When do you plan on...

LupeVallejo

Taking classes such as breast-feeding, childbirth and/or breathing?

TheFannins729

i think with ds i took childbirth about 2 months before due date?  it was just a one day class.  we also took a baby safe class about a month before due date.  i guess it would really depend if you have to go several weeks for the same class.

rachelle2824

Start looking into it now for sure! I did Bradley (which I highly recommend!) and it's a 10 week series so you have to find classes and plan and all that before it gets too far along. Of course when the classes are 10 weeks long they cycle and you have to catch them at just the right time. I wouldn't have wanted to be in classes past about 35 weeks. Of course, reviewing all the techniques is a must if you take classes early.

melissajoy1985

We were considering not doing one... This is our first but we are the last of our friends to have children so I have been around tonns of newborns and have heard every single good bad and ugly story..... but I think it may be more of an eye opener for my husband because he dosent really sit with the ladies when they are talking about nipple soreness, bleeding after, what labour feels like and so on.... so we might go.... probably a one day Saturday course around 7 months....

laurasuzanne2006

we are looking into starting a bradley class in May.  It's an 8 week session though

lmjt

If you're looking at taking the classes at your hospital, I would suggest registering for them early. Our hospital is huge, and we waited too long last time and there was no space in the classes until after DS was due. We ended up having to go to another hospital to take the class. We took them the month before DS was due.

efsNYC13

The hospital I am delivering at recommends them at about 9 weeks prior to due date. They offer classes either over several weeks, or one long session on a weekend. 

I was sort of reluctant about going as I've been around hospitals/delivery rooms and have a pretty good idea of what will happen---and I dont think anything is truly going to prepare me for how I am going to feel/react to it-----but as above, think it will be really helpful for the husband who has basically no idea what to expect about labor/delivery.  

Mrs. Alice

I was a postpartum nurse so I don't think I need any breastfeeding classes.  Already CPR certified and have taken Neonatal Resuscitation courses, but it might be a good idea to brush up.  I was considering taking a childbirth course offered at my hospital.  I was hoping to have a natural childbirth, but I will most likely have a c-section now.  We'll see.

SPC2007

I didn't take any classes with DD and will not with this one either.

memali26

We took a basic birth class around 6-7 months. It was pretty much a labor/delivery/postpartum overview that lasted 4 weeks, I think? About 2ish hours a week. We took it through the hospital where we planned to (and did) deliver, and also took the hospital tour. I highly recommend at the very least touring your delivering hospital, if not taking a class offered there, because you will get a much better picture of their policies and procedures. Not every hospital is the same, and it's better to know how things operate at your specific hospital before going into labor. That gives you more chances to discuss decisions that might need to be made and make sure you and DH are on the same page in case you aren't able to make those decisions during labor.

Also, I already knew the majority of what was taught in the class, but it was so helpful for DH. He felt better prepared afterward and had a more clear understanding of what would be happening and how to help me. So beneficial.

jenkanne

I'm going to see what's available over the summer - since we won't be going far this year :P

shanna82

My OB suggests around 7 months.

macdidlyicious

Our Bradley class starts at the end of this month. Early, but there's only one instructor in our area and she wasnt sure she would do another class before September.

MsCrispy

I plan to take the Bradley classes as well. There are a few I can choose from, but I believe I will pick the one starting in April. It lasts 12 weeks, so it's much longer than other choices.

I also plan to take an infant CPR class probably in late summer. That class is just an afternoon.

LNHinton

The hospital that I am delivering at won't allow you to sign up until you're at the 26-28 week mark.  So that's when we'll enroll in all three classes!

sw_wedding

I don't plan on taking any classes. I'll have my mom with me and lots of help. I think I will be fine.

bryanandkatrina

I am actually calling to register for ours today.

We will be taking a birthing and breastfeeding class at our hospital.

I've heard they fill up quickly, so it's important to call asap.

lovelyophelia

I'm not wasting my time taking classes again. I may take an infant/toddler CPR class though.

marriedtoeric

We're taking a one-day breastfeeding class (4 hours) the first week of July (midwife recommended the one that's scheduled the first week of August, but I'll be traveling for a conference that week).  We're supposed to start birth classes around 20 weeks--the classes we're taking are 8 weeks, and through our birth center. They're focused on a combination of bradley, hypnobabies, and general birthing education.

We also want to find a new-baby care class (since both of us could really use a newborn care for dummies class), but haven't even considered timing for that. Probably end of August? 

Amrice78

I'm pretty sure I took my childbirth class right around 30 weeks with ds#1.  I'm not planning on taking classes this time.

caffinated_tulip

We'll probably end up doing our classes at the end the summer, we're likely moving in July, but we don't know exactly to where yet, so I can't schedule classes yet.

BrittDanX

laurasuzanne2006:

we are looking into starting a bradley class in May.  It's an 8 week session though

I am so sad that my tiny town doesn't offer any Bradley classes. This is the method I want to use

emolm

We're going to do the hospital class/tour in June or July.

 

We're teaching ourselves Bradley from the books because there aren't any classes within four hours of us. We're going to start that in mid-May.

BrittDanX

emolm:

We're going to do the hospital class/tour in June or July.

 

We're teaching ourselves Bradley from the books because there aren't any classes within four hours of us. We're going to start that in mid-May.

We've been thinking about doing this as well since there are no classes here. I wish they had some kind of online classes though.....I'm such a visual person.