When to take childbirth class? Other classes?

Snaps816

I could use opinions on this one, particularly from STM's out there. We are planning on taking a condensed childbirth class at our hospital (this means it's a 2-day weekend deal, rather than several weeknight classes spread out over a month). How far in advance of our due date should we take the class? I want to do it early enough that we're prepared in the event the baby comes early, but on the other hand, late enough that the information is still fresh in our minds if we do deliver at or after our due date. There is a class offered the weekend I'll be 33 weeks. Does that seem like a good time? What do you all plan on doing? 

And for the sake of discussion, what other classes/workshops are you all planning to do? I think we're going to take another weekend class of basic infant care, first aid, and CPR. I will probably go on my own to a breastfeeding one. We live like a block from the hospital so that makes it relatively easy to do these. 

bearsandbeets7

I'd say 33 weeks is fine. We had the weeknight classes from 28-32 weeks I think. 

We took an all inclusive class called birth and beyond. It went over everything from labor to infant care, CPR, ect. 

WinnieLou82

My hospital recommends completion of a similar class 2 to 4 weeks before your due date. I'd check with your hospital or who ever is running the course to verify their guidelines (e.g.they wouldn't let me register for an earlier session because it's reserved for people due in June and July). The session I signed up for will run about about weeks 33 to 36 in my pregnancy. I wish we had the option for a condensed version!

We're also taking a 2 hour breastfeeding course, an infant care class along with my mom (who will be our childcare provider) and DH is going to a dad'-only class about care/support/what to expect.

JLyn821

When I was pregnant with DS, DH and I took a two day birthing class right around 28-29 weeks. We would have waited another month, but DH had work commitments.

The material will be as fresh as you want it to be. I continued to go over everything and practice the exercises we were given.

Curls919

Advice - take it before 36w. I took the childbirth class then gave birth the next day!!

to answer your question, though, we took a Preparing and Caring for Baby class (they taught how to change a diaper, swaddle, bathe the baby, etc) and also a Breastfeeding class. Those were both through the hospital. 

Aside from that we also took an infant/child CPR class. We found it super helpful and want to take it again to renew our certification. That was offered from our town's ambulance corps 

AMCooper000

We're taking a baby boot camp class next month, a CPR class in June and then the big daddy childbirth preparation class (7 hours on a Saturday) at the end of July.  I booked them 1 month apart so it makes the countdown to baby seem shorter!

Snaps816

Thanks for all the advice! @AMCooper000 I think I will take your advice and spread these out over a couple of months. 

ballofmeat

(FTM here)

We are doing one through our hospital as a one day deal too. The class states that they will not take anyone who is not at least in their 7th month of pregnancy.

We are also doing a 3 hour breastfeeding class about 4 weeks before our due date with a lactation specialist through the hospital as well.

I love the idea of the CPR class @AMCooper000

Tnallen107

I was just wondering this same thing. My husband grew up with his family being Foster Parents, so he has CPR certification and knows loads about babies. However, I, the lowly mother, have no clue how to give an infant CPR. I guess I need to call the hospital and see when the classes are available. 

Mfuller76

We're spreading ours out too, based on availability, our schedules and order of importance (in my mind). I'm mostly concerned about L&D - everything else I feel like we have support & resources for and we can learn as we go, if necessary. So the plan is childbirth class at 29 weeks, newborn care at 32 weeks and breast feeding around 36 weeks. 

tmk0325

We only had two options with our courses. May or July. Since we are expecting twins and I anticipate they will come in July we are opting to do them in May. Hopefully we don't forget everything we learn. We are doing a birthing course (2 nights) and a breastfeeding class (1 night). 

ramoseecology

FTM but I'm signed up for a natural childbirth class that begins in mid-May that meets for about 5 weeks and then one through my hospital that includes breastfeeding that is the beginning of June through the beginning of July. Still need to sign up for an infant CPR class.

Not exactly the same but there is a car seat clinic at the end of July that's on my calendar so I'll hopefully have that taken care of in advance.

AliKay20

I know I should sign up soon but every time I go to my hospital's page and see this, I just close my eyes and throw my phone away from me:

Will 9 mths in 90 mins cover some of these classes? Would childbirth prep also talk about csection prep? Would childbirth express suffice? Can DH and I take baby care in general or will he also get additional info if it was dad specific?

Yeah, I'm overthinking all this but part of me feels like they can simplify some of these classes! FTM here so excuse my rant! >.<

Curls919

AliKay20 said:

I know I should sign up soon but every time I go to my hospital's page and see this, I just close my eyes and throw my phone away from me:

Will 9 mths in 90 mins cover some of these classes? Would childbirth prep also talk about csection prep? Would childbirth express suffice? Can DH and I take baby care in general or will he also get additional info if it was dad specific?

Yeah, I'm overthinking all this but part of me feels like they can simplify some of these classes! FTM here so excuse my rant! >.<

That's so weird!!!  Our baby care class was for couples, not separate. And the 9 months in 90 min sounds like it's about pregnancy, not baby stuff. 

ballofmeat

@AliKay20 I think I may be overwhelmed if I saw all those class options too! Holy crap! Our hospital only offers like three. Is there a description for each one so you could narrow it down? 

Car0liiine

I went ahead and signed us up for the prepared childbirth class which will be all day next Saturday (27+5.) I guess that's kind of early from what I'm seeing others are doing. But I wanted to go ahead and take it in case it makes me realize other things I need to do/buy/prepare before the big day.
We will also take a CPR class but other than that, my hospital didn't offer any other classes that really apply. I have been googling around a bit to see if there are other classes offered somewhere else but not really sure where to look.

PeachGal23

My two bits of advice regarding classes: (1) have your husband go with you to the breastfeeding class.  I wish I had insisted on that so he could help remember the positions and proper latch details when I was delirious.  And even if you've done the class, request the lactation consultant visit you as much as possible in the hospital to make sure you are on the right track; and (2) even if you've taken infant CPR/First Aid before baby comes, take it again if you can when baby begins solid foods.  It's helpful to get a refresher then when you need it most.  Those are a long six months!

SkiChic626

The only class I took that I thought as useful was the breastfeeding class.  All of the other stuff I felt was kinda fluffy and useless - nothing you can't YouTube.  I was already CPR certified, so maybe that, too - actually, that reminds me that I need to renew mine!

Katienu

Friends of ours said it wasn't necessary so we never took a child birth class.  My doctor walked us through what to expect when we were at our appointments.   When I went into labor, the doctors and nurses told us what do to and I don't regret not taking the class. 

MamaKSquared

Our birthing center requires a natural child birthing class that we will take from 31-34 weeks (we have the option of doing 1 - 8 hour class on Saturday, but my attention span can't handle that). For optional classes, we're taking a newborn care class, a breastfeeding class and an infant CPR/first aid class. My birthing center recommends bringing our partner to the breastfeeding class as well. They say they see a higher success rate if a support person is there with mom. Just something to consider.

Pepper6

I think the recommendation was to be completed with childbirth classes by 36-37 weeks.  For us, we took a 3 week class (a 3 hour class once a week for 3 weeks), so we started around 33 weeks.  We also did a one-time breastfeeding class and DH did a dads-only class sprinkled in there somewhere, I can't remember exactly when.

The childbirth class was a little long because a lot of the information I already knew, but I found it was helpful for DH since he didn't research it the way I did.  I think it made us both feel more comfortable with what was going on.  The breastfeeding class was really helpful, and definitely make your DH go to that one too, it's so important to have a good support system and for them to understand it's not that easy.  DH said he kind of liked the dads-only one because it was more about what they could do to help since a lot of the other classes are obviously all about the moms, but probably wasn't necessary.

WildWhat

@Pepper6 That's good to know that your husband should go to the breastfeeding class, too! We're also signed up for Baby Care Basics and a birthing class, but I wasn't sure if it was appropriate for him to go to the breastfeeding one, too. 

Curls919

Katienu said:

Friends of ours said it wasn't necessary so we never took a child birth class.  My doctor walked us through what to expect when we were at our appointments.   When I went into labor, the doctors and nurses told us what do to and I don't regret not taking the class. 

I liked the childbirth class because it prepped DH for what would happen and he understood how it's not just dilating but also the baby's station, etc, my cervical length, etc.  I didn't find I learned anything in the class I hadn't already read about, etc.  They went over some massage techniques, etc that our support people could do in the room but when I tried one during labor it made the pain worse!

AliKay20

@midwestbaby descriptions are sooo similar to one another, I can't decide. Ugh!! Probably will pick one or two different classes and hope us FTP's just figure things out as they come! 

Like my DH always says, "...people have figured it out without all this stuff. We will too!" Hahaha hope he is right!

bananers

We took an 8-hour childbirth class, a 2-hour newborn class, and a 1-hour breastfeeding class, all around 33 weeks. Our hospital offered a bunch more, but other than CPR (if you're not already certified), I thought the others looked like a waste of time and money. I think they kind of try to take advantage of FTMs' fears, to be honest. It's a good money-making venture for them, and everything we learned in the classes I could have learned via books and the Internet (and in most cases, already had). I will say, I think they were probably more useful for DH then they were for me, because he isn't the obsessive researcher I am!

Also, FWIW, on night one with DS1 in our state of exhaustion, we could not, for the life of us, remember how to swaddle or change a diaper - two things they had covered in our newborn class, lol. But that's one of the many reasons nurses are so great. Also, a few days later when it was time for his first bath, I had to look up how to on YouTube because I couldn't remember that either, lol. 

AliKay20

Also, FWIW, on night one with DS1 in our state of exhaustion, we could not, for the life of us, remember how to swaddle or change a diaper - two things they had covered in our newborn class, lol. But that's one of the many reasons nurses are so great. Also, a few days later when it was time for his first bath, I had to look up how to on YouTube because I couldn't remember that either, lol. 

This is reality right here @bananers I'm going to remember your post when we face that moment exactly and not freak the fk out. Oooo-sssahhhh

bearsandbeets7

AliKay20 said:

Also, FWIW, on night one with DS1 in our state of exhaustion, we could not, for the life of us, remember how to swaddle or change a diaper - two things they had covered in our newborn class, lol. But that's one of the many reasons nurses are so great. Also, a few days later when it was time for his first bath, I had to look up how to on YouTube because I couldn't remember that either, lol. 

This is reality right here @bananers I'm going to remember your post when we face that moment exactly and not freak the fk out. Oooo-sssahhhh

I fee like this is gonna be me this time because I no idea how to take care of a little boy. 

JournoGrl23

I'm signing DH and I up for the baby basics class, which includes how to install a car seat, how to bathe a baby, infant CPR, etc. But I've been told the birthing class is a waste of time. However, my OB recommended it to me. But between taking weekends off for my two showers and  that one baby basics class, my boss isn't letting me take any more off. So I don't know when I'd ever be able to do a birthing class anyway. I'm also assuming I'll have a c-section due to some physical complications and the fact that no one in my family has given birth naturally. I've been told the hospital has a lactation specialist who will help with breast feeding after birth. I'm hoping that'll teach me all I need to know.

jamiesc58

@Lynnlove28 I think baby boys are easier than baby girls for the most part. They don't have all the creases and hiding spots "down there" for the poop to get into. The only thing I always tried to remember to do was, have the new clean diaper ready and cover him before taking the other diaper off completely. Boys tend to pee...all over...wherever there little thing is aimed lol. There was nothing I had to do for ds to care for his circumcision except put a little vasoline on him so the diaper didn't stick. 

jamiesc58

@Lynnlove28 I did forget...make sure his penis is pointed down when you put his diaper on or he will pee right out the top. Thank God my sister had a boy first and learned this the hard way so I didn't have to lol. Her son woke up soaked every morning until she asked the pediatrician what she was doing wrong.

ThisisNumber3

PeachGal23 said:

My two bits of advice regarding classes: (1) have your husband go with you to the breastfeeding class.  I wish I had insisted on that so he could help remember the positions and proper latch details when I was delirious.  And even if you've done the class, request the lactation consultant visit you as much as possible in the hospital to make sure you are on the right track; 

Yes I agree with having DH go with you to BFing class.  Its great to have him learn about it so he can better support you.  Even if you dont take a class before baby, make sure you know the details about getting breastfeeding support.  LLC usually has group meetings and support members you can call.  The hospital usually has a process for meeting with LC if you need them.  Some pediatricians offices have LC available as well.  

AliKay20

I finally registered for the following:

Baby Care
Breastfeeding

Since these classes allow you to bring one adult partner, DH is no longer planning to take Baby Care for Dads (description was so similar except they added: What to Expect at the Hospital - seriously? That's dad specific? I think we'll cover that elsewhere too). 

We thought about Childbirth Prep class but it consisted of 4 classes (1/week for 3 hours). Do we really need this? I just couldn't justify the time and money to sign up for this one!

For Baby Care and Breastfeeding classes, we signed up for early June and mid June as I didn't want to forget some things I would learn from those classes if we took them in May.  

Let's hope Peanut shows up in July/August (my original EDD is 7/30 based on my LMP but MD also threw out 8/4 hence why I joined Aug board!)

edited to clarify confusion on EDD**

jamiesc58

If you decide not to take classes and are a FTM I highly recommend at least touring the birthing unit you will be delivering at. It helped a lot as they explained how to get in after hours, everything that will be happening to you while you are in labor and during delivery, everything they will be doing for dh (or birthing partner), and how everything works once baby is born. It made me feel tons better as I found out that they don't take the baby from the room for anything but emergencies until they have to. You get a band, dh gets a band, and baby gets 2 bands immediately. Helps to know this if you have anxiety about getting the wrong baby.

bananers

jamiesc58 said:

If you decide not to take classes and are a FTM I highly recommend at least touring the birthing unit you will be delivering at. It helped a lot as they explained how to get in after hours, everything that will be happening to you while you are in labor and during delivery, everything they will be doing for dh (or birthing partner), and how everything works once baby is born. It made me feel tons better as I found out that they don't take the baby from the room for anything but emergencies until they have to. You get a band, dh gets a band, and baby gets 2 bands immediately. Helps to know this if you have anxiety about getting the wrong baby.

Oh definitely this! Even though our classes weren't that helpful IMO, the hospital tour definitely was. It was great day of when you're a little bit scared and panicked, to know where to go and have a general idea of what to expect. 

Curls919

@bananers - our neighbors still talk about the fact that when they brought their now 18yo daughter home they called the previous owner of our house and he gave her the first bath because they had no idea what to do and he was a father of 3.

AliKay20

jamiesc58 said:

If you decide not to take classes and are a FTM I highly recommend at least touring the birthing unit you will be delivering at. It helped a lot as they explained how to get in after hours, everything that will be happening to you while you are in labor and during delivery, everything they will be doing for dh (or birthing partner), and how everything works once baby is born. It made me feel tons better as I found out that they don't take the baby from the room for anything but emergencies until they have to. You get a band, dh gets a band, and baby gets 2 bands immediately. Helps to know this if you have anxiety about getting the wrong baby.

We signed up for the tour but right now, there's a temporary visit limitation policy due to flu cases so it's not confirmed whether we'll have a tour or not in May. Hope the limitation gets lifted soon bc we really need this tour!! Lol they offer virtual but I don't think that's going to work out for us. 

Whitewatermomma

I am 24 weeks and started all the child care classes --- general child care, lamaze, breastfeeding, and prenatal yoga.  In some of the classes, I am not as far along as other.  With summer coming and moving into our home, we wanted to to make sure we had time to complete the classes (and not wish we were outside 'playing' in the nice weather).  Also, my doctor said that some places have classes that could run between 8-12 weeks and you want to plan according to your due date.  

charmedlifex3

@AliKay20 My hospital had the same thing going, but they would do "tours" for 2 people or fewer during slow times. Two other hospitals we toured we just dropped by and at both they said "Oh sure! Let me get a nurse." Both hospitals had signs posted limiting visitors, and not allowing children in the maternity ward -  So if it's really important to you to get a tour in, it might be worth dropping by, not waiting for a group event.  

We made the decision to switch hospitals, and to which one, after touring four locally. We really got more of a sense of the experience, and it firmed up our feeling that the place we had been going was not where I wanted to deliver.

jamiesc58

I don't know if this has been mentioned or not. As a mom of other children, I found the Big Brother/Sister classes to be amazing. They give the kids a "baby" with a blanket, bottle, diaper, and some other stuff. They go over how to hold baby, how to wrap baby in a blanket, how to support baby's head, etc... They also did a tour of the birthing unit so the kids could see where their mom would be and not feel intimidated when it was time to come visit. Our hospital recommends the class for ages 2 and up. My first dd was 4 when she took it and my ds was 5 when he took it. They both loved it and the things the learned helped a ton when we brought baby home. 

lucypod

We just took the 2nd of a 3-part class last night and we love it.  It's held at our hospital.  Granted we're doing this a little early (27-29 weeks) but we weren't available for the June classes, and July would be too late.  I think even though it's a little early it helps to be prepared.  One of the reasons I'm glad we're taking the class early is that it has convinced us to hire a doula, which is something I think may have been too late to do if we waited until June.  I would say that even if a lot of what we're learning is familiar to me, the classes are extremely beneficial to DH.  Not that he doesn't listen to me or respect  what I have to say, but I think it makes a difference coming from a "professional."  

Also, meeting other parents-to-be is really nice and people often ask questions we wouldn't have necessarily thought of but the answers are really good to know.

The class we're taking is called Mindful Childbirth (geared towards couples looking for a low-intervention birth).  We also plan on taking a prenatal breastfeeding class and I'm going to do a Yoga for Labor workshop with my prenatal yoga instructor.

AliKay20

Update: We now know how to change diapers, swaddle babies, hold babies football style, and other important things that obviously didn't stick with me 30 mins after class ended.

We took our Baby Care course (4 hrs) today; I didn't know how helpful it would be but for FTP's esp. who haven't been around babies, I highly recommend!

Here's our newborn baby for today, "Cooper."