One thing I was a little confused about before were contractions. I wasn't sure what they'd feel like, when I can start to expect them to happen, how long they'll last, at what point do I grab my bag and head for the hospital, etc. In a nutshell, I can now expect to experience pre-labor contractions, which is basically nature's way of preparing my body for the real deal. They are described to kind of feel like period pains, lasting only around 15-45 seconds, and are irregular (meaning they don't have any pattern). Walking can usually help ease them. On the other hand, true labor contractions usually last longer (up to a minute), get progressively stronger, closer together, and walking only makes them worse.
As we left the class, I asked Kyle, "So what did you learn today?" (as if I was a mother to an 8 year old). He said, "The 5-1-1 rule". Yay! He was paying attention! The 5-1-1 rule basically means it's time to get this show on the road...we are going to the hospital! If my contractions are 5 minutes apart, are 1 minute long, and last for 1 hour, then it's GO TIME.
Right now this all seems like it's still quite a ways away. That's okay though, I feel as though I need to learn a few more things, figure out exactly where I stand with this whole pain-relief conflict, finish up the nursery, and well, let Jack develop some more!
One a side note: I watched Juno last night, and it had me completely balling at the end. I've seen that movie a bunch of times before, but I guess when you add in the fact that I'm pregnant, it's more personable. Well, plus I'm hormonal as hell, so that has an effect too! I haven't cried while watching a commercial yet (which I've heard some pregnant women do), so I don't think I'm that big of a baby..
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