Wearing it before he outgrows it

When Anne and I found out we were expecting, one question looming over us was naturally, “how are we going to learn how to do this?” We hadn’t been around babies much as kids ourselves, so it’s only been recently with occasional visits with friends’ young families that we had at least seen the proverbial ropes. Fortunately our friend Lindsay highly recommended a Bradley course here in town that she and her husband attended. Thank goodness for friends with experience to share!

Looking back on it, I can’t imagine any other way to start this grand adventure. It was 12 weeks of two-hour courses, set in Barb’s living room. Eight couples got up to speed fairly quickly on the process of birth and bonded over our related paths. Side-note: Anne and I took a single breastfeeding class at another Omaha hospital and experienced the opposite end of the spectrum- cold conference room, uninspired lecturer, disengaged students playing on their cell phones. Ugh, not for us.

Besides the basics of what was soon to happen, we focused on how to proceed calmly and informed. We practiced meditation as much as we prepared for birth itself. While our original, natural birth plan didn’t go exactly as anticipated, we are confident we did it absolutely the best, given our priorities and the randomness of life. Anne and I were equipped to make decisions together, one step at a time, as Desmond made his entrance.

Today we had a reunion with our Bradley group. It was nice to see everyone and to hear each couple’s birth story around the circle. And of course, lots of babies. And stories about the cute and occasionally gross things babies do.

(Contrary to dad’s opinion/guess, Des was actually quite annoyed at being awoken from him cozy nap to lay on the floor)

I told Des as we were driving over how surreal it was for him to be in the car for this particular destination. But as we walked up the steps to Barb’s house (this time my walk labored by car seat and cargo, rather than Anne’s by pregnant belly/body), it felt good to return to a space so integral to our 38-week journey towards this great unknown of parenthood.