Childbirth Classes

Nokkouttmomma

I apologize if there's already a post on this, my mobile is acting up and won't let me search for anything!

Did anyone here not take the childbirth classes from the hospital or are not planning too? BTDT moms did you not take a class and regret it? Did you wish you hadn't taken the class once you were done with it? Does it actually help?

The classes here cost a couple hundred so I'm just gauging opinions on if I really need to take them or if ill be fine without!

Thanks!

afrochick09

Ours was less then 100 so we're taking one with our OB office this June. 

ceechie

I personally thought it was worth it. It was through our hospital and OB group. It helped us understand their philosophies on the labor process. And it helped us better understand our choices we could make during labor and with our newborn. My hospital has a very low c sec rate, and they discussed how they avoid it. Also they talked pain meds and etc.
I always go into it as more knowledge, more power. Cheese, I know.

WashingtonQueen

I am taking the hypnobabies home course.

Erinm278

I can't believe your classes cost a couple hundred, that's a lot!  Ours only cost $50 and we had 4 classes.  I'm a FTM so I can only say that I thought it was very valuable for us.  I learned a lot and DH did too.  It was really important for me to get the tour of L&D.

Chelseamolee

I'm taking a labor, newborn care and breastfeeding class. It cost 180 and I'm not sad I spent the money, but I've been to four of the six classes so far and have yet to learn anything I didn't know...

CNYBride05

We had planned to take birthing and breast feeding classes, but then I was put on hospital bed rest.  We've watched a few videos here and ask questions as they arise, but I wish we'd been able to take the classes.

cjm724

I am a FTM and DH and I are taking a childbirth, infant care, and breast feeding course offered by our hospital.  I think it was $150 and there are 6 classes.  This is more for DH than me, but I am hoping to get some useful information regarding breast feeding since I've never done it before.  Also, we get to tour the brand new LDRs and pre-register for our hospital stay.

rmcseattle

DH and I took a weekend intensive of labor and newborn care over a weekend, it was $150 through our hospital. If your hospital doesn't give you a discount look for local doula, midwife, or birthing center that offers classes. With that said, yes it was a very long weekend but helpful information and DH got a lot out of it. I'm 39w2d and experiencing some cramping...DH has reminded me that's it's normal and it's not contractions until we can time them Lol. He also asks me if I am experiencing anyother signs associated with labor....good to know he was listening.

t loves r

More than 100 dollars?!? What the heck?! I recommend taking the class, even for the piece of mind that you get of feeling somewhat prepared or know somewhat what to expect. But, not for that much money.

Have you tried looking elsewhere for classes? The Red Cross, community center, Mom's groups, a university, Babies R Us sometimes offer classes including infant CPR etc...

My friend called a doula and had her give her and her husband a little childbirth class and breast feeding class. Thought that was smart, plus you had one on one attention.

JCWhitey

We opted to do a home study course since my hospital's classes were at a time when I had class.  I am very, very happy that we decided to do SOMETHING to prepare for birth.  First, it made me feel more prepared personally, but second it gave H a lot of information he needed to prepare himself.

I attend births as part of my job so I'm no stranger to them and what happens.  But it's so different as a FTM being on the other side of things.  I know what labor LOOKS like, but I really didn't know some of the things I should expect, which those classes taught me.  I also feel way more confident and better educated after taking these courses.

We ended up doing The Pink Kit (about $75), GentleBirth ($99), and BlissBorn ($250).  I'm a blogger so I've been working with these companies for a big home study course feature so for the most part these kits were contributed for free, but even if they hadn't been spending $75 for the Pink Kit or even $99 on the GentleBirth kit would have been sooooo worth it to me!  BlissBorn is by far my favorite of the programs and the most comprehensive BUT at $250 it might be cheaper to do the hospital course unless you really want a natural hypnosis birth.

Diana909

We did our bf and birthing classes and I am so happy we did. I think it was well money spent. It helped my husband understand more and allowed me to create a list of questions for my doc. I have heard of places besides your hospital offering cheaper classes so I would check around locally.

Lovstell

we signed up for a package deal of 4 classes, one of the classes was once a week for 5 weeks, and it was 100 so maybe see if they offer package deals? also we both thougt all of the classes were WELL worth the money spent.

trudibell

I took a class recommended by my doctor which was only $85.  It was pretty helpful, I learned a lot of stuff and it was run by an L&D nurse who answered a lot of questions.  

However, the last day of class a sales lady for Viacord came to talk to us and I was unimpressed - especially since we definitely can't afford it right now.  It was kind of high pressure and that part wasn't so great.   

BeckyTheEngineer

What??? You pay that much? I did a free class at my hospital the first time. It was decently helpful, but I would not have paid money. Can you do a hospital tour, and see if that helps you in terms of answering questions and getting you prepared? My tour was good about that.

kmvw

Our hospital offered 3 classes; labor and delivery, breast feeding and infant care and they were free. As a FTM, I found them very helpful and so did the hubby. Even if they weren't free, I would have taken them since any info is greatly appreciated.

dlBinger61713

My sister lent me a very informative DVD series called Laugh and Learn About Childbirth by a very funny woman named Sheri Bayles who used to be an L & D nurse and is now a certified Lamaze educator and lactation consultant. She covered all sorts of topics like signs of labor, breathing techniques, pain relief options, cord blood banking, labor & delivery itself, inductions, forceps, vacuum and monitoring, C-Section deliveries and Post/Op C/S as well as postpartum vaginal deliveries. Very well done series. My DH and I did take an infant/childhood/adult CPR class at the hospital for $15 and I went to the breastfeeding class which was only $10 and both were very helpful. I have no clue what kind of hospitals you guys are going to that would charge such a high fee for classes. Yikes! I'm sure they're very informative classes though.