According to the Baby Centre app, this week the little man is as long as an ear of corn (approximately 30cm from head to heel) and my uterus is the size of a football! I guess that explains why it feels like there is definitely something getting in the way these days – at yoga last week, when I hug the boyfriend and when I’m shaving my legs. It’s less like having a big belly and more like something solid which I have to maneuver around.
Last week we had our first antenatal class. There were about eight other pregnant women there and half of them brought their partners. In fact, the women running the classes were surprised to see so many men. I know I’m lucky that the boyfriend is so involved and plans to get as stuck in as me (minus the breastfeeding!) but I didn’t realise that it’s so uncommon for men to come along to appointments and classes.
We were given a programme of what’s coming up over the next few weeks and the first session was a basic introduction, including the importance of not smoking and maintaining a healthy diet. Oh, and we played breastfeeding bingo and won a prize – Johnson’s all-in-one wash and some wipes. Now that’s worth getting up early for on a day off! It should get more interesting and informative over the coming weeks. Tomorrow we’ll be looking at talking to your bump and future classes will include the likes of preparing for the birth and breastfeeding.
The boyfriend has already started on talking to the bump. My favourite thing used to be seeing him play with our nephew (swoon!) but now it’s him putting his hand on my belly and telling the little man to ‘do a trick’. He still hasn’t felt any movements cos baby is just so damned chilled out! Every time I feel something I tell him to put his hand on my belly and he just stops. He’s messing with us already!
At the class we were also given a programme of what’s on at the Children’s Centre over the next couple of months and it’s great that there’s so much I can get stuck into once the baby comes and the boyfriend is back to work. I’m going to give the following a go:
First Friends: an under-ones group with free play, baby weighing, health and breast feeding advice
Swimming: £1.80 per family! Bloody bargain!
Breastfeeding Drop-in: Play and support for breastfeeding families
I’d be interested to know what groups you went along to when your baby was born and what you found beneficial.