Lamaze classes?

Nkbrown29

My sister says they aren't necessarily needed, shes had 3 kids, but other people say they loved the experience....they aren't offered within my town...but should i be worried if i don't take them?

MrsChadWard

I agree with your sister.  My lamaze class was lame.  The teacher was more interrested in talking about how she had 7 kids and how she didn't agree with having an epidural.  And her trip to NYC.  It was totally a waist of time, and my daughter was just fine.  However, if it's an experience that you want to have then have it!  You may enjoy it and take alot away from the class.  Good Luck to you!

g8trkim

It's kind of pointless. We did a class at our hospital but it was more of a hospital tour, birth plan, and what to expect in the beginning plus some breastfeeding stuff. I enjoyed that, but lamaze seems kind of silly. You just figure it out.

sparkplug06

I don't plan on taking any classes either I don't really see the point. 

pixieprincss

Lamaze is a brand name of birthing class. So no, I don't think Lamaze is necessary. Others are what your doctor or hospital offer, Bradley Method, Hypnobirthing, etc.

What class you may elect to pick depends on what you want out of your birth experience and what other knowledge you have. If you are hoping for a med-free birth, knowing natural ways to manage pain and the pros and cons of interventions is a great thing. If you are hoping for an epidural, here are some questions a class still might help you with: how will you manage pain before it is time to get one? Are you familiar with the domino effect that can happen with them? Is that acceptable to you? How will you asess if you are ready for an induction knowing that different doctors have different philosophies? Would you like to know ways to assess decisions that might come with complications? What are your wishes for DH and baby if you have a c-section? Do you know the stages of labor? Do you see a benefit in knowing? If you plan to BF, do you know the local resources for help and support? Do you know helpful questions to ask at a hospital tour? Would a doula benefit you? Do you know the pros and cons of internal exams in your third trimester?

Much of these answers can come from books, but a class can still be good. I had read extensively on pregnancy and birth for years and still learned a ton in our Bradley classes which also focused on nutrition, relaxation, prenatal exercise, fetal development, teaching DH how to support me through labor, etc. 

Many people think that classes are just a new thing and not needed, but it is interesting to realize throughout history, birth education has indeed happened, it just came from woman-to-woman support. This is not a reality of our culture where people give births in a hospital  rather than surrounded by experienced moms and we tend not to live in extended family units where pregnancy and birth knowledge is shared by watching other women do it through our whole lives. In many ways, birth classes and doulas are a modern twist in a tradition of birth education that no longer happens organically in the home. Personally, I don't see how anything bad can come of additional information and education.

Mama_B

This is my third baby and I have never had Lamaze class.  Once your in the hospital the nurses tell you everything you need to know.  I do pack things like tennis balls, massage lotion, head phones, my pillow and blanket and some other things to keep me comfortable and relaxed.  I personally think Lamaze is a waist of time.