Did you take a Labor & Delivery Class?

sars1202

I'm kind of thinking of winging it.  I plan on having an epidural and anything else to make it "easier".  I figure the nurses are going to walk me through it anyways.  What do you think?

MrsTotty

I took a birthing class and highly recommend it. It wasn't just about breathing and pushing - I learned about all the tools the nurses and doctors would be using, and if there were options (ie: heartrate monitors, extraction methods etc), I learned about the different the different stages of labor and what to expect with each. I got a guided tour of my hospital and knew where everything was, where I would be for L&D and then PP - and where I would go if a C/S was needed.

I would HIGHLY recommend taking one. But then again, I am analy organized, and like to know what's happening or what might happen at any time - and be prepared for it.

Mrs.Donkey

IMO, L&D classes do more than tell you how to handle pain. ?They are there to educate you about what is going to happen to your body, and whhat is and isn't normal. ?If it's one sponsored by the hospital, it will include a tour and pre-registration. ?The key to a positive birth experience, whether it's with or without meds, is to be in control. ?You need to know what to expect and feel comfortable with what is happening to you. ?That goes for your partner, too. ?They will greatly benefit from the class. ?I strongly advise you to take a class of some sort. ?Why wouldn't you? ?There are things in life you "wing", like mid-terms in Anthropology. ?Then there is childbirth.

sethsgal

Eh, it wasn't worth it to me.  The nurses tell you what to do anyways.  I would however schedule a hospital tour. I liked seeing everything before it all happened!  If you have any questions, you have tons of friends who have *been there*

bieanca

I also would recommend taking one. ?It was really informative and I enjoyed it. ?It taught a lot of things I hadn't known that would have helped me if I went into labor on my own. ?I was induced and never responded to the medications. ?I liked the tour and knowing where I would be during labor, after labor, etc.

sethsgal

Oops, I am the opposite of everyone else! lol

With Ethan, we did take a class, just not a hospital one, I did the hypnobirthing class. 

Mrs.Donkey

sethsgal:

Oops, I am the opposite of everyone else! lol

With Ethan, we did take a class, just not a hospital one, I did the hypnobirthing class.?

LOL. ?We never took a hospital class, either, but we took a Bradley class and signed up for a hospital tour separately. ?I just can't imagine going into it not having taken any sort of class.?

Jessibell

I took a class at the hospital and I think it was worth it. I "toured" the hospital on a separate occasion and the one with the class was much more informative. It wasn't really expensive, so what have you got to lose, kwim?

sars1202

Mrs.Donkey:

Why wouldn't you?  There are things in life you "wing", like mid-terms in Anthropology.  Then there is childbirth.

 

My main reasoning is time - the class is 12 hours.  I'm not a stay at home anything and I have a million work events right up until my due date.

And then there is the whole other people in the class thing.  You know, those people who always have a question.  I just don't have the patience for that.  I know that sounds harsh but it's true.

Mrs.Donkey

sars1202:

Mrs.Donkey:

Why wouldn't you? ?There are things in life you "wing", like mid-terms in Anthropology. ?Then there is childbirth.

?

My main reasoning is time - the class is 12 hours.? I'm not a stay at home anything and I have a million work events right up until my due date.

And then there is the whole other people in the class thing.? You know, those people who always have a question.? I just don't have the patience for that.? I know that sounds harsh but it's true.

Well, if you can't stand to be around people asking questions then I guess don't go, considering the point of the class is to become informed and educated. ?I would actually encourage you to go and ask some questions of your own. ?Not trying to sound harsh, but don't you think preparing for something as monumental and hard as childbirth is worth blocking out 12 hours and sitting through some questions? ?

If you already have your mind made up, then so be it. My whole point is, though, that you are in control of your birth experience to a degree, and being educated is a huge part of that. ?Perhaps you can look into other avenues if the class doesn't work for you, but I would highly suggest not "winging" it.

And I'm pretty sure a lot of girls who've gone to L&D classes were not "stay at home anythings".?

gigimarie

For me the L&D class was not that informative and actually I went into labor the day after the class. Personally I thought it was really designed more for those doing it natural and not for those wanting an epidural. I think the best thing to make sure of is touring the hospital to get an idea of where everything is. We did not do the tour though since I had been admitted several times before.

Jessibell

Mrs.Donkey:

sars1202:

Mrs.Donkey:

Why wouldn't you?  There are things in life you "wing", like mid-terms in Anthropology.  Then there is childbirth.

 

My main reasoning is time - the class is 12 hours.  I'm not a stay at home anything and I have a million work events right up until my due date.

And then there is the whole other people in the class thing.  You know, those people who always have a question.  I just don't have the patience for that.  I know that sounds harsh but it's true.

Well, if you can't stand to be around people asking questions then I guess don't go, considering the point of the class is to become informed and educated.  I would actually encourage you to go and ask some questions of your own.  Not trying to sound harsh, but don't you think preparing for something as monumental and hard as childbirth is worth blocking out 12 hours and sitting through some questions?  

If you already have your mind made up, then so be it. My whole point is, though, that you are in control of your birth experience to a degree, and being educated is a huge part of that.  Perhaps you can look into other avenues if the class doesn't work for you, but I would highly suggest not "winging" it.

And I'm pretty sure a lot of girls who've gone to L&D classes were not "stay at home anythings". 

Yeah. Pretty much everything that Donkey just said and this:

One of my best friends had every intention of getting an epi as soon as possible. Her labor lasted about 4 hours start to finish and by the time the anesthesiologist got there it was too late. She delivered med free. The classes help you to be equipped to deal with anything that might come up.

Mrs.Donkey

Sorry. ?Just re-read my last response and I didn't mean it to come off that harsh. ?

Alysa

I took the class and would recommend it.  As PP noted, the class teaches you more than the labor and delivery process.  I thought the class was worth it just for the postpartum recovery information, stuff that no one tells you about.

drunkenwife

I was going to, but then I waited too long and the earliest available one was 2 weeks past my due date.  I don't really feel like I missed out on anything though, and we all know I"m not the most proactive person here anyway.  Besides, it was kind of thrilling going from natural childbirth to breech to all of a sudden I'm in the OR having a c/s inside of about an hour.  Never a dull moment!

jenlynnc

The only class we took was the infant CPR with the hospital and we did the tour. I didn't really want to sit through a childbirth class and as it turned out anyways I ended up having a planned c-section.

sars1202

Thanks, ladies!

labellagirl

i planned (and had) a natural birth and didn't take the childbirth class - honestly, i don't think anything can prepare you for childbirth except actually going through it - there is no one that can tell you/describe or anything that can simulate exactly what you will feel or experience - especially because every woman's experience is different - i ended up being induced and there was absolutely no way anyone could have told me how that would feel - no one could have described exactly what a contraction felt like or what it would feel like to "need" to push - i think you're much better off talking to friends who have given birth and getting advice like making sure you eat before hand and taking the Ambien if it's offered to you!  and you're right, your nurses will be there to help you through it and answer any questions you have

if you're worried about being in "control" of your birth, you need to fill out a birth plan - i know lot's of people think they're BS since anything can happen, but there is a lot of info that doesn't pertain to the birth itself - how you labor before hand and what happens after you deliver - whether or not you want the baby to be vaccinated, taken away or kept with you, who is allowed in the room, etc.

i did take a tour of L&D because i'd never been inside the actual hospital - so i wanted to know where i needed to go and tell everyone where to come once the baby was born - plus i wanted to know if there was wireless internet    if you have the extra 12 hours to spare, go for it - when i was pregnant, i was WAY too tired to spend 12 hours in a class - i would have much rather preferred to be asleep - and don't worry if you skip it - women have been giving birth for years without classes, i think you'll be okay!

t&dm

I took classes with my daughter and as some have said before, there is nothing that can prepare you for the actual experience.  Doing the hospital tour is important bc u will want to feel familiar and comfortable going there.  Another reason is to see how the staff treats you, that is very important to me.  If they seem nasty now, you will be very angry while pushing at a 10! I feel like the classes made me understand what would be happening to my body, but I am sure if you did some good research and/or talk to your Dr. you could find some online courses.  We are in the techno age and there has to be some great DVDs out there too.  I liked being in with the other moms who were asking questions,  you never know if they ask something that you find really important later.

car2cat

I thought that it was a total waste of time.  I was totally bored and almost had a panic attack because i felt held captive for so long (i've never had a panic attack in my life).  I couldn't be still for that long while pregnant.

 I didn't learn anything that I hadn't read about in my books or online or from girlfriends. 

I was never nervous/scared about "giving birth" though so maybe I'm different.

mikey&amie

I'm a total planner so I took it. After the fact, I will say for me it wasn't worth it. The main focus was pain management and since I planned (and had) an epi, there wasn't much pain involved. I had a very easy labor and delivery though, which obviously isn't the case for everyone. In hindsight, I wish I would have taken an infant CPR class. I did tour the hospital as part of the class and I really liked that.

ErinMTaylor

drunkenwife:

Besides, it was kind of thrilling going from natural childbirth to breech to all of a sudden I'm in the OR having a c/s inside of about an hour.  Never a dull moment!

It was even more thrilling to be there when it all went down!  Even though I did make fun of you and felt a *little* bad afterward.  

Anyway, I took 3 freaking classes.  I took the childbirth class, which was totally useless because I also ended up with a surprise c-section due to Noah being breech.  But I wanted the hospital tour, so I signed up - the tour is worth it, I guess.

I also took an Infant CPR class with my husband because (as you know) he is a police officer and he pretty much required it of me.  *rolling eyes*

I also took a breastfeeding class.  I would say that the breastfeeding class was the most worth it, because breastfeeding is WAY harder than I thought it would be. 

I remember there was a c-section class and I said, "Well, I won't need to take that one!"   Famous last words.

 

sethsgal

ErinMTaylor:

drunkenwife:

Besides, it was kind of thrilling going from natural childbirth to breech to all of a sudden I'm in the OR having a c/s inside of about an hour.  Never a dull moment!

It was even more thrilling to be there when it all went down!  Even though I did make fun of you and felt a *little* bad afterward.  

Anyway, I took 3 freaking classes.  I took the childbirth class, which was totally useless because I also ended up with a surprise c-section due to Noah being breech.  But I wanted the hospital tour, so I signed up - the tour is worth it, I guess.

I also took an Infant CPR class with my husband because (as you know) he is a police officer and he pretty much required it of me.  *rolling eyes*

I also took a breastfeeding class.  I would say that the breastfeeding class was the most worth it, because breastfeeding is WAY harder than I thought it would be. 

I remember there was a c-section class and I said, "Well, I won't need to take that one!"   Famous last words.

 

I just went up to the L&D floor and asked for a tour. I liked that better, I was all by myself and the nurse was really nice, showing me everything and telling me about different areas...

sars1202

Thanks everyone.  I talked to my Dr & her RN about it today and I think I'm going to skip the child birth class but do the tour & breast feeding.

If I end up having to go natural or something then I'll have a great post for FML.

drunkenwife

sethsgal:

I just went up to the L&D floor and asked for a tour. I liked that better, I was all by myself and the nurse was really nice, showing me everything and telling me about different areas...

They wouldn't let me do that at Plano Presby unless I scheduled one.  Which, again, the earliest was way past my due date.  I'm so not a planner.

jfarmer27

I was on the same page as you...not really wanting to take the class because I don't plan on going natural, but after talking to my OB and friends, am signed up for the "shorter" prepared childbirth class (6 hrs on a Saturday) vs. the 12 hr. lamaze class.  We did the breastfeeding class this week and while it overwhelmed me, I'm also glad I'm more informed, so think I'll feel the same way about the childbirth class. 

P.S. Surprisingly, there weren't really any dumb/tons of questions in the 3.5 hr BFing one...so hopefully the childbirth one will go the same way!

sars1202

They don't offer the short one at Presby Dallas anymore or else I would totally do that.  I'd even just buy the power point notes from them if I could.

jfarmer27

That stinks!  I'm at Plano Presby...I wonder if you could take it there if you wanted and then do the hospital tour at Dallas Presby?

sars1202

Maybe.  I will look into it.  They strongly recommend you take it at your own hospital - I guess just because of the tour?