Class weeks 6&7

So since we were in Vancouver last week, we had two classes this week (3 couples missed week 6, so our instructor did a make up class). These two classes were all about choosing your pediatrician, the medical tests/interventions they do right after birth, and immunizations. It was interesting to learn all of the "standard" procedures, what they are for and why we might want to not do them or put them off. For example, it is standard practice to give the Hepatitis B vaccine right at birth, but unless you are sexually active or using dirty needles, it is almost impossible to get Heb B. So why give the vaccine to your newborn, why not wait a few years? It was pretty overwhelming actually, because I have been focusing on getting this little guy out into the world and that is really very much just the beginning of this whole adventure. There are so many choices about parenting (how long to breast feed, how should you deal with getting the baby to sleep, where should the baby sleep, should you carry your baby as much as possible, when to start solid foods, when to get vaccinated, when to go to the doctor and get antibiotics...) it is enough to make my head swim and to be very happy for these last two months before the game starts for real.