Random catch-up (Anna)

We got a phone call this morning from one of our midwives, following up from something we mentioned at our last appointment. Sometimes it is incrediby touching how a relatively small gesture can make you feel so loved and safe and protected. I guess people often don't know what a difference they make with some well-chosen words and a bit of gentleness.

In other news:

1. Caroline is waddling! Yes, undeniably, what started out as a slight adjustment to the weight of her belly has become a distinctive waddle. When we walk somewhere, I will start out walking at a pace somewhere between "dead slow" and "stop", as my grandmother would say, and Caroline will say, "Stop sprinting!" as she waddles to catch up. This is, of course, to my purely objective eyes, absolutely beautiful and extremely funny as well.

2. We did a baby first aid course. Terrible! One of the worst workshops I've ever been to. The instructor refused to actually answer any of our questions. e.g.
Participant: What are the symptoms of an infant being poisoned?
Instructor: You should keep all poisons out of your house until the child is older.
Part: Yes, but if our baby does drink something, what should we look out for?
Instructor: You should never let your child play with poisons like detergents, etc.
Part: Yes, but if they do, when we're not there, how would we know....? etc etc.
Most of the people doing the course were pregnant women and their partners, so after the instructor got annoyed at 9-months-pregnant women who didn't want to lie down on the floor on their backs to practise the recovery position (because they couldn't get up again) and then made insulting comments about how terrible fathers are, he'd pretty much lost his audience.

At one point, after yet another joke/snide remark about how useless fathers are at childcare, one of the Dads - who had been standing at the back rocking and stroking his baby son for well over an hour - walked out. The instructor said (jokingly) "Should I take it personally?" Yes, buddy, you probably should. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. But at least everyone in the course was equally frustrated, so there was solidarity in that.

It was interesting, though, to learn how much has changed about standard first aid techniques since we did our first aid and life saving certificates. It's a little strange that how to save someone's life isn't a consistent thing, but changes with the latest trend.

3. We've started our pre-natal classes. I am pleased to report that we have mastered techniques for dealing with the pain of holding a piece of ice in our hands for one minute. After that, contractions must be a breeze...;)