Birthing classes and the like

Knottie74598162

Second time (or more!) moms- I'm wondering your thoughts on birthing classes and the like. The hospital by me offers one time "what to expect" class and separate lamaze classes. Any experience with either or both? Is it worth it?

Knottie74598162

Also, when would you recommend to take these classes?

rebelone

For my second baby, which was 2 years ago, I attended a birthing class and learned so much. They touched on just about everything from third trimester, pre-labor and post partum. They even had a lactation specialist come in one night to discuss breast feeding.

Our community clinic has a combined birthing and Lamaze class where they do birthing one half and Lamaze the second. If I was a VBAC candidate, I would've loved to have attended the Lamaze. When I had my first baby 15 years prior to my second, they didn't offer classes like that as often and freely as they do now. When I gave birth to my first baby, I didn't know anything and the nurses at the hospital treated me as if I should have (which they were pretty rude about it). For me, it was a good refresher and they did answer a lot of questions about what happens after the baby was born and what you can expect from your body and from baby the first month.

Jules08

I didn't sign up for any classes with DS.  To be honest, you can't predict what your labor is going to be like and how your body is going to handle it.  I put my trust in my body, my nurses, and my doctors to get my through it.  That's not to say that someone else wouldn't find it beneficial.  I just couldn't fathom sitting through 8 hours of something that might or might not be useful in the end.

As far as BFing classes, I didn't do any before; however, there are LC's on staff at the hospital where I deliver at, so I met with them as soon as DS was born.  Nothing like learning with your baby.

I did do a tour of the birthing center before I delivered and this time we will likely do a sibling class to familiarize DS.  I am also Adult, Child, and Infant CPR certified and First Aid certified through work.

mrstrax

We did the class and most of it was pretty pointless, because we both have medical backgrounds and read at least one book on the basics of l&d. However the tour and the opportunity to ask questions specific to the hospital was important to me. We're planning to redo the tour this time because they have renovated the hospital since DD was born.

Examples:
How do I check in (especially if it's the middle of the night)?
Can I eat/drink during labor?
Do I change rooms for delivery vs recovery?
What are the visiting "hour" policies?
What do you provide for me? For baby? For DH?
Do you have a nursery or room in?
What do you send home for me? Baby?
What situations would require baby to be transferred to another location?
Do you provide LC services?
Do I need to select a pediatrician before delivery or do you have a rotation for seeing newborns?

mrstrax

Also, if the answer to LC services is no, you may want to look into how to get them ASAP after delivery (or at least a support group) and maybe take a breastfeeding class, but one on one LC help with your actual baby is by far the most helpful.

imrachellea

Is it strictly Lamaze? I had never heard anything negative about Lamaze until I started reading a natural child birth textbook this weekend, and it made me cautious about Lamaze (I didn't do that with DD and wasn't planning it with DD2 either though). It was an interesting read, that is for sure. Not saying that Lamaze is bad, but there are other breathing techniques that are supposedly better? I had no breathing coaching and just kinda did my thing with DD, this time around I want to be a little more prepared. I'm reading the textbook for the Bradley Method (because due to DH's soccer schedule we can't take the in person classes) and am hoping to go that route.

As far as classes, we did an online "what to expect" type course through our hospital since, again DH's soccer schedule, didn't permit us to take in person. The online version worked just fine for us, but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone.

ivyvines6

imrachellea said:

Is it strictly Lamaze? I had never heard anything negative about Lamaze until I started reading a natural child birth textbook this weekend, and it made me cautious about Lamaze (I didn't do that with DD and wasn't planning it with DD2 either though). It was an interesting read, that is for sure. Not saying that Lamaze is bad, but there are other breathing techniques that are supposedly better? I had no breathing coaching and just kinda did my thing with DD, this time around I want to be a little more prepared. I'm reading the textbook for the Bradley Method (because due to DH's soccer schedule we can't take the in person classes) and am hoping to go that route.

As far as classes, we did an online "what to expect" type course through our hospital since, again DH's soccer schedule, didn't permit us to take in person. The online version worked just fine for us, but I wouldn't recommend it for everyone.

Not a stm, but the only thing I've read that was negative about Lamaze was it dummies down hynobirthing techniques.

imrachellea

@Knottie9983816 I will share what I read on Lamaze. And again, this is coming from someone who has not actually used the technique or really known anyone who has. And any method is going to be biased towards their own, and since I was reading about the Bradley Method it is obviously biased there.

What I read was that the Lamaze technique teaches three strict breathing patterns to "distract". While the mothers are focused on being in that particular pattern, it distracts them from being in tune with their own body and listening to the signals their body is giving them on how to progress with labor. It was also stated that these patterns of breathing can cause a woman to hyperventilate. Hyperventilating during labor has negative affects on the baby. Babies born when mothers are or have recently hyperventilating prior to the baby being born can have issues breathing air initially and it can affect their APGAR scores. Hyperventilation has caused mothers to pass out during labor which, obviously, is not a good thing.

Stating my disclaimer again, I have not actually used the Lamaze or Bradley methods and do not have personal experiences with either.

rebelone

I heard really good things about hypnobirthing. One of my close friends has 5 kids and she's done hypnobirthing for 3 of them. She loves hypnobirthing so much she's become a certified hypnobirthing instructor. I'm really impressed with her in that aspect. 2 of the 3 births she's been able to stay at home through her labor until she was close to delivering before she'd go to the hospital. 1 of those times she actually waited a little too long and delivered a few blocks from the hospital while she was enroute! She said that one kinda decided to come out suddenly and she wasn't expecting it. A lot of the hypnobirthing posts she's made on facebook looks like it's really beneficial and if I was able to deliver that way I would probably look more into it.

ivyvines6

@rebelone That's the method I'm looking into, I just have to drive like an hour away for a certified instructor in my area. Ugh.

NachosAndPeaches

I think it depends on what kind of birth you want. I took a class with DH and it was honestly all for DH. I didn't care for a natural childbirth though.

The best advice I have though from my labor experience is if they're asking you to do something that feels unnatural, ask if you can do it a way that feels natural. I asked and they were like okay yeah just for one contraction/push try that. I did, and they were like, holy shit you're right that's better. So listen to your body is my best advice! But make sure it's in a safe way.

Also pushing is like pooping. Pretend you're trying to poo and that's what it feels like.

Jules08

NachosAndPeaches said:

Also pushing is like pooping. Pretend you're trying to poo and that's what it feels like.

Ha, yes!

momofmanyinthemitten

We did the regular birthing class through the hospital for #1, as well as a breastfeeding class. It was around 30/32wks. I used hypnobabies home study from 30-39wks for #3 and was able to labor at home until 7cm. It's not the same as hypnobirthing, but it was more accessible for me.

mountainsmama

I am a FTM but I'm looking into a course called Hypnobabies, which is similar to hypnobirthing that I've heard good things about. In my area it's a 6 week course. I like the idea of Bradley Method, but I feel like 12 weeks is a really long time with our busy schedules. I really want to work on relaxation and pain management techniques because I am interested in having an unmedicated birth.

cosmobella

We did an independent birthing class (not offered by the hospital) before our first that I really loved. It exposed us to all of the birthing options (natural, medicated, and c/s) and the instructor combined several methods in a practical way. I was grateful (though still scared) when my planned natural childbirth turned into a c/s.
We also really benefited from the breastfeeding class. You don't know what kind of lactaction consultant you'll get in the hospital or how much time they'll have with you. Having prior BF knowledge during a less stressful time was really great as I was a mess after an unexpected c/s.