Birthing Classes

abcteach

I haven't signed up yet and many of my friends have said it was a waste of time. They said I could end up skipping it....the doctors and nurses will tell you what to do during delivery.

Did you find the classes worthwhile?

Did you end of going to a class or did you just rely on the doctor/nurse to guide you through it?

 

dusk42

I've heard if you are doing a medicated birth, a book or the nurse's directions can suffice (but some people feel more prepared with a class).  

We're hoping for a non-medicated birth, so we are taking a Bradley class, because most nurses in our hospital won't have a lot of ideas for different positions, etc. 

jlh123

I went back and forth trying to decide if I was going to take it because they kept telling me a c section is likely.  Well I thought I better at least read about the breathing, etc.  I visited L&D plenty of times leading up to delivery so I didn't need to know the rules of the place or what to expect, I had asked so many questions already and knew my way around.  As far as breathing, it's many foundations I already knew being a therapist and teaching relaxation techniques.

I decided not to take the class and just read up on the books I had about stages of labor and delivery and different breathing and what's happening.  I didn't want info on the epidural because the more I'd know, the more freaked out I would become, but that's just me.

I can honestly say I didn't miss the class.  They kept telling me my breathing is perrfect and I'm doing everything how it should be done.  When it was time to change my breathing, they cued me in.  The epidural was so easy for me, I had no anxiety about it.  I labored basically at home the night before (not knowing it was no longer PTL but the real thing), I labored 3 hours more in the hospital before I got the epidural.  I pushed for 2 1/2 hours (books prepared me how to do that as well and it came to me naturally with prompts from the nurses and doctors) and I ended up with a c section.

Personally, I would've liked a class on a c section recoery because there were a lot of surprises with that!!!

smilelari

I think it depends a lot on what kind of class you take whether it's helpful.  I've taken several non-childbirth classes at the hospital (breastfeeding, baby care, etc) and those always seem to be a waste of time.  There is no real discussion.  Most questions are answered with "please consult with your doctor", everything is veiled by hospital policy.

My childbirth classes were taken away from the hospital and they were so very helpful.  I feel like I can be an active participant in the birth process rather than just going along with whatever I am told.  And now I know that not everything I'm told is mandatory and not everything that I'm told is something that I want

Of course, I haven't actually gone through childbirth yet.

jlh123

I should also add though that my birth plan was whatever they told me to do with as much pain meds they were willing to give lol.  They told me to push, I'd push, they told me c section, I listened.  If they told me to stand on my head, I would've.  I realize I'm very different than others on this way of thinking.  Many people want to do things a certain way and they have that right. 

MayDayGirl

I liked it. I felt I learned how to breath through my contractions in a way that was so helpful. I was completely calm through them until about 9.5cm and by then it was time to push and too late anyway!

we went for 5 weeks and parts of it were a waste but I'm glad I did it.

PhillySue

I found the breastfeeding class very useful and I also liked the birthing class.  i do not think it is absolutely necessary because the doctors and nurses tell you most everything you need to know but I thought that it was nice being prepared.  I think it also gives your DH an idea of what to expect which is important.

Alli321

I went to the regular birthing class and found that for the most part I already knew what they taught from the internet of the books I had.  And to be honest I was throwing up a lot after my water broke before the got the epi so anything I learned went out the window and I was just concerned with not puking on myself (since I did that when I was in the hospital a few months earlier fro pre-term labor).  From there I just relied on what the nurse told me. 

It was nice seeing the facilities and the nurse teaching the class gave us some of her own experience (which was something we couldn't get from the book).  My insurance ended up reiumbursing me for it, but if I could do it over again and they didn't pay, I wouldn't take the class.