hospital class was so good!

pugznploons

so we took a natural birth class at a local birth center last month and while it was good, it was really geared towards those delivering there so we felt a little weird being there.  Yesterday we took a 4 hour childbirth class at our hospital and were surprised by how NB focused it was.  The instructor was a doula and we spent 3.5 of the 4 hours talking about comfort measures, advocating for what you want and don't want, positions best for pushing, etc.  Only the last 30 minutes was about the process of an epidural.  Great use of videos to demonstrate comfort measures (rather than just the diagrams we were shown at the birth center) and we did some practice exercises too that were great.  

we also got to tour the L&D unit. She showed us how to use the bed to our advantage for various pushing positions and answered all my questions about where they do newborn procedures (ALL in the room).  

I've heard from many that hospital classes are worthless, especially if you plan to go natural.  I was pleasantly surprised and I think having a doula teach the course made all the difference.  

 

LOVEmyLUTZS

Honestly I thought my hospital class was garbage. Most of the time was spent on hospital "policy". I delivered at the hospital b/c we do not have any birth centers. With DD I had a 28 hour labor, 24 of those hours I was without an epi. My second birth, however, was in a hospital, but it was beautiful! I had a Hypno/water birth with absolutely no intervention at all. It is possiable to have a unmedicated, all natural birth in a hospital. I've never had a homebirth, but I don't want to. I like having the safe feeling that if something did go wrong everything is at my caregivers fingertips to make it right.  As long as your birth plan is clear and your midwife/OB is on the same page as you there is no reason why you can't have the exact birth you want.GL!

couliegirl

You must be delivering at the same hospital I delivered! My experience with our birthing class was similar. It was really encouraging to have a good experience with the class wasn't it?

Good luck mama!