Birth Classes

[dana86]

I would kind of like to do a cpr class just for the general knowledge but besides that I didn't find a need for other classes. I went to a class with a friend when our husbands were deployed so that she wouldn't have to be by herself and I found the info to be nothing that really had me thinking I was so glad to have sat and listened to this.

[jennlin]

honestly, i didn't learn a whole lot in my classes, but i also like doing a lot of internet research.... i took 2 classes, "a day about baby" and a class about labor. i think both classes helped my h realize that this was real, and i wasn't just getting fat, though. and it also helped *him* feel more comfortable...so......he says they were worth it, i'm glad he felt that way, because *i* didn't think they were.

[catbus]

Mar 24, 2013 23:57:41 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

Due to lack of space in her class when we started looking (and the poor overlap in timing with our centering group), we did the Swedish 6 week labor and delivery class. It included newborn care and breastfeeding (which it is highly recommended you take your partner with you to).

It was ok. I don't know that we learned a whole lot from our classes. I don't know if it was the class itself, or the fact that I am one of those overly prepared types and read and disseminate everything I can online into what's useful for us already.

Ditto this, exactly. It also didn't help that there were people in my class who seemed to literally know nothing about pregnancy or birth (so good for them that they were there!!), so the class kept stalling on lowest common denominator stuff. The wife seriously thought having sex while pregnant could A. result in another pregnancy, and B. hurt the baby, and also was terrified that the baby wouldn't fit through her pelvis when it came time to give birth. Oh, and she was kind of obsessed with learning how to change a diaper.

[picksthemusic]

We took a BrioBirth class and loved it. We made friends we adore and J and I learned a ton about how to prevent interventions in a normal birth. Not that it helped us with M's birth but I hope to take a refresher course to hopefully prepare for a VBAC for next baby.

[picksthemusic]

Mar 25, 2013 0:59:27 GMT -5 @lauralynne said:

We took a general one through Overlake where we delivered. More for H than for me. I thought it was a total waste of time but I've given birth before.
With #1 I took a Lamaze class and it was total bullshit. I bought into the "breathe right and birth won't hurt" crap and it only brought huge feelings of failure when the time came, I breathed how they taught is and it still effing hurt like a motherfucker.
I feel like for me educating myself, talking extensively with my doctors and my husband was more than enough.

I ended up with an emergency c-section. There's no class in the world that can prepare you for that unfortunately.

This was us. I will never be the same.

[jennlin]

Mar 25, 2013 12:15:04 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

Actually, reading lb's reply it does remind me...

I think the only reason the class was not helpful was we had a very straightforward labor

very jealous.

[jennlin]

@jennuinne, did he ever read the book i gave him? it was short and had pictures

[jennlin]

Mar 25, 2013 13:19:57 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Mar 25, 2013 13:17:02 GMT -5 jennlin said:

@jennuinne, did he ever read the book i gave him? it was short and had pictures

NO!  Ugh, he drives me crazy.  I kept trying to get him to.  He will watch videos online w/ me, if I can get him to sit still, that's about it.  I had trouble downloading the Happiest Baby on the Block from spun.  I'll need to try that again.

  read it to him?

[sarack]

I want to take a hypnobirthing class!

@jennuinne come to a la leche league meeting with me! we can learn about breast feeding together!!!

i'm so worried that I should take classes, but then I wonder if they'll be for nothing because i'll just have a c section? stupid.... maybe I should see if there are classes for MoMs (moms of multiples).

[jennlin]

sarack...i have a hypnobirthing book---sorta. my friend let me borrow it, but she's not pregnant right now and her husband wants a vasectomy (they already have 2...she wants more). i'm sure she wouldnt mind if i let you borrow it.

[7costanza]

Mar 25, 2013 13:29:35 GMT -5 @jennuinne said:

Mar 25, 2013 13:25:40 GMT -5 jennlin said:

  read it to him?

Not a bad idea.  Maybe if I grab him a beer I can get him to sit still and listen to me...

What book is it? I read a book directed at men and bookmarked the pages I thought my H would find most helpful, and he actually read those, although like your H he is not the type to do any reading or research on his own. 

We're taking a 7 week class through our hospital that covers labor, newborn care and breastfeeding. I still need to find an infant CPR/First Aid class. 

[sarack]

Mar 26, 2013 9:23:06 GMT -5 jennlin said:

sarack...i have a hypnobirthing book---sorta. my friend let me borrow it, but she's not pregnant right now and her husband wants a vasectomy (they already have 2...she wants more). i'm sure she wouldnt mind if i let you borrow it.

i'd love to!

[sarack]

@legalbritt - you totally can have a vaginal birth with multiples, but only if baby a is in position. at least this is what my ob is saying. i'm not sure at what point baby a must be in this position, but i imagine early.. and then they'll schedule a c section. otherwise, if a or both a & b are in position, depending on how things go, i'll likely get induced.. doc says she doesn't normally go past 38 weeks, but if things are perfect, she'll let me go until my body naturally goes into labor..

it seems like most mothers of multiples are induced.. and a lot of the women i know who delivered multiples had issues like pre-e and toxemia. lots of crazy stuff.

the net is, i'm trying to stay positive, but it's scary and i have NO idea what will happen.. and i suppose, either do any of you carrying singleton babies.. i just hope my doctor really understands and supports the natural birth i'm longing for.

[cdmay]

Mar 26, 2013 22:50:29 GMT -5 sarack said:

In some cases pre-e can't be avoided, but some things can be done to help minimize your risk.  Do you know about them?  Anything for liver support (lemon+cayenne+warm water, drunk daily; detoxifying plans such as dandelion and i don't remember any others) helps reduce the risk.  I've heard lots about the brewer diet helping, too, but i don't know if there is any research that backs it up (there is for the other things i mentioned).  If your ob doesn't know about these things (which is likely, since it's not their specialty) you could look into a naturopath or herbalist to help you come up with a plan to avoid pre-e and other common complications with multiples.  Chiropractors and acupuncturists can help with baby position, as can certain exercises/yoga-ish poses, and walking regularly and avoiding poor posture later in pregnancy, but i don't know if all of that is also true for multiples.

[niq]

We are signed up for the series through UWMC. It's either 7 weeks on weeknights or 4 weeks on weekends. It's $190 per couple but on certain plans it's covered.

They also offer classes on individual topics if you don't want to take the whole series.