Birthing Classes...Do I need?

[Deleted]

How do you guys feel about birthing classes? Were the worthwhile. Ours are $200 and probably in December/January and I feel like if they arent worth it then I am not going to go.

I dont want a natural birth but if some of the techniques would help I am all for it.

Also did anyone take a breastfeeding class?

If in lieu of classes or in addition to classesyou read some awesome books I would love recommendations on those.

[arch01]

Ours was $60, and I wouldn't have paid more than that. Most of what we talked about/watched I already knew from reading on the internet. We did get free BFing and taking care of baby classes which was more helpful than the birthing class.

[CloudBee]

I'm doing a tour of our maternity unit, and might do a breastfeeding lecture if there's no cost.

I'm not taking anything else. I've had a lot of experiences with infants, and my mom was a maternity nurse.

I had hopes of taking a Bradley class, but my husband isn't onboard with that.

[h]

We just did the free childbirth class through our hospital. It included a hospital tour and instructions on where to go when arriving at the hospital, etc. That part was very useful. Can you take a free hospital tour without doing a childbirth class? The rest of our class was somewhat interesting and helpful, but ultimately not essential information. My DH was pretty clueless and not apt to read books about childbirth, so I do think it was kind of nice for him to get a sense of what was involved with the L&D process, but not so much so that I would have paid $200 for it.

We went to the breastfeeding class, and it was fairly useless. The hospital LCs were my most helpful resource in establishing BFing. I found reading kellymom.com and other websites most helpful when I had questions or needed encouragement.

We skipped the baby care class because one of us got tied up at work. I felt bad about it at the time, but our children do not appear to have suffered as a result.

If I were going to take one class pre-baby, it would be infant CPR.

[divajane]

I think our birthing class was only like $25, and I thought it was definately worth that, but I probably wouldn't have paid $200 for it. Most helpful to me was the specific information about what each stage of labor was like, and how to recognize what stage you were at, because I wanted to go med free if possible and labor at home as long as possible (although I ended up getting an epidural with DS, and almost giving birth to DD in the truck on the way to the hospital, so being prepared didn't help alot). I also liked that DH was forced to come with me and learn, because if we had just read a book or looked online, I don't think he would have learned as much, but that is mostly just because DH is a visual learner.

My friend just read books/the internet and made a list of notes for her husband to read, and she has had 2 kids and was very happy. It probably all depends on the level of effort you want to put into it.

I also took the BF and infant care classes. I really liked the infant care class, just because it had specific information about things like circumcision care, umbilical stump care, swaddling, etc. I didn't really get much out of the BF class, I just called my SIL (who had BF 5 kids) whenever I had questions after the baby was born.

[ijack]

I think if you don't want a "special" birth then it's fine to not take a class. I can't imagine trying for a med/intervention free birth without some instruction, but I didn't take any classes and was just fine.

[Deleted]

We took the basic class through our hospital that was under $50. It was okay - I think it was good for DH. I didn't really learn anything; I was a reader and he wasn't.

A breastfeeding class is more worthwhile IMO if you're planning an epi, but you can also just go to some La Leche meetings while pregnant. Those are free. I didn't take bf classes, but went to 2 or 3 LLL meetings.

"The Big Book of Birth" was my favorite general birth book (not natural/med-free birth specific).

[Deleted]

We did a birthing class. I'm glad we did because the nurse who was giving it is the one that told me to go get my BP checked. I was admitted that night for HBP (at 33 weeks.)

Was the information in the class helpful? Not really. I would not pay $200 for it.

As for breastfeeding class... Honestly, I would save your money for after the baby is born and plan on meeting with a Lactation consultant several times.

Talking about breastfeeding is nothing like actually breastfeeding and trouble shooting with someone there to help.

[froggy76]

I took both a childbirth class and a breastfeeding class. I'm really glad I took them. I didn't learn anything in those classes that I couldn't have learned by reading books and taking a hospital tour, but I still FELT so much better prepared for everything because I felt confident that I had the information I needed.

If you can only choose one class, definitely take a breastfeeding class!

[mie]

I did not take a labor/birth class and I donʻt regret it. I read up on labor stages etc. and that was enough for me. I really liked Hypnobirthing and found it helpful.

[curbsideprophet]

I think it really depends on the class. I loved our Bradley class and thought it was worth the money. However I also wanted a pain-med free, low intervention birth. I think you could learn a decent amount from Bradley classes, however they are certainly geared towards low intervention birth. Is this a class through the hospital? We did take free breastfeeding classes at the hospital prior to DD's arrival. I would not pay for a breastfeeding class before the baby arrives, I would save your money for after the baby is here.

We did pay for an infant CPR class. Thankfully we have not had to use that info yet, but I am glad we took it.

Instead of taking a class, have you considered hiring a doula? I think a doula would be helpful for any type of birth, c-section, epi, pain-med free, etc.

Some books I read: Pushed, Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. We also watched The Business of Being Born.

[Brie]

We did a free childbirth class and BFing class at the hospital.

I didn't find them particularly helpful but H did.

[Deleted]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. Those were the prices through the hospital. Breast feeding is only $50 or $75 (I forget) so I was thinking on doing that or saving it and if I have trouble going to a lactation consultant. I may try the La Leche meetings too. Thanks for the recommendations for the infant CPR. DH and I took it in college but it would probably be good to do again.

I fortunately (or unfortunately because I heard a hell of a birth story last night) have a great group of women surrounding me who have been through this and have been reaching out to them for help and to share their experiences with childbirth so I feel like I know a lot more than the average person. I also have hung out here and learned a ton too.

Thanks for your comments.

[water*drop]

We did a birth class through the hospital, a breastfeeding class from a local lactation consultant, and an infant CPR/first aid class. Although I hope you never need it, I highly recommend taking infant CPR/first aid.

I didn't learn a ton in the breastfeeding or birth class, but I'm glad we took them. I'm especially glad that DH took the breastfeeding class with me because it prepared him for the idea that it might suck for me at first, and it gave him ways to support me. I'm glad that we took the birth class just because it made me very comfortable with the way my hospital does things - the hospital tour was very short and late at night, so I didn't get much out of it other than "check in at the ER, and if you're admitted, you'll go to the second floor." At the birth class, I learned that I'd be encouraged to move around during labor, that the nurses would give as much or as little guidance as I liked, etc...all stuff that I suppose I could have asked at the tour, but I didn't think about it at the time.

[MadamePresident]

We watch a "Laugh and Learn" video on BF. This was really good because it was short, informative and my husband got to see ways it could be done and he is so supportive. It was especially good at the beginning when you are trying to figure things out and you have someone else to say "remember the video, let's try this."

As for a birthing class, I didn't do one. I read through the highlights of a Bradley book for the stages of labor and was at the birth of my friend's daughter a couple months before I was due.

[hannamaren]

I didnt do the birthing class. It was too $ and time consuming.
I planned for an epi. When we got to the hospital, the anaesthesiologist (spelling?) started to say that I couldnt have one. I was panicking because I never had the classes. But then, I got the epi and ended up having a csection. So glad I saved the money.

[mrs07]

Yes, natural classes were worth it to us. Our instructor was a doula and gave lots of stories of different labors and births. It helped us understand how there is no one correct way to deliver, and we stayed clear of med professionals who don't agree with that. We also had good resources and friends from that class.

I would be weary of a hospital class that is just going to warm you up to all the interventions they might do to you and convince the dad he's supposed to shut up and stay out of the way. You're much better off with the attitude it's about the two (three) of you and the professionals are the ones out of place. That's my opinion.

Books: thinking woman's guide to a better birth, art of breastfeeding. Also, go to a LaLeche League meeting to get exposed to it if you aren't constantly around bf-ers. Read up a LOT - the hospital staff is not going to have much patience for someone coming in saying she wants to breastfeed having never read a book/ gotten familiar with it. They are also not going to help you through the labor and delivery the way a midwife/doula would, which is something most patients don't seem to realize.

Personally I would advise, consider a doula who is cool with your decision to use meds and make sure Dad understands and supports your decisions, which includes being a part of making the decisions.

[awick14]

(Lurker who doesn't have children but TTC)

I am a paramedic an I have done a few calls for SIDS an infant chocking. Infant CPR is a must. I firmly believe parents should not be allowed to leave the hospital without taking a course!

(Goes back to lurking)

Edit: spelling, stupid autocorrect

[Deleted]

The ones at our hospital were $150 and I just couldn't swing paying that so we didn't do them. In the end I didn't feel like I needed them. Although I have friends that rave about the ones that they have taken.

[birdmom]

If I could do it over again, I wouldn't take it. I'd just take the tour of the maternity unit, so I'd know where to go when it was time. I knew that I wasn't going to have a natural birth (I'm a chicken, I knew I'd go for the epidural right away), and the class focused on a lot on stuff that I read on the internet. I did not take a breastfeeding class, which is what I should have done. I had a hard time trying to breastfeed.

[karinothing]

I loved my Bradley class, but I like school We also made some really great friends in the class. And my instructor caught my baby!

[bunch]

I think the breastfeeding class was helpful. The basic birthing class I took was a good intro to the process, but not necessary.

[lizard]

After I was told I wouldn't be able to get an epidural with my second baby and would be giving birth within the next half hour I cried out, "But I didn't take any classes!" The doctors and nurses laughed at me. My body knew exactly what to do and the nurses and doctors were pros.

[evynsmama]

I got the most out of the breast feeding class I took, the birthing class was good to to learn about the different stages of labor and changes in your body.