So, I've started my parentcraft classes.

When I was just 11 weeks pregnant, a long time ago, I was given the choice to sign up to those very popular classes. While legally I have a right to attend them during my working hours, morally I didn't want to do this as I'd started a new job being already pregnant and felt bad enough about that awkward timing. Actually, that's not the only reason - between antenatal appointments, appointments recommended due to the minor ailments of pregnancy, and such parentcraft classes I could just as well not be working at all anymore. To be honest, I like my work too much to be tempted.

So I signed up for the only available place at an evening parentcraft class, to be attended with my beloved. Just that my beloved commutes and simply cannot attend. So I turned up on my own last night and brought the wrath of midwife Linda over my bumpy self. It was surreal - being reprimanded like a naughty school girl, asked five times if my hubby really couldn't make it. Being told I should not attend, and rebook into a day class. Work? No matter, you have a legal right to time off bladibla and anyway, why are you not on maternity leave yet, you should be conserving your energy for LABOUR which won't be an easy ride let me tell you.

Oh bugger off.
I'm sure work increases my energy levels. And even if I did book a daytime class, there's 5 weeks of "parentcraft" and I've got 5 weeks of pregnancy left, I really don't want to start even a day later.
Best of all, at no point was the partner necessary in last nights class. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for daddy involvement, where appropriate and possible. At the end of the day though it is I who is carrying a massive bump, who will be giving birth who will be doing the breastfeeding. Give me a break and above all stop treating me like a child.

Enough of a rant? Not so. It went on. In just 90 minutes, I was advised that no food was allowed for mum in labour (who are you to tell me?), that once in the labour ward, mum is not allowed to go through the hospital door (is it a prison?), that I had to stay in hospital between 3-4 days after giving birth (although I know that a 6 hour discharge is possible even if not recommended), that the food was so rubbish my partner had rather feed me, that a breech baby would only be delivered by c-section for first time mums (can they really cut you open without consent?).

Suddenly I can understand the avid home birth supporters. I can get patronised elsewhere, it doesn't have to happen while going through giving birth.