Childbirth Class- Billy Belly

Last week, Bill and I started our first childbirth classes at the hospital that Avery will be born. We wanted to sign up for a quick little class lasting a couple hours one day. When we went to look up their classes, all that they offer is either a full weekend (Saturday-9-5 and Sunday 12-5) or a four week version. We chose the four week class so we go every Thursday from 6:30-9 until the beginning of May. If we aren't experts by the end then we never will be!

Our first class was pretty eventful. Luckily, we have some friends, Lindsay and Daniel, who are due in late June also. We signed up for the class together so we can endure the embarrassments of the class together! Upon arriving to the class, Billy was asked if he would mind wearing the empathy belly as a demonstration for the whole class. He said yes and had to fill out a health waiver just in case he were injured during the demonstration. He lied and said that he did NOT have asthma just so that he could participate!

First, our instructor strapped a chest compressor to his ribcage to simulate not being able to breathe complete breaths. Next, she strapped on the FORTY pound belly (and chest!). Here is a picture of Bill in the belly.

Next, they put a cute (I'm using this term loosely) maternity top over the belly so that he would be clothed.

He then had to drop a piece of paper on the ground and pick it up. He made it to the ground okay but when he tried to come up he had some problems. By this point tears were coming to my eyes because I was laughing so hard. It was definitely the highlight of the first class. I'm looking forward to seeing what the upcoming weeks have in store for us!