Even Breathing is Expensive!

This morning we had our first childbirth class. We really had no clue what we were getting into at all, we just kinda went to find out. We got up at 5:30 and I am happy to report I had no trouble with the walk to the station. As before, we took a cab from the Sint Truiden station to the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital and went to check in, where we were charged 40 euro for the day's class! Worse still, they told us that the 40 euro was only the up front portion, and that the remainder of the cost would be billed to us! We have no idea how much it will be overall. This would be covered if I had insurance, but I still do not, so we're paying completely out of pocket. We both sort of looked at each other, but we handed over the money.

I was looking forward to meeting other couples, even if they were Dutch speaking. No such luck. We had unwittingly signed up for PRIVATE classes. In fact, its unclear if they even offer group classes like we have in the states. It was just the two of us in a little room with the teacher, who spoke lousy English. Yes, yes, I realize she has no responsibility to speak English, as this is her country not mine, but we were already feeling pretty cheated by the high cost, so the fact that we both had to constantly help her translate seemed unfair. Further, I didn't care for her much. She didn't seem to have much of a personality, and I felt like I'd been called into the principal's office the whole time.

We travelled all the way to Sint Truiden and payed a ton of money for a half an hour of "instruction." I didn't learn anything I hadn't learned from watching movies and reading books. It was as you'd expect, deep breathing and then the little "hee hee hee hee" sort of breaths, all while sitting on a big blue exercise ball. Literally all she taught me were the three stages of labor, which I knew, and two of the three types of breathing I will use. And I had to provide her with the vocabulary for her to "teach" me with. The only new information we received was instructions on when exactly to come to the hospital. If before 37 weeks, anytime I feel painful contractions I am to come immediately, after 37 weeks, I can wait until said painful contractions are five minutes apart. If I lose my mucous plug, I can wait until contractions start, if I see blood I come immediately, if my water breaks, I have one to two hours before I need to go. Aren't I a good little student? I didn't even need to take notes. Seeing as we're quite a ways from the hospital and I will have to call a taxi and wait for it to arrive to take me to the hospital, I can't really follow those instructions anyway. Waiting to call a taxi until my contractions are 5 minutes apart could be a very bad plan!

I am supposed to go again next Thursday morning, and again a week or two later, for three classes total. We have to pay the 40 euro every time, not to mention the cost of getting there. Money is really tight for us right now, and I am not sure I will go back. Seems like I could learn this stuff on the internet for free! We haven't decided for sure yet.

When we left for the station this morning it was sprinkling rain lightly, but when we started the walk home, an usually bright and warm light was coming from this strange glowing disk in the sky. We were unable to identify the celestial object, having not seen it for so long, but we nonetheless enjoyed the warmth it emitted.

I had mentioned to G that I have been craving French fries all week, so he decided to treat me. He got me tucked in for a nap and then went to town and brought home roasted chicken breasts and pommes frites (fries), along with the regular groceries. We enjoyed a tasty lunch of chicken, fries, and salad before he left for work, and I even have leftovers come dinnertime! I plan on making homemade pasta sauce tonight, but I'll be doing that while munching on fries! We can't afford to do things like that very often, but it felt extra special because of it. For those of you that don't know it, Belgium is famous for its pomme frites, and they really do live up to the hype. If you don't believe me, come have a taste!

I also wanted to mention that my bath this morning was utter bliss! Yay water pressure and hot water!!