) and how some older ways of doing things might not be the correct/best way these days
• DO listen raptly to birth stories

DON'TS

• DON'T bring the whole family and settle in for the afternoon.
• DON'T accept offers of tea/coffee unless you make it and clean up afterwards.
• DON'T tell parents that you hate the baby's name...one reason we are not telling anyone the name until baby arrives! We figure once you see baby you will like the name, if you don't, keep it to yourself ;)
• DON'T give unsolicited advice.
• DON'T smoke (We don't allow that in our home anyways but feel free to use the porch!)
• DON'T expect the mother to leave the room to nurse the baby (as a personal preference I think I will leave).
• DON'T ask to hold the baby. Wait for an offer.
• DON'T visit if you are feeling even a tiny bit under the weather.