Birthing classes etc...

JenLa21

So my Dr wants us to take a birthing class, a breast feeding class and an infant care class. I called to set up the classes at the hospital and I've left 4 messages over the last few weeks. I'm still not set up for anything. Getting annoyed now that I keep leaving messages and no one calls me back. But what I'm really curious about, is that when I call to leave the message, the recording says that the birthing classes are 15 hours of classes. I'm a FTM, and I'm wondering if this is the norm. Any guidance from STM's?

MSUMands

I'm a FTM as well, but I had the same issue with the hospital returning my phone calls to set up classes. I tried emailing several times as well, nothing. I guess it's just not a priority for them? I finally talked my husband into going over to the hospital since it is relatively close to his work to see what's going on (I would have KILLED to see him asking "Where do I sign up for breast feeding classes?). In person, they were a lot more friendly and signed us up right away. Our birthing classes are going to be 8 hours long.

messyandfun

This is exactly what happened to me.  I tried to sign up for all three of the classes you mentioned and had to keep leaving very polite messages until someone called me back.

Our hospital does the birthing class as 4 2 1/2-hour sessions or all in one shot on a Sunday for a 7-hour day.

alphaphi98

I just called KAISER and set up my 3 classes for childbirth, labor & delivery, and breastfeeding. It was an answering machine that took my message. Kaiser is always great and they returned my called the same day to set up the classes for me. The labor & delivery and breastfeeding classes are short 2 hour classes on one day that are free. The childbirth lamaze class is once a week for a month and classes are each two and a half hours long. It cost almost $100. I'll probably sign up for the infant care class too. I like Kaiser. Super convenient and nice!

Bride92010

I signed up for ours- the one day time is from 9-4; it was the soonest I could do. DH is doing a daddy class next month which was 10 bucks, the baby class is 15 and my BF class next month is free lol...

It's crazy how they set these things up

143BabyCakes

I too am an FTM. I scheduled mine through the hospital online. Got a confirmation email the next day. Called the hospital to verify and it was easy as that!

gnomemom

Do you not have the option to sign up for them online? My hospital has online registration, and you can see all of the times and dates of the various upcoming classes. We are taking/have taken all of the classes you mentioned, and DH is also taking a "Daddy Boot Camp" class. GL!

JulieN0704

I had no trouble scheduling mine over the phone. We did have the option to do it online but they offered a discount for multiple classes, and I couldn't figure out how to get that online so I just called. Is there an online registration option? I would at least start with that.

finhope11

This was the process for us as well.

The only thing I would caution about classes, is if they are really expensive, you may want to look at alternatives. Our Birth and Baby Prep class was $300 (for about 20 hours) and it was (IMO) a complete waste of money. 

We watched a lot of videos that we could have just rented free from the library. Or watched online.