Question about child birth class

smynings_bride

I apologize if this has been asked before....Has anyone taken the Child Birth Preparation class at Northside?  I have one friend that took it and said it wasn't helpful except that the books they gave out were great.  She has given me the books.  I'm wondering what other people that have taken the class think about whether it was helpful.  We've signed up for the tour, breastfeeding class and infant cpr.  Thanks!

MrsKLB

We took it and enjoyed it.  I don't think it's 100% necessary, but it was good for us (specifically DH) to get some hands on experience with swaddling, diapering, bathing (we practices all of this with babydolls in the class), etc.  There was some useful information and we got the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD, which was good.

smynings_bride

MrsKLB:

We took it and enjoyed it.  I don't think it's 100% necessary, but it was good for us (specifically DH) to get some hands on experience with swaddling, diapering, bathing (we practices all of this with babydolls in the class), etc.  There was some useful information and we got the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD, which was good.

I think that's the baby essentials class?  We signed up for that one too.  This is the one that's a full day or 4 weeks and you have to bring a pillow and blanket.

truhle

I only did the hospital tour and while we were actually in the hospital my mother bought us this infant cpr kit in the gift shop. It was really great, it comes with a blow up infant doll, instructional DVD, and quick reference guides. The DVD is relatviely short but very informative and I would assume better/less costly than a class. Also, its nice because you can keep it to share with others (like your other children or babysitters). 

MrsKLB

smynings_bride:

MrsKLB:

We took it and enjoyed it.  I don't think it's 100% necessary, but it was good for us (specifically DH) to get some hands on experience with swaddling, diapering, bathing (we practices all of this with babydolls in the class), etc.  There was some useful information and we got the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD, which was good.

I think that's the baby essentials class?  We signed up for that one too.  This is the one that's a full day or 4 weeks and you have to bring a pillow and blanket.

LOL!  Um, yeah!  That's the baby essentials class!

We did also take the childbirth class and I highly recommend it.  We did the full day and it wasn't too bad.  This was very good for DH to understand what to expect and also helped me understand the process a little better so that it didn't all seem as scary to me.

maykat

Baby Essentials was the most helpful. We also did the tour.  I took the free BF Class at Piedmont and took an Infant CPR at a hospital close to my house.

We did take the childbirth class at Northside.  I took it at 30 weeks.  At the time, I didn't think I really needed it...but after I took it, I found out that I couldn't have an epidural.  I used the breathing techniques from this class to make it through childbirth.

dany2006

I haven't taken it yet, but I am signed up for it. My friends who have taken it all said it made a huge difference in helping them to feel calm and prepared for the birth, even if they didn't use all of the techniques they learned. My BFF said it's a don't-miss. I'm taking it at 33 weeks.

JulesDiane

I am such a bad soon-to-be mother. I have only signed up for the infant CPR class... And we are taking that at 39 weeks. So, there is actually a chance if I end up having a C-section, that we won't even make it to that class. Although, I do still plan on signing up and taking the tour in the next couple of weeks at least. It's great that they offer all these classes.. I just wish I had an extra day in the week!

JoelsGirl07

We took the 6 week class @ Kennestone. It was good info for DH, and a good refresher for me (I learned all the technical stuff in nursing school). The best part are the birth videos....nothing like watching "A Baby Story". I'm not sure what kind of birth you are wanting, but a class I took that was much more helpful and empowering (which you need when you are vulnerable) was Intuitive Birth with Babysteps

GAGirlyGirl

DH and I just took the "refresher" course at Northside. (I had a child when I was 18, not with DH) I really enjoyed the class. It didn't teach me as much about child birth as it did about things to think about durring labor and your hospital stay. For example, you can dim the lights in the birthing room! Who knew? And you can rob the cart 2x per day. AND you can ask for a birth ball there and they'll give you a brand new one. AND you have til midnight to get out of your room. You're paid up til then.

Side note- I think it really helped DH get with the program and realize this is really happening.