(no subject)

[sexyscholar]

So.

I've decided to quit my Lamaze classes. I've gone to three of them, and not only do I feel like my time is being wasted but the energy I use up just to get there (my hubby and I don't have a car, so we bus it there) just doesn't seem to be worth it. I don't really like the teacher's approach. I don't doubt that she knows the subject matter...I just don't think she's adept at teaching it.

The breathing exercises I've learned do work for me. I've been using them when I have BH contractions, and they help me get through them with relative ease. They will pale in comparison to the real thing, but it does give me hope that I'll survive labor.

Everything else has been very elementary stuff that 1) I could have learned on my own with the help of the library, 2) we've been doing already, or 3) just don't make any damned difference.

An example of #3 -- last night we were looking at descriptions of pain tolerance levels and how much we think we'd be able to stand in labor before wanting some kind of medication. These degrees are identified by numbers. The teacher says, "If your number and your partners number have a difference of more than four, you should probably talk more about your pain tolerance levels...yadda yadda yadda."

My husband: "You know, how I feel doesn't mean a goddamned thing. She's the one that has to endure this. It's gonna kill me that I can't do anything to help her. All I can do is is be there for her, be there when she needs me and take the lumps if she chooses to dish 'em out. If she wants drugs, I'm gonna make sure she gets 'em."

Did I mention that I adore my husband?

So I'm going to call the Lamaze organization today to see how to go about dropping out of the class, and seeing if I can get any of my money back for it. I figure they can't hit me and tell me "no."

Did I have a point with this? Nope. Just felt like venting a little bit. :p

Comments

[gingerdc9.livejournal.com]

Lamaze just seems like such BS.
I may try Bradley, but I haven't decided yet.
They need a class on epidurals! ;-)

[vonpookie.livejournal.com]

The teacher says, "If your number and your partners number have a difference of more than four, you should probably talk more about your pain tolerance levels...yadda yadda yadda."

Wtf?

Yanno, I understand everything nowadays is keyed into getting the guys to be more involved with child-rearing and such, but come on. Is she really that freaking stupid to think they should have any sort of say in THAT? The logic, she is not strong with that one.

She needs to go back to biology class. Fer shur.

[lil-tater.livejournal.com]

Yup.

And when it comes to pain...EVERYTHING that is taught nowadays to doctors and nurses and everyone else in the medical profession - Pain is what the *patient says it is*. Not what the nurse THINKS the patient is feeling, or how much pain the husband thinks the wife is in.

That's a load of crap.

Hell, that's why drug seekers get away with so many prescriptions. If someone says they are in excruciating pain, they HAVE to give it to them. If someone is moaning/crying, but says they don't hurt, they CAN'T give them anything.

That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard...matching pain scales...wtf? *muttergrumble*

[lacey]

I know where you're coming from with the mindless, unnecessary time wasting shit... my college Freshman Orientation class is that way. Costs you money and wastes your time. Sheesh.

[team-jessie.livejournal.com]

That's very cool what your husband said... and I've always wondered if those classes had any hard science behind them. It doesn't sound like it to me!

Lamaze

[scriptangel.livejournal.com]

I found the breathing and visualization techniques I learned in Lamaze classes to be very helpful for focusing my mind, and overcoming the pain. The shot of pain medication they gave me helped a lot to. But I didn't have to have the epidural, which I was very happy about. I wasn't too keen on having a needle in my spine, if ya' know what I mean.

[ryl.livejournal.com]

All this talk of pain numbers reminds me of when my Older Sister had her first baby. She was hooked up to a drip that she could turn up when she felt too much pain. She got so high from that.

[beckerbuns.livejournal.com]

I had that after my first c-section. Morphine drip, yeah. It was heavenly. They wouldn't give me one the second time around. :(

[freakout.livejournal.com]

Don't even worry about it. I took a class like that and I didn't use any of it. I got high, just for the sake of gettting high (ha), but the drugs didn't do anything at all for the pain. You'll be fine!

[pink-aster.livejournal.com]

This is something they didn't tell me. My mom told me while I was in the midst of labor. I wish I could demonstrate this for you, but the best thing in the world, rather than counting your breaths and shit, is just to blow out as hard as you can, like the big bad wolf...you're blowing down a brick house, baby, and even try to imagine that. Seriously. The harder you force that air out, the better.

[pink-aster.livejournal.com]

I did it all without any drugs, too.

[beckerbuns.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you'll be fine. I don't know how many woman actually remember all that stuff during labor anyway.

Getting close now eh!