When did you take your childbirth class?

[starburst]

Since this is our first baby and we are clueless, H and I are planning on taking a childbirth class through the hospital.  There are actually three classes I was thinking about signing up for:  childbirth, breastfeeding, and infant care.  The breastfeeding class is offered April 28 or June 23, and the childbirth class is offered May 9 or June 13.  There's only one date for the infant care class.

I'm due July 22.  I'd prefer to wait until June, but is that too close to my due date?  If you took classes or are planning on taking them, how far out did you take them?

[5kcandlesinthewind]

I'd think the June one is far enough out from your due date to not be concerned. We took ours early-ish (started the 5-week childbirth session at 27 weeks) but only because it worked better with my schedule.
There's a woman in my childbirth class who is due next week - that would be way too close for comfort for me, since we wrap up this week. But a one-day class a month + out would be fine, IMO.

[achi]

I'm due two days after you and the one we registered for runs over three nights, a week apart, staring June 9th. I didn't want to do it too early and have H forget everything (he's the main reason we're taking this class).

[starburst604]

I think June will be fine. I did my newborn care class at 34 weeks and have a bf'ing class tomorrow in my 36th week. My only complaint is both are after work classes and these days I'm so exhausted after work vs a month or two ago.

[yourmother]

I took all three classes in the month of March. My due date is late May.

I walked away feeling very informed and was given materials to review after the fact (and a website with more info to access with a password).

I think you'll be fine with the June dates.

Also, I'm in my 34th week now and I'm just miserable. I don't think I could sit through the classes comfortably at this size (I'm MASSIVE).

[dearprudence]

My first was due in October and we took all our classes in August and September. We were kind of right in the middle. Some people were farther along and other people were less pregnant.

[minion]

I am due mid Sept. We are doing a 6 week class that goes the last week of July through end of August. We will be completed about 2 weeks before due date. It was what was available, these classes book up so fast.

[noodleoo]

I'm due May 16 and we took all our classes in March. That was mostly due to the scheduling, they seemed to skip April so the next closest ones were too close to my due date. I kind of wish we could have taken them closer to my due date, but honestly, I've been so exhausted this month that maybe it was good we took them earlier. It has been nice to have our weekends free lately to get last minute stuff done (mostly H) and sleep (mostly me).

We took prepared childbirth (4 weeks, on weekends), breastfeeding (one evening) and newborn care (one evening). They were all pretty good, although I've heard you can learn most of it in hospital. I'm still glad we took them.  The breastfeeding class was probably the least useful since we mostly watched videos which I could have done at home, but I guess it was good for my H to be there (since he's not doing as much reading on his own as I am).

[pooh8402]

My hospital structures the classes in 4 week chunks. Week 1 is hospital tour, week 2 is infant care, week 3 is childbirth and epidurals, week 4 is breastfeeding. The majority of my students are between 24 and 36 weeks. Many wait until the last month before their due date, and inevitably deliver before they complete the course (the last week being the breastfeeding class).

I think early third tri is perfect timing.

[fashionx]

I'm due near you, July 24th. We're starting the birth classes this week (it's 5 weeks long). I was hoping for another option but haven't seen a later date posted so this will have to do. I also signed up for a breastfeeding class on June 29, and an infant care class on June 22.

[starburst]

Thanks for the input, ladies! I think I'll probably wait until June and hope this kid doesn't come early! I'll be about done with school by then, so I won't be as stressed.