I can't believe my dh is making empathy bellies for me!!!!
Tonight I was talking with my dh about how I wish I had empathy bellies for my classes. I told him I was thinking about buying backpacks and having dads wear them in the front and then having bags of sand labeled (i.e. 8 lbs baby, etc) and then I was going to have the mamas slowly fill them and have the dads wear them about for awhile and was also going to do a reversed labor support so the dads can get an idea of what the mamas would like.
Well, my dh has offered to make me four of them. He is so creative and I know he can do it. He is going to make them "apron" style where they go around the neck and tie in the back. He is going to make spaces for the breasts and then a pouch for the belly so that we can slowly fill them with weight. I am so happy and excited.
When the kids were little he used to make their costumes and they were so great that people would ask us where we rented them and then if he would make one for them - he never did
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Wow that is so cool. What a man! I'd suggest that he use the aprons that the arms go through so that the weight is across the shoulders and not all on the neck. So the ties don't cut into their necks but make their shoulders ache.
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Hi,
The one we use also has some pockets in the back for some mamma chub and extra cellular fluid (we use 500ml water bottles). We also have knitted breasts that velcro on the front - the guys usually love this part and the women are usually kicking themselves for not bringing cameras :-)
What a great dh you have!
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Shawna Lewkowitz, M.Ed., CD (DONA), CPD(CAPPA), LCCE
and
very proud mama to 2 amazing little girls
Heh, there's you another home business venture. Make them and sell them to us.
LOL - I will wait and see what they look like when he is done I spent all morning filling bags with sand for the dumb thing. I made one bag be the baby, two bags for the breasts, etc so that the mom's can slowly add the weight to the dads so they can see how much mom really carries. I can't wait until they are done.
Hi,
The one we use also has some pockets in the back for some mamma chub and extra cellular fluid (we use 500ml water bottles). We also have knitted breasts that velcro on the front - the guys usually love this part and the women are usually kicking themselves for not bringing cameras :-)
What a great dh you have!
I like the knitted breasts idea - unfortunately I can't knit something that creative I can do straight lines and that is about it. I like that idea though. I think I will ask my aunt because she knits really well.
I also think I might suggest they bring their cameras to class so they can get pictures of the dads in them. I plan on bringing them to class twice. Although it is going to be a big pain in the rear transporting them because four of them will weigh about 120 lbs.
I also think I might suggest they bring their cameras to class so they can get pictures of the dads in them. I plan on bringing them to class twice. Although it is going to be a big pain in the rear transporting them because four of them will weigh about 120 lbs.
We do our CBE 101 classes in four parts...which classes would you use them in? I think it's a great idea! And, hey, that's alot of weight! You should find some handsome-helper to give you a hand with those!
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We do our CBE 101 classes in four parts...which classes would you use them in? I think it's a great idea! And, hey, that's alot of weight! You should find some handsome-helper to give you a hand with those!
LOL - in the first class I talk about weight gain and how much is gained due to baby, placenta, uterus, etc. So when I do that talk I thought it would be fun to bring them out and have the moms load the dads up while I am explaining it. I then was thinking about doing an exercise in another class (not sure which one yet, but am thinking class three) where I will do labor support practice stations and at one of them have the dad be pregnant and in "labor" and the mom provide the support. I want to do this because so many times the dad doesn't seem to understand how to comfort the mama, but if she has the chance to show him I think it changes everything. He will get her perspective and what she would like. Not 100% sure yet because I haven't started teaching our new format, so it will take some playing with
Well, I finished my part . I bagged all the sand and then I made cloth covers for each bag. I swear I never thought I would finish sewing them today!!!! I worked on bagging the sand this morning with my mother (she came to help me - think she felt guilty for yelling at me about "being pregnant" when I am not LOL). Then this afternoon I started making cloth bags for each item and labeling them. I ran out of fabric and had to run back to the store. Unfortunately though the four sets of sand is so heavy I will have to probably transport in two trips - there is no way I can transport four even when on wheels. I might try a rolling suitcase and see if that works better than what I have.
Now dh has to finish his part and when he is done I will share photos
You guys are so creative. I love how eveyone comes together for one common goal. Keep up the good works!
Quote:
. I bagged all the sand and then I made cloth covers for each bag. I swear I never thought I would finish sewing them today!!!! I worked on bagging the sand this morning with my mother (she came to help me - think she felt guilty for yelling at me about "being pregnant" when I am not LOL). Then this afternoon I started making cloth bags for each item and labeling them. I ran out of fabric and had to run back to the store. Unfortunately though the four sets of sand is so heavy I will have to probably transport in two trips - there is no way I can transport four even when on wheels. I might try a rolling suitcase and see if that works better than what I have. 
