Questions about classes

RedDDD

Hi there!  Lurking from the 2nd Tri but thought I would ask you ladies since you are all farther along.  How many of you took child birth prep or baby classes from your hospital and how many of you didn't?  I was planning on it just because this is my first and I have no clue and I think it will make me feel a touch more prepared (if that is even possible).   But my SIL told my hubby that you don't need the classes so now he has it planted in his mind that its not necessary.  Let me know your thoughts.  Thanks!

revolution_breeze

I took one with DD.  It was just one Saturday and basically went over a lot about labor and delivery and what to expect when you brought baby home.  We finished with a hospital tour.  (DH was at it too) 

Was it necessary - probably not.  Was it helpful and relieved some stress for me - yep.

repedrick

The only class I took was the breastfeeding class and I could have done without it- it wasn't that informative. We toured the hospital and one of the L&D nurses told me not to bother with the classes that there are so many variables in how your labor & delivery goes that the classes just give you an overview of what will happen. She said they will walk you through everything. So we just went with the flow of how things happened and the nurses were great at instructing me with what was needed to progress. I think part of the classes are on newborn care too which the nurses showed us everything hands on before we went home so that was more helpful for us than just hearing about it.

k3montel

We did ours at the beginning of November, and I think they were necessary...in fact, more so for DH than for me.  DH did NOT want to go to the classes, but this is one thing that I put my foot down for...I know it's silly, but I really wanted to go.  And...I do feel a lot more prepared...as does he, and he's admitted it several times...for labor and delivery.  Also, just so you know, all of the people in my class had their husbands or SO's there with them.

PS...ours was a birthing class that was one night a week for three weeks.  We did a lot of breathing techniques that I've been practicing when DH gives me painful backrubs...lol

We also took the breastfeeding class, and it was a waste of time. I would not recommend that one.

LuckyBride06

I took classes when pregnant w/DS. I took a Labor class run by my hospital. It was 4 weeks for 2hrs a week. I did learn a lot from it about what to expect during labor, after, etc. I enjoyed it. Would I say it was "absolutely necessary"? No.

 What I think is necessary is a very good breastfeeding class of you plan to breastfeed. Something not only introductory. My bfing class helped me so much and the teacher (obviously a LC), helped me a bunch after ds was born. I talked to her on the phone, she came to my house to help me... You definitely want a good class and LC if you plan to breastfeed! 

cassiehansen

I took classes but not from our hospital. We are planning on going natural and I wanted something that would be more informative in that way. I really liked them but more because they were specifically focusing on what I want (am hoping for) as far as my labor goes. We did take a tour of our hospital and I was glad that we snuck that in even though we didn't take classes through them.

led2009

We didn't take them and I'm so glad we didn't waste the time. All of my friends told me you learn nothing, so I decided not to bother and I had a great L&D experience with DD 1. Your body knows what to do and after a few pushes I got the hang of that really quickly. As for touring L&D, I don't get why you'd need to. I've visited so many of my friends at this hospital that I knew what it was like, so maybe that's why.

JWSchwarz

revolution_breeze:

I took one with DD.  It was just one Saturday and basically went over a lot about labor and delivery and what to expect when you brought baby home.  We finished with a hospital tour.  (DH was at it too) 

Was it necessary - probably not.  Was it helpful and relieved some stress for me - yep.

Same here. I would do it again just because it reduced my anxiety a bit.

cecilyandgautam

I think it depends what kind of birth experience you want. If you don't have any preferences about the birth and are happy to go along with whatever the staff suggest, then perhaps there's not much to gain from a class at the hospital but if you'd like to know your options for staying mobile during labor, pushing positions, immediate skin to skin, pain management (relaxation exercises for natural or early labor / drug options if you want to go medicated - even with drugs, there's still a lot of options re: mobility), etc then I think a class is really helpful. The hospital classes generally prep you for the standard procedures at that particular hospital; they may skip over options you have but they find inconvenient. Lamaze classes are the most famous & popular - they run about 6 weeks and go over a lot of relaxation, recognizing the stages of labor, and your options in childbirth. Bradley is 12 weeks long and is for those aiming for a natural, unmedicated birth but does thoroughly go over your options in the case of needed interventions - like keeping your arms unnumbed during a c-section so you can hold your baby sooner, etc.

I took a class with DH and I can't imagine not knowing what I now know about my choices. We know what we want but we also know our options in case of complications. 

cecilyandgautam

Also, if you're not going to take a class, I highly recommend you & DH study an emergency childbirth instruction sheet - your Dr can provide one or there's a 1 pager in What to Expect. Precipitous labors aren't too common but I think it's important to know a few basics. My class covered it briefly and you never know if you're going to be part of 2% of people who need that info.

teacherlindz

The classes I went to were extremely beneficial. We went to lamaze (an all day class on a Saturday), Baby Care Basics (2 hours), Labor & Delivery (2 hours), and Breastfeeding Basics (2 hours). I found them to have an amazing amount of information that I didn't know and the videos help solidify what I have read in books and on this site. My DH loved the classes because he doesn't read all the info like I do and he felt clueless until we took them all.

acorlew7

My hubby and I took one a couple weeks ago. This is our first baby. To be honest, I have already heard or read most of what they said in the class, but I am still glad we took one. I think it was good for my hubby so he will be prepared and so he knows what I will have to go through. Plus they covered post pardem care for the mom, which most ladies don't talk much about. Make sure you do your hospital tour though! That part made me feel a lot more prepared... and my hubby seems to be getting really excited now. I think the class and tour made it more real for him.

fyrefairie

WE took a 8 hr weekender course and while I cannot say I learned anything earthshattering I would still recommend it.  Having the chance to practice some different laboring techniques, and hear from a nurse at my Hosp what to expect as well as some tricks of the trade (how to get a birthing room with a tub i.e.) was worth it plus if nothing els eit alleviated some of my anxiety