Childbirth Preperation Class

brittnic86

I'm debating if I should sign DH and I up for a child birth prep class. FTM, so I'm sure it would be helpful....it's not the money that's the issue, but more the time? It's 2 hours, once a week, for 4 weeks.

Is anyone taking a class? Or have you before? was it worth it? Or not?

ALM2016

DH and I are signed up for one that sounds similar in time commitment to the one you're looking at. I'm also a FTM, but I think both DH and I are willing to take the class just for the psychological benefit of feeling like we've done what we can to be prepared for the new world coming up.

I'd also be really interested to hear whether STMs did/didn't take a class like this, and what you thought.

Gizmo1231

 We did every class offered when I was pregnant with DS1  and I was very glad we did even though I ended up an emergency C-section. Help give us a little insight into how things could go, what could go wrong, and gave general knowledge about newborn basics as well. 

ea301

We signed up for a few - including general baby care and infant CPR. I'm a FTM too but on top of that I've only held a newborn twice in my life for a total of maaaaybe ten minutes and the entire time I was terrified I might somehow break the baby. DH has never held a baby of any age, ever. So... just based on our near-complete lack of exposure to babies, we felt like we definitely need the classes if only for a little peace of mind that we won't somehow colossally screw up.

On the other hand: I have friends who, while having no kids of their own, are SUPER comfortable with babies and newborns, so I could see why they might not need a class before having their own.

Definitely interested to hear what STMs think about classes - I really hope they'll be helpful for us.

Austenista

When does one sign up for parenting/CB classes? Now? Third trimester? 

brittnic86

@caseyewhitaker I was looking to sign up for a class that runs 9/12-10/12

kbduke

We are taking a class but it's only one day (Saturday, 9-5) with the hospital tour included as well.

ea301

@caseyewhitaker ours are in October and early November. We signed up super early just in case our preferred dates filled up... plus I had some anxiety so it seemed best to just get it over with

tinattt23

@caseyewhitaker My class starts 9/7 and runs for 10 weeks. Instructor said that was pretty much perfecting timing for 12/21 due date. 

karmba

I think the time commitment sounds about right.  My options were 4 weeks of 2 hour classes once a week or a one weekend day 9-5 class.  We're doing the 9-5 because I'll still be traveling a bit and didn't want to miss any classes.  I really wanted to take the class, more for DH than myself.  It also includes a tour of our hospital.

I also need to sign up for an infant care class....

brittnic86

I would do the saturday class, but DH always works weekends, so Monday or Tuesday nights are our only options.

penelope4612

We are going to sign up through the hospital I'm delivering at.  The classes are free.  We will do Labor and Delivery, Breastfeeding Basics and an infant care class.  They are each about 2-3 hours long.  I'm hoping to go in Oct but they haven't posted the Oct schedule yet.

slartybartfast

I think it's absolutely helpful to take some form of childbirth prep class. We did one that was 2 Saturdays last time.
I think I didn't realize they filled up in advance so we didn't end up in ours til I was 35 and 36 weeks... which was cutting it close but it was really really helpful for it all to be so fresh.

It was also really fun to be in the class with other couples that were in the same place as us. One couple we met up with a couple times after our babies were born. It's refreshing to be in the majority in a room rather than sticking out like a pregnant sore thumb walking around in public 3rd tri.

Kacie209

FTM, here.

I have signed us up for Lazame, which starts September 20 and goes for 4 weeks. It's from 6-9 every Tuesday for those 4 weeks. They had weekend ones (Friday and Saturday), but it was like 3 hours on a Friday night and 6-8 hours on Saturday. No thanks... I'd rather get the info in short bursts.

I am also going to sign up for a breastfeeding class at the beginning of October. They only offer those once a month, and November would be more ideal... but it's the day before DH heads out hunting so he's spending most of that evening making sure he has everything. For December, it's a week before EDD, so I didn't want to chance it. I told DH is should come with me for that one.

They have a car seat class, but I don't think we'll go to that one. We've had car seats for our nephews in and out of our car, so we have some experience. There is also one for dad's, but DH won't be going.

They're all offered free at our hospital.

yellingbanana

Do the classes, DH and I did with DD 1 and were very happy we did. He learned a lot (I'd read most of it in books and online by then). And it helps you prepare for birth, even if you end up with a c-section like me . I believe the statistic is that about 1/3 of us will end up with c-sections, but it's best to be prepared to help increase your understanding.
After your first child, the classes are not really necessary as much. I say that, but take it with a grain of salt as I'm RCS over here. Though my family members all did the classes with their 1st, none of them did it with their 2nd, 3rd, or 4ths. 

cjt121413

I'm glad you posted this, as it reminded me to sign us up for a class. STM, but DH is a FTD and I want both of us to feel comfortable with the process. We're going to do a c-section class that includes a hospital tour. I'm not sure if we'll do any other classes.

With DS, I did do a childbirth class and I found it helpful in that I kind of knew what to expect. It definitely helped my comfort level to at least have been in L&D before.

I think the classes are helpful in feeling comfortable, but @brittnic86 the class you're describing is quite a time commitment! Ours is only one Saturday for a couple hours.

brittnic86

Class description:
This four week class series, held one night a week, on Mondays September 12 - October 3, 2016, will help first-time parents prepare for a more comfortable labor and delivery. It provides a combination of lecture, active practice and group discussion to give new parents the confidence needed to welcome their baby to the world. This class does not include breastfeeding and newborn care information.

It's held at the hospital I'm delivering at. It's $81 with my health insurance discount. Should I look elsewhere for classes?

slartybartfast

brittnic86 said:

Class description:
This four week class series, held one night a week, on Mondays September 12 - October 3, 2016, will help first-time parents prepare for a more comfortable labor and delivery. It provides a combination of lecture, active practice and group discussion to give new parents the confidence needed to welcome their baby to the world. This class does not include breastfeeding and newborn care information.

It's held at the hospital I'm delivering at. It's $81 with my health insurance discount. Should I look elsewhere for classes?

I think that one sounds great. Having hte class where you deliver is a huge plus - sometimes the nurses teach them and the one that taught ours ended up being a post partum nurse for us. She snuck us all kinds of goodies

cgss11

We hope to do the childbirth class, and the infant care class. Hopefully time allows. I am also interested in the BF class, by the other two are first priorities for now.

Lisa3379

ea301 said:

We signed up for a few - including general baby care and infant CPR. I'm a FTM too but on top of that I've only held a newborn twice in my life for a total of maaaaybe ten minutes and the entire time I was terrified I might somehow break the baby. DH has never held a baby of any age, ever. So... just based on our near-complete lack of exposure to babies, we felt like we definitely need the classes if only for a little peace of mind that we won't somehow colossally screw up.

Wow, it's like you're me or something. This is my situation exactly. Our childbirth class is 4 hours on a Saturday morning and then 4 on Sunday, which will be annoying on our weekend for sure, but I am really looking forward to knowing at least a little bit about what to expect. I don't know CPR at all, and I feel like the newborn care class is the more optional one for us (there's gotta be youtube videos for how to do everything, right?) but what the hell.

SarahF8611

STM here- TAKE A CLASS! I can't say I learned a million things but I learned enough new things to have lots of confidence. I can also speak for DH and say it was INVALUABLE for his confidence. We also referenced the book they gave us multiple times. lol. If you are planning on nursing, I would highly recommend taking a nursing specific class as well, again, it really helped with the confidence.

That being said, both classes we took were only one-time for three hours. So I'm not sure if the length the OP said is necessary but if that's all that's offered, take it.

brittnic86

@SarahF8611 yeah the only have the 4 night 2 hours each class, or an all day saturday class.

I signed us up! Told DH maybe we'll make parent friends lol.

juliehollz13

Not sure if we will or not but leaning towards "No". My Dr. says the classes are beneficial if you're planning a natural birth, never seen a live birth or never cared for a newborn. DH and I have done all those things (although he's never witnessed a live birth but isn't planning on "looking" down there anyway). We may go just because of being first time parents, but don't feel like it would be worth the time in our situation. 

SarahF8611

juliehollz13 said:

Not sure if we will or not but leaning towards "No". My Dr. says the classes are beneficial if you're planning a natural birth, never seen a live birth or never cared for a newborn. DH and I have done all those things (although he's never witnessed a live birth but isn't planning on "looking" down there anyway). We may go just because of being first time parents, but don't feel like it would be worth the time in our situation. 

I'll tell you what, when your legs are in the air and the DR is asking for his help holding one, he's not going to have much of a choice! Haha, this is what happened to mine. I would prepare him a little somehow!

juliehollz13

SarahF8611 said:

juliehollz13 said:

Not sure if we will or not but leaning towards "No". My Dr. says the classes are beneficial if you're planning a natural birth, never seen a live birth or never cared for a newborn. DH and I have done all those things (although he's never witnessed a live birth but isn't planning on "looking" down there anyway). We may go just because of being first time parents, but don't feel like it would be worth the time in our situation. 

I'll tell you what, when your legs are in the air and the DR is asking for his help holding one, he's not going to have much of a choice! Haha, this is what happened to mine. I would prepare him a little somehow!

@SarahF8611 both of us were raised in 3rd world countries so it's not the squeamish aspect of it, he just never witnessed a human birth. I may get him to watch a video or something of the sort but for my own comfort would rather no one but the Dr/nurses look at my vagina split wide open like that. I'd be pretty pissed if they asked DH or even my mom to do that. To me it's just a tiny shred of personal dignity that i will be fighting to hold on to, considering that I will more than likely drop a douce on the table anyway...I'd rather only the professionals getting paid the big bucks to see all that  lol. 

ashleaf2018

I'm having a scheduled C and am pretty familiar with newborn care, I was old enough to help with my brother when he was born and FI's mom runs a daycare in her house and often has little babies. We won't be doing a L&D class but we will do a breastfeeding class and a hospital tour.

fauxpa-2

Our hospital offers quite a few different classes that I think we'll try out each one is about $25-50 or $150 for 4 or more classes.  I think we are going to do the birth, childcare, and breast feeding classes.  They also offer an introducing baby to animals class that I think we'll go to for the price.

jennbaylor12

We didn't do one with DS and I don't feel like we missed out all that much. I think they can def be helpful but if someone doesn't/can't/whatever take one I don't think you'd be that behind..... each experience is so different, a class can only prepare you for so much. Then again, it depends how much you're coming in knowing. 

I will say we didn't take a breastfeeding class either and, in hindsight, wish that we had. I may take one this time even though it's not my first rodeo

brittnic86

Well, I've seen birth videos.....like recently lol. I'm the oldest of four kids, and I helped care for my siblings. DH only has one older sister though, and I'm pretty sure his niece, who is now 3, is his only baby interaction. So maybe it'll be more for his benefit? I don't know if I'll be delivering naturally, or via C-Section. It depends on how the babies are positioned.

jptrumptone

My hospital offers a ton of classes, but the only ones that fill up are the comprehensive "Birthday and Beyond" classes. We signed up for one of those that is 2 Saturdays at the end of Sept. & beginning of October.  I figure if there is stuff I want to go deeper into after that class I can sign up for one of the other ones :-)

R0824H

DH and I have signed up for a 7 week class series for Oct/Nov. I would have preferred Sept/Oct (in case I deliver early) but it didn't jive with DHs work schedule.

sammyl1221

We're taking two classes- breast feeding which is free and then a 1 day Lamaze class. That class is $125 and is 8 hours long but the other option is 5 week class during the week and it's a lot. Both are at the hospital we will be delivering at. This thread reminded me to sign up for the classes and hospital tour! Thanks!! 

hecklet

We just did a breastfeeding class last time around. I did a lot of reading as well as DH and we also had a very knowledgable doula. We didn't feel the classes were necessary and don't feel like we missed out on anything. I am glad we did the breastfeeding class because when I was struggling after ds was born DH had suggestions and words of encouragement during that time due to what we learned I the class. We were required to do a hospital tour which was a complete waste of time. 

SaraRose83

I think it's a good idea, especially if it's at the hospital you're delivering at. I'm taking a similar 6 week class -2 hrs per week- at the hospital and it doesn't include breastfeeding or newborn care- I'm taking those as one time Saturday classes. But I think the class I'm in so far is really helpful; there are a lot of interventions that I would be (more) freaked out about had I not seen them before, in person, and able to ask questions about them. The csection portion scared me and sort of pissed me off, but I would be more upset going along with it in the moment blind. For me, it's giving me a chance to form my opinions on their policies and to talk to my doula about the stuff I feel passionate about (not their policy to tell me before an episiotomy - wha?!) and make a plan so I feel informed and empowered...as much as possible, anyway. Another big plus is you'll get to know the nurses helping you deliver - usually they teach the classes- and you'll get to ask them questions before you're in labor and figure out which nurses you might gel with more, if they happen to be working that night. 

SaraRose83

Sorry, I forgot to post, my class is only $20, but I'd say it's valued at about $100 for the info.

silverfrost

Fauxpa said:

They also offer an introducing baby to animals class that I think we'll go to for the price.

My husband and I just might have to look into something like that as well! (We have 2 dogs and 3 cats. We run a kennel, basically).

I'd like to take childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes too. I have an appt today, so I will ask them what's offered.

squiddy224

FTM.  We haven't signed up for every class that the hospital offers, just childbirth prep and breastfeeding.  Our childbirth prep class is three hours tonight (6-9pm) and all day tomorrow (9am-5pm).  They also had weekday ones (2-3 hours in the evening for 6 weeks or so) but those just didn't work with our schedules, so we had to sacrifice a weekend for it!  Will post updates about how it went once we've finished the class.

mrsmerc2015

No classes here, but I would recommend it for FTMs, especially if you're planning a med-free birth. I've been around babies forever, took a Bradley Method class when pregnant with DS and DH has worked as an EMT, Army Medic, Emergency Room manager and was there when DSD was born...he's seen it all .

I looked at a quick class with the hospital, but our schedules are crazy with work/commutes/2 kids on coparenting schedules and the oldest starting kindergarten and I don't know that it's necessary for us.

ve304856

With DS we took a childbirth class, breastfeeding, and child care basics. I loved the child care basic and breastfeeding class. As for the childcare class it was helpful if you were going med free. At that point I had no desire to go med free at all. They did a lot of relaxation techniques which I thought were dumb. But the helpful part was seeing everything that they could possibly use, forceps, the vacuum, they also showed an epidural needle. 

leksiL

I'm 2 classes into the Bradley method and I LOVE it. I was terrified of birth before and want to do it naturally. Between my doula and the Bradley classes, I am going to be much more prepared and less frightened. They also have me doing daily exercises, including relaxing, which I'm not great at but I hope to get better

For the 12 weeks it is $350.

We aren't doing a breastfeeding class but I am reading the Womanly art of Breastfeeding and the Bradley classes set you up for support, and my doula is also a lactation consultant so I feel like I'm covered there, with LLL meetings if needed.

I've been around a lot of babies so I feel like I don't need a separate baby care class.

ErikandAfton

Our insurance offers a lot of classes for free. We are doing the Preparing for Childbirth class for a full Saturday in early November, the following Saturday we are doing a Newborn Care class in the morning and a Breastfeeding class in the afternoon. We do our hospital tour in October. We could have done the classes in the evenings but Dh has a crazy travel schedule and by the time I leave school I just want to come home so we decided Saturdays would be easiest. Also Dh didn't think they were necessary but neither if us have been through this before so it will just make me feel better.