I have the opportunity to take a breastfeeding class, but it is $75 (and unfortunately, that is $75 that we need to spend carefully right now). DH is a little hesitant, but he knows how important breastfeeding it to me and is leaving the decision up to me on whether to take the class or not. I can try and submit the receipt to my insurance and get reimbursed on it, but there is no gauantee they will do so. With that said, how important do you consider a breastfeeding class to be for a FTM? It would be one day for 3 hours.
Re: How Important Would you Consider a Breastfeeding Class?
I would have to ask this-
1) do you guys have a WIC system there? If so you can talk to them about lactation consultants. For DS1, I was given a real person's number to call with questions who would meet with me and help if needed.
2) Does your hospital have Lactation consultants on staff? At our hospital there is a woman or 2 on at all times. They come in to help you with the first feeding, and come and check up on you to help if you have questions or problems your entire stay.
3) Do you know anyone who succesfully breastfed? If so you could always ask them questions. They would probably be willing to help out.
If you have these kind of options, i would say just to read up on it, see if there is any good infromation online, and use the options you have. And save the money.
We took one before DS and and found it helpful. There are also a lot of good books out there so if you don't want to spend the time/money then maybe you could check out the library for some good books? Also, hopefully you will get to see a LC after you have LO and they will be able to help you get the hang of it as well.
Good Luck!
I loved mine and took 4 pages of notes in 2 hrs! ....I hear that it comes naturally but I wanted to learn everything I could.
I found mine a nice addition to the other classes I took, but breastfeeding is a hands-on thing that you kind of can't figure out until you really do it. (You can have someone tell you about how to sky dive in a class room, but you can't learn how to do it until you're standing in a plane, jumping out.) I would consider it a perk if you could go, but not a necessity.
If you deliver in a hospital, you'll probably have access to lactation consultants who can help you hands-on, or you may be able to find a support group locally that is free (my hospital offers one). Good luck!
Can I suggest instead that you read "So That's What They're For". https://www.amazon.com/So-Thats-What-Theyre-Breastfeeding/dp/1580620418
This book is awesome. Will tell you everything you need to know and is way cheaper than a class. It will give you the confidence to keep going when it gets hard.
Also talk to your insurance co about coverage for lactation support after the birth.
Mom to Ava 12.21.04 and Austin 10.22.06
BFP 12/5/11...natural m/c 12/23/11
This. Also a FTM here and while I paid for the prenatal class that covers a little bit of everything- I'm not paying for a BF class. My WIC peer counselor has been more than enough help.
Yep, this. I liken it to learning how to ride a bike without a bike - I would imagine it would be kind of pointless. I would take pp's advice - get a book, get help from an LC in the hospital and look online (kellymom.com is great) for questions once you get home. Save your $.
I took one and found it to be extremely helpful. I feel much better prepared now. Granted, mine was $35, not $75. If money is tight and you don't want to take the class, I would suggest finding a book to read or a video to watch. I know that breastfeeding is supposed to be intuitive, but I learned a lot of things that I might not have figured out on my own or might have gotten frustrated and given up before I could figure it out.
At a minimum, there should be lactation consultants available in the hospital after you deliver. You might also want to look into breastfeeding support groups in your area. My hospital has a free weekly group for breastfeeding moms.
TTC since June 2009
BFP #1 2/22/10 M/C 6w2d
BFP #2 October 2010 CP
BFP #3 1/11/11 M/C 8w5d
IUI #1 Aug 2011= BFN
IUI #2= BFP #4 9/18/11 missed M/C, D&C 10/18/11
IUIs #3&4 = BFN
IVF #1 May 2012 = BFP! Twins!!
Fraternal twins born Feb. 2013