Antenatal Class & Growth Scan

Antenatal Class 1 - Labour/Delivery:

Our first antenatal class was last Wednesday and was all about labour and delivery.  My lovely mother-in-law accompanied to me as ALS wasn't able to make it due to a change in dates (see my 33 week update).  Quite honestly, I don't think I learned anything that I didn't already know.  However, I assume that was mostly because I've always had such an interest in pregnancy, I've read every book/website that I can lay my hands on and I work in a the Maternity/Gynae Department at my local hospital for a while.  These were the sort of topics that were covered:

- How to know when you're in labour and what to do during the early stages.
- How to time contractions.
- When to call the hospital.
- When to call an ambulance.  FYI the only time this is acceptable is if there's a head poking out!
- What types of pain relief are available.
- What happens after delivery (delivery of the placenta, baby checks, feeding, going home).
- When you'll be visited by the midwife once you're home.

It was a good opportunity to meet other couples, although we didn't really speak much and I think my wish to make mummy friends might be a bit of a long shot given that the most of the couples there were very different to ourselves and I didn't really "click" with anyone.

I think next week will be a bit more informative, especially for ALS, as it is all about newborn care and the first few weeks at home with baby.  Whilst I have experience with babies, ALS is very new to this and only held a baby for the first time a couple of months ago.  Even from my point of view, I'm hoping it will be useful for things that I've never experienced such as breastfeeding and bathing a baby - it'll be nice to get to go together as well.

34 Week Scan:

Today we had our 34 week scan (at 34+5 weeks) and things are all going pretty nicely.  Baby is head down with its bottom under my ribs on the left hand side and its feet pressing up into my ribs on the right (the source of much of my discomfort).  It was pointed out to us that baby is growing nicely and that its head is on the larger side and is on the 95th centile.  This was a source of much amusement to us, as ALS has a rather large head and as a family we like to remind him of this often.  It was also a source of some panic from me - nobody wants to hear that they got to push out a giant head! 

Baby's weight currently was estimated at 5 lb 13 oz - which is quite large in my opinion.  If it puts on the expected half a pound a week, then it'll be nearing 9 lb by due date and 10 lb if I end up going to 42 weeks!  However, everyone I've spoken to recently has found their estimated birth weight was quite a bit higher than baby ended up being and the sonographer did say that the head measurement may be skewing the calculations a little.  Considering I've gained less than 10 lb so far, I'd be surprised if a whole 6 lb of that was baby but we shall wait and see!

I'm absolutely thrilled that baby is the right way round and apparently it is at a 4/5 position in terms of engagement, so just dipping into my pelvis.  Time for lots of bouncing on my ball to get it lower down ready for the big day.  As there are no concerns with the growth, this will be our last scan and I won't see the Consultant again now until 6th November (40+5 weeks) for a sweep, if I've not had a baby by then!  It's all starting to feel very real.