hear the army

today was also our first maternity class at the clinic. between the clinic and ward office, we have a barrage of classes over the next few months. none are mandatory, but i figure – why not?
today was a talk from the dr. about different symptoms that might occur during pregnancy – what’s a worry and what’s normal. then a midwife talked to us about how to take care of ourselves properly. part of which included a small talk on keeping your body warm even if you’re hot!?!

yes, she suggested we even wear long socks in AUGUST!?! summer in Japan is much like summer in SC – except you’re in it a lot more cause you have to take trains/walk everywhere. who in their right mind would wear long socks!?!

oh, and ready to dig into a frosty treat this summer? better think twice about cooling your belly.

apparently if we make ourselves cold we might induce contractions…if i’m cold, i’ll put on a sweater or socks, but i’m not going to spend the summer sweating any more profusely than i already will be.

at the end of the class we’re left to bond amongst ourselves – presumably living in the same area and being due around the same time, etc. – i think this is the main point of these classes actually. isseki’s all “talk to someone, talk to someone” so i go over and start chatting to one lady who mentioned a yoga class and was doing fine when isseki stands up in front of the whole lot, points to me and says the relative equivalent of, “she lives near Rokkomichi and is American. please be her friend.” i almost died. always good to have a helpful husband around, eh?