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If you are like me, and most of the moms I know, as soon as your pee-on-a-stick test turned positive you were on the internet googling for baby websites, baby names, what to do next, I need an obstetrician! how do you spell obstetirican obstetrician? why do I feel a bit funny? And, what exactly does it involve, giving birth? One of your new online friends, your OB, or your real world friends will probably recommend childbirth classes, which you’ll sign up for.

In all honestly, with the amount of time you’ll spend on the net in the next nine months, by the time you start the classes you’ll already know everything the teacher will tell you. You will know exactly where your perineum is, what lochia is, the average times of all the stages of labor and the phone number of your La Leche League leader. You, and all the other moms sitting in a circle of bumps will nod along with everything she says. The only new thing I learned was that other pregnant women really do have to pee as much as I did, and some gossip that the teacher was friends with Madonna’s doula.

So why exactly should you sign up? The person who really needs the classes will be sitting next to you. Your baby’s daddy.

My husband, like many men, was entirely clueless about what pregnancy and birth entailed. He though I was seriously ill when I threw up three times on a Saturday morning. It’s morning sickness, darling. He imagined the birth would involve him holding my leg in the air, a little grunting, then a small pink person would gracefully emerge. He expressed amazement that we would need to spend money on classes to explain how to give birth.

It was probably the best $70 I spent during pregnancy. 8 classes with my husband, and all the other dads looking amazed, perplexed, revolted, astonished, grossed out, and eventually in awe of how amazing pregnancy and birth is. Your husband will have a new level of respect for you.

And the birth? My husband was helpful, useful and completely amazing. Thank you darling!