the empathy belly.

oh lamaze class . . . you always bring us such fun surprises . . .

first it was learning about how pain is normal and good. yikes. and then all the different things that could go wrong in labor and delivery. hearing those things is always uplifting.

then, it was learning a beautiful poem about a woman's strength that peter shared with everyone in his post a couple weeks ago.

and this week, it was having peter wear the "empathy belly" and get on the birthing bed to try out a few different pushing positions. it was AWESOME.

this thing weighs about 40 lbs. and it even has a heavy little bean-bag pouch that you stick under the belly so it smooshes your bladder. perfect. oh, and under the chest part of the belly there's a thick white "belt" strapped around peter's chest that is nice and tight to make sure that he is not able to breathe easily. again, perfect.

here he is about to try the modified "C" pushing position. he also did the side pushing with one leg in the air, and the tug-o-war with the nurse to try and get that little stinker out.

but even more fun than watching him push was watching him bend over to pick something up off the ground and getting from his back to his side while he was laying on the bed. now, he understands just a little bit better . . . except i was really hoping there was something they could give him to make him get heartburn, indigestion, swollen hands, nausea, and those weird pains that shoot through your lower abdomen like a knife. unfortunately, none of those pregnancy luxuries were available . . .

and lastly, here's a good shot of him in his cute maternity smock . . . it wouldn't be complete unless he had to wear completely ugly, unflattering maternity clothes!

really though. however funny it was to see peter all dressed up with a fake belly, last night made me SOOOO grateful for the wonderful husband that i have. you should have seen some of those husbands in there . . . jerks. they kept acting like being pregnant was no big deal and that they were sick of hearing their wives complain. let me tell you, i had to bite my tongue quite a few times--i really wanted to put those guys in their place. but peter, on the other hand, has never NOT been empathetic. he really didn't even need to try on that empathy belly; he is always quick to try and help me get comfortable when i'm not and he always believes me when i say i'm sick or in pain. i reckon i'm one lucky girl, and little will is going to be one lucky baby to have such a great dad!