Childbirth classes?

KTgator

Anyone in here planning to take/ already taking Hypnobirthing classes? I had planned all along to take Hypnobabies classes (mostly bc those were the ones recommended to me from friends that had birth center/ home births), but the class series that we wanted to take this summer didn't fill up so the teacher had to cancel. We are now planning to take Hypnobirthing classes, and I was wondering if anyone else is planning to take those classes as well/ has already started them/ took them with past pregnancies.

I had a csec with dd in 2011 bc I was too scared to ask questions when my ob told me at 36 weeks that I had a "narrow pubic arch, baby will never drop or fit, and if you try for a vaginal delivery it will most likely be a failed labor with an emergency csec." I was terrified and was the only one of my friends to have gotten married/ had kids. We just went with what the ob said, and scheduled the csec for a few days before my due date.

This time around we are going with midwives at a free standing birth center, but are planning to have baby at home with the miswives not at the bc (it is illegal to have a VBAC at the birth center-- don't get me started on how stupid this is). My whole plan is to have as peaceful a pregnancy and birth as possible, and I have heard/ read wonderful testiments about the hypnobabies and hypnobirthing classes. I've borrowed the book and am 1/2 way into it, and I really like it so far-- it's very educational based-- understanding the birth process to eliminate fear and this eliminate pain.

Anyone else in my boat? I have also heard amazing things about Bradley classes as well!

PineApple85

I have only had my one vaginal birth with DS1 and I'm planning another med-free birth at the hospital with DS2 - so no experience with CS or VBACs.  I did take Bradley last time and I loved all of the information that I was armed with to understand the labor and different stages, etc.  I wanted to do a hypnobabies course this time for a pain management focused class but there wasn't one offered (not available for hypnobirth, either).  I'm doing the hypnobabies homestudy (I'm ordering it this week) since it can be a complete homestudy course (I heard that the hypnobirth homestudy is not considered a complete course).

Unfortunately, that's all I know since I have no personal experience yet with either of those classes.  Just Bradley.  I think Bradley is a great option for a FTM, especially going to the hospital.  A STM homebirth?  I think you would do better with either they hypnobabies or hypnobirth, especially if you have a class near you that you can attend.

KTgator

Thanks! I thought about doing the home study too, but with being a vbac i knew I'd have tons of questions, so i thought the class setting would fit my needs more. Good luck with the home study, and please report back to share how you like it when it comes in!

KTgator

@WildFlower810‌ I will copy and paste the info I was given when I emailed about both classes

KTgator

https://gentlejourneysbirthing.com/compairing-hypnobabies-and-hypnobirthing/

Here is a blog post that I found that explains the breakdown of what is provided/ taught in the two courses.

PineApple85

@WildFlower810 You can also lurk around the natural birth board some.  That question is asked a lot.  About all three.  My takeaway and limited understanding is that Bradley focuses on educating you about pregnancy and birth and what to expect with some work on pain management techniques.  Hypobirth is a hypnosis course for pain management specific to labor and Hypnobabies is kind of a blend between Bradley and Hypnobirth - it has a stronger focus on pain management than Bradley and a stronger focus on general education than Hypnobirth.  I only have personal experience with Bradley, so I may be wrong.  

I believe only Hypnobabies has what is considered a complete homestudy course though.  The other two you have to go to the courses to get the full experience.

@KTgator I wanted to take a class with an instructor and other people, too.  I was bummed when I learned that no one local did it.

KTgator

https://www.hypnobabies.com/classes/find-a-class

Www.hypnobirthing.com

For anyone else that wants to read up on the two

KTgator

I'm a teacher myself (and so is hubby), so we both love the classroom learning environment-- I'm hoping that we like hypnobirthing! The book is great so far, and I've met some VBAC mamas that said it was a wonderful resource for them. I love the idea that it focuses on understanding the process of birth in order to eliminate fear and thus eliminate pain caused by endorphins in the "fight or flight" mode. My goal is to birth without fear-- even if it means that I end up needing to have a RCS-- I want to be fully informed and prepared for anything