CPR class

here's mik giving 150% in CPR class. he even kept looking over at me to make sure i was doing it properly!

the class was really helpful.  it covered infant and child CPR, choking, baby safety and car seats.  i def recommend it to anyone having a baby.  i feel more prepared now in the event that we have to use these skills (*knock on wood*).  once we hire a nanny, we're going to have her take the class too.  here's what we learned:

• don't give the child choking foods - round, slippery, sticky, hard (i.e. grapes, hard candy)
• must always watch the child while he's eating because when a child is choking, he won't make a noise but it will be obvious on his face
• when an infant is choking (responsive but turning blue), hit him on his back 5x then turn him over and hit the breastbone 5x right under nipples using 2 fingers (vertical)
• when a child is 1 yr or older and they are choking, use heimlich - put both hands near belly button and lift them up with force
• if the infant is not responsive or gasping for air, that's when CPR should be performed - hit the breastbone right below the nipples 30x using 2 fingers (vertical) then with head back/chin tilted blow two 1-sec breaths with mouth covering baby's mouth & nose.  inhale for 1 sec between the breaths.  watch and make sure the chest goes up.  do this set 5x before calling 911 then resume CPR after the call.
• if not responsive due to choking, make sure to check the mouth if the item blocking came out before blowing the first breath
• if the child is older, use both hands on breastbone instead of 2 fingers and cover nose while breathing into the mouth
• make a habit of putting all bags/purses where the child cannot reach; also applies to house guests
• when the baby is on the changing pad on top of the dresser, always put hand on the baby - he may move around and fall
• do not put a sleeping baby on the bed or couch or anything soft; only use a crib with firm mattress, no pillows/blankets
• car seat - rear facing until 2 yrs old; back middle is safest

we'll need to practice this from time to time.  i'm thinking of buying a DVD that we can watch every 6 months as a refresher.

saw dr. dobrenis today.  we listened to the baby's heartbeat.  all good!  group b strep test came out negative.  woohoo!  she checked my cervix.  she said it's softening a little but not dilated.  boohoo.  she really jammed her hand in there trying to get it to open or something.  had to hold mik's hand - it was uncomfortable.  she said that i'll be prob be 1 cm dilated next week.  she also told us that it doesn't mean i won't go into labor today.  she said again that my ethnicity tends to be early but no guarantees.  we talked about epidural and she sounds like a she's all for it.  i guess so am i!  she mentioned my ankles are swollen.  dangit - i have cankles!  :(  since i'm a first time mom, my labor will probably be long (like 17-18 hrs at home).  mik will definitely have time to go home and get the hospital bag that we have yet to pack.  he was thinking of carrying it with him to work and stuff - so cute!  ;)  we should call her when the contractions are 5 min apart or if my water breaks then they'll probably tell us to go to the hospital.  our discussion with her today felt more real than usual.  she's definitely preparing us for delivery.  d-day is definitely near!!!  we see her again next thurs.  hopefully there's more action down there!  she said sexos will help with the effacing of the cervix.  hmmm.... 

baby, you're full term starting this friday so please come out soon!!!!!  just don't come out today - i don't want a leap year baby.