Oh boy...last night was our final class with anything related to the baby. We've done the childbirth class, we've done the child care class but last night we went to the dreaded breast feeding class!! My worst nightmare, a room full of women learning to breast feed.
My initial thought here is surely my participation or attendance wouldn't be necessary. To my knowledge a man doesn't really contribute here I thought of it a little like that class in college that was easy and unimportant enough that you could pass the test just by knowing someone who took it and getting all the answers. Furthermore, I would put money on possibly being the first official male graduate of breast feeding class in my family. What an honor.
However, the dreaded "support" word get's tossed around and again I'm front and center holding onto this fake baby doll watching video's about "proper latch."
Now there were a multitude of jaw dropping moments within the class for me but fortunately I was slightly late and missed the two that might have been deal breakers. I arrived about 15 minutes late for class and it was well under way on my arrival. As with any class there is the "ice breaker" get to know everyone portion, followed by any initial questions. This is what I missed and I was later informed by Carrie that it was a good thing.
First off our lactation specialist who is teaching the class discusses her experiences in breastfeeding her three children. She has a 4 year old, a 2 year old and a 9 month old. Perhaps I'm way out of line here and if I am consider me now educated but I would have assumed that only the 9 month old was currently breastfeeding. Wrong!!! Apparently the 4 year old and 2 year old are still as well. To each his own I suppose and I'm sure there is a good argument for this being a beneficial thing but I'm not sure and I'm glad I wasn't in the room quite yet.
Next comes the stupid husband question/comment of the night. In our group of 6 couples I'm fairly sure only two husbands even spoke and the first one to chime in proceeds to ask if breast milk was something adults could have, following that question up with the comment, "not that I'm into that." I think that would have been my signal to depart but alas I was about 15 minutes late missing stupid question #1 of the evening.
Keeping a long story short this was by far the most uncomfortable I've ever been in one of these classes yet and I've never been happier to "graduate." The class prior to this, child care, I actually almost enjoyed learning to change a diaper. I envisioned myself as a rodeo participant dominating the calf roping competition as I successfully changed the diaper in record time. There is no such analogy or fun to be had though in breast feeding class.
Breast pumps, proper latch, massaging the breasts to release milk...I'm not sure where I come into play here but all in all it was educational and something I never want to sit through again. Three hours in class, in a tiny room is enough to drive me up the wall. Add in the subject matter of the evening and it wasn't easy.
Certainly I would do it again in a heartbeat if Carrie asked but hopefully we're both well versed after this class, all goes well after birth and we won't be re-learning anytime soon.
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