When to take classes?

cantobean

Our hospital offers a 4-session, 3-hour childbirth class that we're planning to take. It looks like I can basically do it for the month of October, November, or December. I'd rather get it done earlier than later, but is October too early? I guess I'm worried if I take it too early it won't be as relevant to me or I'll forget some key information.

oxsarah7ox

I don't think it would be too early. I have to start looking into it as well. My girlfriend is due in the beginning of November and just went to hers and she was wishing she did it earlier.

MississippiCatfish

I was the earliest in pregnancy of all the women in my class, and it didn't matter at all.  It's not really info you're going to forget, in my opinion.

wisco29

We Took the baby clas at 33 weeks or so. I was the earliest with dd, but like pp said it doesnt matter.
Then we took the breastfeeding class at 35 weeks.

I think if your h is willing you should take all of the classes together! It's important for them to learn everything as well even the breastfeeding class! There were other men in our breastfeeding clasS

cantobean

Thanks folks! And H definitely wants to come to all the classes. He's very excited!

brushesnbrunch

Is it required or useful for your H to attend? I want to go a 5 week class our hospital offers, but I don't want to commit to it if he can't go due to work schedule

wisco29

brushesnbrunch said:

Is it required or useful for your H to attend? I want to go a 5 week class our hospital offers, but I don't want to commit to it if he can't go due to work schedule

Useful for him and you yes. Required not at any hospital I've ever taken classes at

cMichelle0423

I'm taking a class this month. This is our third LO but will be my first med-free labor/delivery. I'm apart of a mothering group that's run by a group of doulas and the way they're offering the class is going off of 5 couples with the earliest die date being next month. So that's why it's so soon. Either way I don't think it's too early. Just gives you more time to practice techniques!

inomniaparatus

I was planning on waiting until nov/dec.
I'm going to do a combined childcare and breastfeeding class and a cpr class separately. I figured those would be more useful than the childbirth class because I figured most of that goes out the window when you're really in labor.
The classes are so expensive so I'm picking and choosing.

notasycophant

I was wondering the same thing. @inomniaparatus , I'm signing up for something similar at my hospital. I'm not really interested in the childbirth classes as well, but hoping the classes I signed up for do have information on after care.

MamaFroFro

I found the child birth class to be useless. Never took a breastfeeding one but did manage to make it over a year breastfeeding I did go to lactation group meetings after baby was born, very helpful. I think if I'm going to do anything it will be CPR. I'm long over due for an update. I will probably wait until Nov or Dec.

MississippiCatfish

inomniaparatus said:

I was planning on waiting until nov/dec.
I'm going to do a combined childcare and breastfeeding class and a cpr class separately. I figured those would be more useful than the childbirth class because I figured most of that goes out the window when you're really in labor.
The classes are so expensive so I'm picking and choosing.

This is really smart. CPR is waaayyyy more useful, in my opinion. I was glad to have taken the hospital class so I didn't feel concerned that I was missing information...but I also didn't really learn anything. I'll just say, too, my hypnobabies home study course was INVALUABLE (but also cheaper), when compared to the hospital class.

DaisyTortilla

I took mine at 28 weeks. I was required to be in the 3rd trimester. DH assisting was definitely a plus, most people take their spouses and activities involved spouses.

cantobean

This class has childbirth as well as some childcare and breastfeeding mixed in. I assume it addresses CPR. There is also a separate breastfeeding class I plan to take.

Mine is super cheap! I'm sorry some are so expensive. When I told H the price ($65) he said "per session?" Nope. "For each of us?" Nope. $65 for both of us to attend 4 sessions, and then the additional breastfeeding class is free. Plus, I think insurance covers some of it. I expected to pay more.

cvolkmar

I was going to wait till Nov or Dec, but I have to plan around DH's hunting schedule (insert sarcastic tone). So we are going in October. Our CPR and breastfeeding class are in November.

egraves4

Not to steal the post... But is anyone NOT taking classes? SO and I aren't even out of college yet (I graduate in December) so I feel like classes would be helpful, but not necessary?

From what I've seen about breastfeeding, a lactation consultant in the hospital is more helpful, and some birthing classes can be helpful, but not all. If anything, we may do a natural birthing class because that is the way I would like to give birth.

Any opinions on the necessity of any classes, or any certain classes to do without?

VitaLuna

I did not attend a breastfeeding class (LO came before we were scheduled to go) and I really wish I would have. We really struggled in the beginning due to her size, and I wish I had had a better knowledge base before starting.

Achae

@egraves4 I didn't take any classes for my first LO and plan to do the same this time around. I read some books but have to take it slow. Hearing about anatomy makes me pass out. No way would I do a class on it!

ohbaby714

@egraves4 I didn't take any classes at all with my first but I think I'm going to take a birthing class this time. Maybe. Depends if it will work out with schedules because they can sometimes be at weird times. My hospital offers them for free but they can also sometimes be hard to get into if you don't sign up early.

inomniaparatus

VitaLuna said:

I did not attend a breastfeeding class (LO came before we were scheduled to go) and I really wish I would have. We really struggled in the beginning due to her size, and I wish I had had a better knowledge base before starting.

I've heard a lot of people say this- that's why I want to do the breastfeeding class.

wisco29

egraves4 said:

Not to steal the post... But is anyone NOT taking classes? SO and I aren't even out of college yet (I graduate in December) so I feel like classes would be helpful, but not necessary?

From what I've seen about breastfeeding, a lactation consultant in the hospital is more helpful, and some birthing classes can be helpful, but not all. If anything, we may do a natural birthing class because that is the way I would like to give birth.

Any opinions on the necessity of any classes, or any certain classes to do without?

Not 100% sure what currently being in college has to do with taking baby related classes, unless you're studying to be a nurse in the nicu or a nurse in labor and delivery.

For your questions, if you and your h have been around babies and know all of the little tips that go along with having a new born then you probably don't need to take the infant class.
I did find that I knew 90% of the info but a refresher was nice and my h had never been around babies his entire life so it made him a lot more comfortable.
Breastfeeding class is informative, it's taught by a lactation consultant usually and/or someone who also nursed their children so they have experience tips. Our told us stories about her struggles and her accomplishments so when we struggled we could relate. They also have fun little tips that worked for them. It's just an useful preview before you are actually In the hospital with a hungry baby and the lc is trying to help.

You don't have to take any classes at all! There is no parenting rule for taking any if you don't want to. Lots of people don't take any

kbedfox

After spending 30 minutes with my 4 month old nephew this weekend, it's painfully obvious I need as many baby-related classes as possible. Our hospital doesn't post a schedule online so I'm not sure which classes are available, but as of now, if they offer it, I will be taking it hopefully with DH. I don't think October is too soon, unless they're already filled up and you have to wait for an opening at a later date.

egraves4

@wisco29 Not much other than the fact that we're broke college kids lol. I fortunately have a lot of savings but he currently works at a grocery store and I'm a waitress. Just trying to get my priorities straight - whether or not a class is worth the money I've seen some of them costing!

Reading over my post it does sound like us not needing to take classes is a result of us being in college haha. My bad.

wisco29

egraves4 said:

@wisco29 Not much other than the fact that we're broke college kids lol. I fortunately have a lot of savings but he currently works at a grocery store and I'm a waitress. Just trying to get my priorities straight - whether or not a class is worth the money I've seen some of them costing!

Reading over my post it does sound like us not needing to take classes is a result of us being in college haha. My bad.

Lol, yah it did.

The classes I've seen were $15 for the basic stuff but that's just my hospital. The same class at this one was free at my last one. You may Possibly be able to take the same type of classes through the county. Try calling them and telling them you're interested in a child care class and/or nursing but you can't afford the classes.

I've seen some places charge $50+ which I wouldn't do either.

egraves4

@wisco29 yeah I think we're going to look into the cheaper classes. I would love to do like a hypnobirthing class but they're $175-250 from what I have seen and it's so so much. I don't think we could realistically spend more than $50-75 total on all of the classes we choose to do. But, if I can swing it, I may try just reading a book first and see how comfortable I feel.

inomniaparatus

wisco29 said:

@wisco29 Not much other than the fact that we're broke college kids lol. I fortunately have a lot of savings but he currently works at a grocery store and I'm a waitress. Just trying to get my priorities straight - whether or not a class is worth the money I've seen some of them costing! Reading over my post it does sound like us not needing to take classes is a result of us being in college haha. My bad.

Lol, yah it did. The classes I've seen were $15 for the basic stuff but that's just my hospital. The same class at this one was free at my last one. You may Possibly be able to take the same type of classes through the county. Try calling them and telling them you're interested in a child care class and/or nursing but you can't afford the classes. I've seen some places charge $50+ which I wouldn't do either.

Ugh the childbirth classes at my pediatrician are 350/couple. The childcare/breastfeeding combo is 175/couple and the CPR is 85/person. That's why I'm skipping the childbirth class and only doing childcare/breastfeeding and CPR. I looked at the local hospitals around here and they are all similar pricing. So annoying. 

rainbowminion

I'm glad to see we're not the only ones taking classes relatively early. Ours our scheduled for Oct and Nov. I wanted to go later, but I live in Kansas and I'm not dealing with our unpredictable winter weather if I don't have to!

egraves4

@inomniaparatus that's insane. I think CPR is $60 per person but I've kinda already rethought my last budget because I know how important that is... My brother was SO clumsy as a kid and my mom had to do the Heimlich on him several times. So scary.

BBEA2006

I never took classes on laboring or BF'ing and had no issues at all.  With all of the research online, which I did do, I just did not want to commit to the classes.  I am also the oldest out of 12 cousins and so I've been around pregnant aunts and even some births so I knew what to expect.  Google/internet is free (or kind of)!  lol

oxfordlanding

I'm doing the classes partly to meet people. Also I find it much more relaxing to learn from a person than a book. Check out non profits doing classes (make sure they don't have an agenda) ; it is often worth calling if cost is a problem. The place I'm going to does big discounts if things are tight financially.

SoSirius

@egraves4 We didn't take any classes and I wish I knew some pain management techniques and more about breastfeeding. The hospital LC visit was really quick and she wasn't nearly as good as the one we had come to our house. I know several women who didn't like their hospital LCs. With all that said, we won't be taking hospital classes this time. I am hiring a doula (part of the package is prenatal classes) and planning to call an LC post hospital if we have issues. I feel like I know SO much more this time though.