first childbirth class today

[pugz]

So we had our first class today, all day, I can kind of understand why people do the 3-4 week classes instead as it was a lot of info to digest. Since we are planning to go med-free we took a natural birth course at a local birth center. Classes are open for whomever but we were the only couple out of 8 that was delivering at a hospital. I thought the teacher did a great job of including us though and not making us feel weird or anything. We explained that we have hired a doula and how we've prepared so far and she was really encouraging and didn't once bash hospital births, even though some of the women in the class kept bringing up how horrible hospital births are.

Unfortunately I didn't feel like we learned much, probably because we've both already done a lot of reading so it was a lot of review for us. I do think it was good though for us to get an idea of how they approach things at the birth center, so that when we take our class at the hospital and do the tour next month we can compare and will know what questions to ask. The videos of women laboring/birthing we watched today were helpful for me but kinda freaked me out too. Talking about the methods and the pain is one thing, and seeing someone experiencing it is another. I just cannot imagine what it will be like to experience myself.

ok no real point to this post I suppose, just wanted to share, and maybe get some encouragement from others that went med-free

[karinothing]

I always felt like one class would have been overwhelming. We did Bradley and that is like 12 weeks. But I LOVED them. I felt like we learned a ton, my instructor even brought a placenta into class to show us what it looked like (talk about cool and kind of gross ha ha). I thought the best thing about the classes was that it really helped to eliminate any fear I had about childbirth.

I am one of those crazy weirdos that loved childbirth. I did not find it particularly painful (heck, I essentially went to he mall and napped until 8 cms and my labor was 26 hours long). I have no clue if I happened to be lucky or if I have a very high pain tolerance or if somehow the preparation I did really worked. BUT I will say I had completely convinced myself that childbirth was not going to be painful. I just focused on the fact that it wouldn't be sharp pain, and because of that I could handle it.

Anyway, I really found the entire experience amazing and it made me feel so powerful! I can't wait to do it again.

[Brie]

Ugh, we are doing a one day express class. We have so much crap going on this summer we just couldn't make any of the multi-week classes work.

So, my plan is for us to read and do as much as we can on our own, and hope for the best. We'll see.

[pugz]

we have 4 more classes ahead of us ::headdesk:: I am an over-preparer, and HOPEFULLY it won't be too much more review. Hospital class will go over hospital policies and a tour, none of which we are familiar with yet. Then newborn class and breastfeeding class, all new info to us. Infant CPR is new info for DH but not for me as I have been certified in the last 3 years. Fortunately those classes are all shorter, 4 hours, and 2 hours for the last three.

[karinothing]

I thought our breastfeeding class was amazing. The most valuable part was how the teacher stressed to DH that he needed to help me out. By the end he was able to help adjust the baby's latch (since it was awkward for me to pull his lip down) it was really great! Plus, the videos of the itty bitty newborns moving their way down the chest to latch on are amazing!

[pugz]

I kinda gave myself a headache from crying every.single.time. a baby was born on the videos, lol. Hormones were strong today.

Ooh but I forgot to tell you guys that when we were doing some "comfort measures" exercises like backrubs, swaying side to side, etc. I truly thought some of the couples were going to get it on right there in front of us. Major MAJOR PDA like breast and ass grabbing, necking, etc.

that part was a bit weird, when we left for lunch we got in the car and were like "did you see that???" I bet some of them got busy in their car over the lunch break, lol.

[Deleted]

We attended 2-3 classes but it seemed like I could not remember anything when it was time. LOL. And with the CPR/choking class, I had to review it once in a while because if there's a real emergency I wasn't sure if I would remember what to do. Fortunately I never needed it.

[Willis Jackson]

I didn't take any classes and was able to go med-free. You'll do great!

[ijack]

May 12, 2012 19:51:23 GMT -5 karinothing said:

I have no clue if I happened to be lucky or if I have a very high pain tolerance or if somehow the preparation I did really worked. BUT I will say I had completely convinced myself that childbirth was not going to be painful. I just focused on the fact that it wouldn't be sharp pain, and because of that I could handle it.

Anyway, I really found the entire experience amazing and it made me feel so powerful! I can't wait to do it again.

I've always wondered about this. I could have gone med free with my first (I didn't get an epi until I was 10 cm) and it wasn't bad. The second however hurt like the fire of a thousand suns. I didn't even know anything could hurt that badly. I'm convinced it must feel differently to people because there is no a way a person could handle that pain without drugs IMO.

[Brie]

We also can't get into a class until I'm 36w, which makes me a little nervous.

Definitely doing a BFing class, though. DH is so excited about it, weirdo.

[pugz]

i think it does really vary depending on the person, and i think some bodies are just built perfectly for birth. My SIL has had 4 med free births, 3 of which were inductions with pitocin and she rocked them all.

[pugz]

I need to start reading my breastfeeding book, that is the one thing I am pretty clueless about, although I do have the name and number of a great LC to call.

[tehsp]

We just had the first of two birthing classes. Ours are only 4 hours total combined. It was fairly informational. I felt like dh benefited the most. I have been reading and obsessing for months now, he has just been along for the ride. Most of the information was brand new to him.

I am lucky enough to have a MIL who is a LC. I am doing most of the research myself, but it is nice to have here for questions or a pep talk.

[whitepicketfence]

May 12, 2012 20:12:59 GMT -5 d0ri said:

We attended 2-3 classes but it seemed like I could not remember anything when it was time. LOL. And with the CPR/choking class, I had to review it once in a while because if there's a real emergency I wasn't sure if I would remember what to do. Fortunately I never needed it.

I didn't remember much from my birthing class either, haha. DD1 was a c-section baby since I never went into labor with her so by the time I was being induced with DD2, it was all new to me.

I need to remember to ocassionally review infant/child CPR. We took a class last summer but I don't feel like I'd remember much in an emergency.

[matildasun]

With my first we took the hospital's birth class, but it was taught by a doula and had a med-free slant to it, which I found helpful, but at least one couple found off putting. She did go through all the interventions that might happen and their risks and benefits. I found that really helpful the day of my delivery when things didn't go quite as planned. I felt like I was able to make informed choices.

My Dr. knew I wanted a med- free birth, so she advised me to stay home as long as possible. I spent most of that time in the shower. When we got to the hospital I began pushing within the hour. Although that time was stressful, it wasn't really painful, because I was so focused on what I was doing.

I am due in a week, and plan on having a med- free birth again. I had hoped to take a comfort measure refresher course, but it didn't happen.

[BravoBravo]

We did the one day class at the local hospital. It was not specifically for natural cb, so they talked about everything. I knew most of what was being discussed from my own research but I definitely got a case of the middle school giggles during the birth videos.

[curbsideprophet]

I had a pain-med free, low intervention child birth in a hospital. Not all hospital births are horrible. However I do think having the right provider and support are important. If you have an OB with a 40% c-section rate, you might want to reconsider if they are right provider for you.

I saw a team of midwives throughout my pregnancy and had a midwife at delivery. DH and I also took Bradley classes, which I loved. I thought they were extremely helpful. I would highly recommend them to anyone considering them or who wants a more "natural" birth.

I will not go so far as to say I loved childbirth. However it was manageable (I did have a doula and birth tub, which helped a lot. I was potentially going to try and deliver in the water, but found pushing out of the water to be more effective).

I think a childbirth class could be beneficial even if you are thinking about getting an epi. You may not be able to get the epi as soon as you would like. I also think it is important to know about some of things that can come up. Are you okay with getting pitocin, membrane stripping, etc?

[h]

May 13, 2012 13:39:14 GMT -5 @msstarry said:

Can I do a slight hijack? I was curious if you need child birth classes if you are planning on an epi? I was thinking no, but a nurse practitioner I met last week at a wedding highly suggested taking them anyway.

I do plan on doing the parenting / BF classes.

I have had two epi births, but labored unmedicated for the majority of both (got the epi at 7 cms with DS1 and 20 minutes before I started pushing with DS2). We did the one day hospital-sponsored class, but it was pretty useless aside from the tour. I don't think my labor would have gone any differently without it. FWIW, I really loved childbirth both times and wouldn't change anything about the way we approached things.

[bunch]

May 13, 2012 13:51:02 GMT -5 chilerellanos said:

May 13, 2012 13:39:14 GMT -5 @msstarry said:

Can I do a slight hijack? I was curious if you need child birth classes if you are planning on an epi? I was thinking no, but a nurse practitioner I met last week at a wedding highly suggested taking them anyway.

I do plan on doing the parenting / BF classes.

Sometimes epidurals don't work like you want them to. Sometimes you're very uncomfortable while you're waiting for the epidural. I think as long as you are aware of that and have some sort of plan for relaxing.

I thought my birth class was a waste of time. I didn't have time to think of a birth ball, etc once I was I labor. Should I ever go med free in the future, I won't take another class. I would worry much more about preparing for the child than the birth as that part is really quick all things considered.

[whitterbugk]

We're doing a series of three all-day classes on Saturdays.

H isn't a big fan of the idea, but I've never been a patient in a hospital for any reason, so I feel like I need the classes so I know what's going on and what's normal, etc.

[pamela]

I thought my birth class was way more important for my husband than for me. I couldn't get him to focus to read anything, so having it presented where he was a captive audience worked. Also, about planning on an epi and class, I think there is some benefit because you still (hopefully) have some feeling and need to push. Also, ours went through the different equipment used, what exactly an epi vs spinal is, and what to expect for different stages of labor.

[pugz]

May 14, 2012 9:45:26 GMT -5 whitterbugk said:

We're doing a series of three all-day classes on Saturdays.

H isn't a big fan of the idea, but I've never been a patient in a hospital for any reason, so I feel like I need the classes so I know what's going on and what's normal, etc.

which hospital are you delivering at?

[whitterbugk]

May 14, 2012 11:08:32 GMT -5 pugz said:

May 14, 2012 9:45:26 GMT -5 whitterbugk said:

We're doing a series of three all-day classes on Saturdays.

H isn't a big fan of the idea, but I've never been a patient in a hospital for any reason, so I feel like I need the classes so I know what's going on and what's normal, etc.

which hospital are you delivering at?

I'm not in KC, I'm near Springfield, but I'll deliver at Mercy . We just go to KC frequently to see friends.

[pugz]

gotcha! I forgot that

[baconista]

I had a relatively smooth med-free birth at a local hospital. I took a "prenatal in a day" workshop and really felt that was enough for me. Honestly, I feel that, for me, being overprepared or having an elaborate birth plan would have likely resulted in me being too high strung to relax and have my med-free birth experience. Good luck to you! Childbirth can be a positive experience!
Now, breastfeeding, on the other hand, I wish I had prepared more for...

[mrs07]

Fear not, OP, I had a delightful hospital delivery. I thoroughly rec a doula with experience and completing most of your labor at home. Worked for me