Breast Feeding Class 101

I attended my first baby class today and learned so much! It was a breast feeding class and, to be honest, this is the thing that I am most scared about. I'm just scared that I'm not going to be any good at it or I won't be able to do it for some reason. I'd really like to breast feed for at least the first 6 months, if not the entire first year because of the long term benefits for the baby, but like any mother, I'm just nervous because I've heard it's hard. Today's class definitely put some of those worries at ease.

On a side note- I just LOVE Hoag hospital. It's a beautiful/newer hospital (did I mention ocean view rooms for all maternity?) and they are just so great there. They really promote breast feeding and have an entire team dedicated to helping new mothers breast feed properly. The class that I took today, along with the extra support at the hosptial has made me feel a lot better.

On a funny note now- the info said that "BIRTH PARTNERS SHOULD ATTEND ALL CLASSES" (yes, just like that, in CAPS), but I told Ryan that he didn't need to come to this class because I couldn't imagine how much he would get out of a 2 hour breast feeding class, ((plus the surf was really great today so I thought he should go enjoy that- what a good wife I am!)). I am SO glad I didn't drag him along! The class had about 25 couples and I was 1 of about 3 that didn't have my "BIRTH PARTNER". These poor guys were miserable!!! Prior to this class, watching 2hours of videos with huge boobies was something that they could really get into.... not now. Trust me, these poor men are going to need to go home and throw on some Jenna Jameson to get these images of projectile lactating breasts out of their heads. After the class I was in the elevator with one of the couples and the poor guy looked like he had seen a ghost and told his wife he's scarred for life. I know that Ryan will be great when it's me doing this and he will be so helpful, but there is no reason to scar the guy right now!

On a serious note- Ryan WILL be attending our Baby Saver class with me, that's important. Kind of scared for that class, but it's necessary.

And lastly, on a "am I crazy?" note- we are choosing not to take any birthing classes. I figured that women have been doing this for thousands of years, I've seen enough videos, read enough books and we're just going to go into delivery and "wing it". (plus a friend of mine told me that they laughed through the first half of their birthing class, saw a very graphic video and left during the break- that's how I imagine Ryan and I would be, totally not taking it seriously and probably being the annoying ones in class!)