didn't take a class. Now what?

TrendyTina

I never ended up taking my  hypnobirthing class. I have the CD's, so I'm going to start listening to them every night. I feel like I won't be prepared, though and I'm really becoming frustrated with myself for not taking the class. Can anyone recommend anything I can do help prepare for the pain/experience of labor? I have a labor ball that I could use.

Any websites? Videos? Youtube clips? ANYTHING? I'm starting to get nervous. TIA!

rosiemomma

I didn't take a class. I did watch youtube videos.. mostly of natural births and a few breathing videos. I had my mother helping me she was a natural and relly helped keep me focused... I believe having good support is essential! You need to know you can do this! 

I did have a intervention free hospital birth. SO you don't have to take a class!

3giraffes

With DS I didn't prepare at all except to know that I wanted a natural birth and talk to my OB about it.  It's important to have an OB who supports you; I changed to a MW at 38 weeks.  I also had a friend/doula.  I cannot say I handled it really well since I was very loud and vocal during pushing, but up to that point I did well!  This time I also haven't taken a class but read most of the Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way book and will have a supportive husband.  You can do it!

nonoemily

I didn't have a chance to take a class (because my guy and I are on a crazy schedule due to his work) so we hired a doula to come do a private childbirth class in our home. Her rate was very reasonable and we got to move at our own pace and ask more questions than we otherwise would have...

lcourter24

My advice, watch a ton of natural births on youtube and get a doula!  I don't think I could have done it without my doula.  My DH was great but I got to a point were I needed to be put in my place and if DH would have done it he might of ended up with a black eye, lol. 

jalaiaa

I didn't take any classes, I just read a lot. I would have your DH read too to hep you. I had heard that the classes are for the husbands more than you because it is hard to get them to read I delivered at 39 weeks and despite the fact that I put the books by his bed and reminded him he got to delivery and had only read a chapter telling me he thought he still had a week left. (I've got a good and supportive DH, just not a reader).

AnaKat405

I'm early on, and am considering taking a class closer to DD, but am not entirely sold on investing in a method.  Hypnobabies at home course is what I've been eyeing mostly because several Youtube videos I've seen the mother appears calm, focused and quiet during the better part of labor up to transition.  But, I've also seen method free natural birth videos that are the same way.

I've heard varying opinions on the use of labor balls, some women liked using them and others called them torture devices even though they thought they'd like having it during labor.  lol.  So, one thing I plan to do is have lots of options available for natural pain management.  Most often I've heard women enjoy during labor is usage of a TENS unit during contractions or water whether it's laboring in a tub or with hot water from a showerhead on them.  I've also heard of aromatherapy being useful and since that's something I already use daily, I'm interested in trying it for labor specific uses as well.  Those things are on my must have list.  If I try it and end up not finding it useful, that's fine, but at least I'll be able to find out firsthand!

I've also noticed that women who stay present with the contractions tend to manage the pain better.  That is, instead of wondering is ever going to be over with and how are they going to get through it, they accept that it's temporary and focus on their breathing.  From what I've gleaned in reading birth stories, a hypnobabies technique is to reframe the term contractions, referring to them instead as "pressure waves" or "birthing waves" which in itself can be helpful in pain management.  That's something I'm interested in learning more about that I may or may not find useful for me when the time comes.

What does your OB/MW/Doula suggest?  Mine, thus far, has been very hands-off at my request.  If there is something I am interested in I ask for her thoughts and she'll tell me the pros and cons from her 29 years of experience and leaves it up to me to do my due dilligence.  There may be techniques and / or methods that your practitioner has had a lot of success with that she can suggest for you.

 

SarahinMD

Read whatever you can by Ina May Gaskin. We didn't take any classes (schedule didn't allow) and read some Bradley method stuff, browsed other stuff, but some of the best tips (like how to breathe, keep jaw loose, etc.) came from Ina May. Also, she includes lots of birth stories, which I read exclusively (rather than watch any accounts of birth on TV or in movies) in the finally weeks of my pregnancy. We had a great natural birth in a hospital setting (with a great midwife)...and never attended a class. Totally possible.