Where to take birthing classes?

lefty8881

Hey everyone,

 I'm currently 21 weeks pregnant and just starting to think about signing up for some classes (birth, breast feeding, etc.).  Did you find taking classes helpful?  I know they aren't super expensive, but $140 for one day does seem a little steep if it's not even helpful.

Where did you take classes?  Any recommendations for possible cheaper options?

Thanks!

akstanl

For $150 we got a combination of the birthing classes, we did 3 nights and then we have a half day Saturday for Breastfeeding and Baby care thru Amma Parenting. We have completed the 3 evenings of the birthing class and I did like it. I haven't done a lot of reading on labor and delivery so it was helpful and it got my husband asking questions. We have our breastfeeding and baby care class in a week so I can't comment on that. I also plan to do their New Momma class when the baby is born so I can get out and meet other brand new moms when that time comes, and a coworker of mine is probably going to do it with me as she is due within days of me.

I didn't really look around to see what else was out there, just went with the first thing I found I guess.

Good luck!

mbgreenwalt

Congrats!  I didn't take any classes, but I believe most hospitals offer birthing classes.  I delivered both times at Regions and I know they have the info posted on their website.

Mrs. Sarah&Micah

We took our classes through Fairview Southdale hospital where I delivered. We took the 5 week Childbirth and Parenting prep class as well as the one night breastfeeding class. They were both very informative.

LolaBelle515

Like the previous poster, we are going to Amma.  We're taking the 6 hour all-in-one and added on a 2 hour labor and delivery class. We haven't taken them yet, so I can't say much about them...but we are delivering at Methodist and they pretty much told us Amma's the place to go, so we didn't even look around. Good luck!

MesmrEwe

I can tell you I wouldn't recommend the birthing class at Regions...  The instructor is still the same one that was there when we had our first and I thought we didn't gain anything from her as an instructor the first time...  She refused to have an actual discussion of things like pain medications, c/s, inductions, etc. to the point that as soon as we went on the tour of L&D and PP area most of our class quit.   The instructor would treat anyone who wanted a discussion of anything other than a drug-free midwife delivery as somehow abnormal and uninformed as well as intentionally doing harm to a baby.  Just overall, NOT a good class experience.

(that said, the L&D staff at Regions was great!)

cassiehansen

I found our birthing classes very helpful. For 150.00 we did 3 nights with two classes each. I am planning on going natural so that is what our classes were based on ... if I hadnt planned on going natural I'm not sure that I would have bothered with the classes or I might have just taken them online which is an option that Woodwinds in Woodbury gives you.

nminn0904

I recently took a weekend express birth class back on 12/3 at United Hospital in St Paul. It was $100 and went from 9:30-4. I would totally recommend it! And then she takes you on a tour of the hospital toward the end- this might help you decide if you want to deliver there if you don't already have a preferred location. You can register for the class online.

AshleyR2452

We did a baby care class at Amma Parenting in Edina.  This was basic stuff to me, but my husband had never had any interaction with infants and learned more about safety, diaper changing, and swaddling (he became the swaddling pro and was pretty proud of himself ).

We also did a breastfeeding class and a 4-week childbirth prep class at Ridgeview Medical Center in Chaska/Waconia.  Both were very helpful, and I would recommend a more spreadout childbirth prep class over a one-day class.  Even if you don't remember or use everything during childbirth, I found it was extremely helpful for DH.  He learned how to support me through the process, what was supposed to happen, and it made us both feel much more comfortable.  We found it was less expensive through the hospital then at a center like Amma.

preg_amy

I found the one at the hospital totally useless and overpriced. 

If I were going to do it again, I would go to Blooma.

mckee1

We took ours through Maple Grove Hospital (we are delivering there but I don't think you have to to take classes). Really liked them and the instuctor. I think they were $100 for 6 weeks (1 night a week 2 hours at a time). They do offer breastfeeding class that I did not attend, but another couple did in our class and said it was great.