STMs who did not take birth classes...

CoreW12

did you regret it when you went into labor and or after labor? Did you feel unprepared? FTM and with mine and my BF's  busy work and weekend schedules it is hard to find time. I plan on going to the library and renting birthing books on the different techniques, methods, etc... The only thing we are signed up for is infant CPR, and we did take a hospital tour and went to a baby expo last month. I am almost 31 weeks.

nycnola

We didn't take a class with DD but we did do a lot of preparation on our own. Definitely get some books, watch a video, whatever you feel like you need to do. If you are interested in natural birth practicing breathing or thinking about what pain management techniques you think will work for you would also be helpful ahead of time. 

EVA116

I did not take a birth class. I don't regret it at all. I did not have a specific birth plan so I was okay with doing what the hospital wanted and just go with the flow. 

I have pretty bad anxiety and I knew taking a class would make it worse.

I just felt like, the baby was coming out one way or another.

That was my personal preference though.

WashingtonQueen

I do not regret not taking the hospital class. I do regret not taking hypnobabies last time.

skio

I took a hospital birthing class that was pretty useless. I very much regret not taking a class led by a birthing instructor; something more anatomically based about what would happen, what my hormones and body and baby are all doing during labor, something that would've helped me understand it and get through it. Because yes, I was very underprepared and undereducated and I feel that it was my own fault that I ended up with a c/s.

Needless to say, I took a class and read a bunch of books this time.

starrjelly

Never taken a class or really read anything, I find the best resources are truly your L&D nurses.  They know everything!

WashingtonQueen

starrjelly:

Never taken a class or really read anything, I find the best resources are truly your L&D nurses.  They know everything!

I disagree.

nowuseeme4407

I never took a birthing class with the first and will not be taking any with this one. I read some info on what to expect with L&D but knew that nothing could truly prepare me for what was really going to happen.

I do not regret it at all. My 1st experience was not stressful not overwhelming. It was nice and smooth. I went in and did what I had to do. I wasnt against pain meds so I never felt bad when I asked for one. My Daughter was born with no complications and all I did was push when I felt the need to.

 That is exactly what I will be doing this time. Go with the flow. 

mrsf123

I did not take a class.  I did prenatal yoga 1-2 times per week throughout my pregnancy and used a lot of the tools I had from that while I was in labor at home.

That having been said, I never planned an unmedicated delivery so I didn't feel I needed to prep for that.  I only prepared to labor at home as long as possible until I felt the need for an epi and at that point, head to the hospital and get one. 

We did, however, take a private session with an L&D nurse from the hospital who walked us through more of a "what to expect" / "what to do when it happens" scenarios. 

I did not regret it.  BUt I also had a relatively easy labor.

mamimimipa

starrjelly:

Never taken a class or really read anything, I find the best resources are truly your L&D nurses.  They know everything!

I agree this is my third child and I have never taken a class.

CoreW12

Thanks everyone! Very helpful answers!

kennazebrowsky

I was supposed to have a RCS with #2 and ended up going into labor. I did not take classes and because I was in back labor I honestly thought I had been working too hard. #1 was super early and an emergency CS. We were prepared to have another one with her, but she had other plans.

 

I gave birth at home and alone. No classes and no help. While it freaked me out a little I was ok and she is almost 9 now and perfectly healthy and still beats to her own drum lol.

eggymaye

Didn't do any prep for DS coming and I don't regret it.  I am the kind of person that the more info I have the worse I get.  I just kinda went to another place when labor started, I just let my body do whatever and I kind of spaced out.

Aurora317

EVA116:

I did not take a birth class. I don't regret it at all. I did not have a specific birth plan so I was okay with doing what the hospital wanted and just go with the flow. 

I have pretty bad anxiety and I knew taking a class would make it worse.

I just felt like, the baby was coming out one way or another.

That was my personal preference though.

See, this is exactly why I DID take the class. I have anxiety issues and for me knowing how our hospital does things put me at ease in a way that reading a book couldn't have. We did a tour of the L&D floor, I know where everything is, I've seen the rooms in both LD and Post-Partum, I know what the standard practices are at our hospital (kangaroo care, all interventions are delayed until mom/dad/baby have had at LEAST 1 hour (if not 2) to bond and breastfeed, in-room sleeping for baby, etc).

A lot of that came from the day we did a tour, but there was so much more to the class. We did some breathing and relaxation practice, we looked at the process of birth: Plan A being natural vaginal, Plan B being medicated vaginal, and Plan C being cesarian, and how to recognize and understand the signs of labor, and what/when to do next.

I know there are people who don't go to class and are fine with just doing whatever the hospital recommends, but I wanted to be more proactive in my labor, to know what exactly to expect from both my body and my caregivers, and DH & I both felt that the classes were well worth our time. Plus, we met a bunch of other local couples who are due around the same time. We got pretty close after 5 classes, so contact info was exchanged and we plan to meet up after our LOs arrive.  

Amanda&EricB

Nope. The doctor and nurses were helpful and they told me everything I needed to know. I didn't feel like it was a big deal that I didn't take the classes.

gemini2005

We decided to take the baby basics class instead of a birthing class.  I did my own research and decided to "go with the flow" when the time came which worked out well since I had to be induced anyway.  I don't regret not taking a class and feel like being flexible led to an amazing birth experience. This time, I borrowed a meditation cd and hypnobirthing book just because I was curious.  If you really want to feel prepared, see if you can get a few hours one-on-one with a birth/labor instructor.  They can probably give you the basics in a short amount of time.  I think you did the right thing about signing up for the infant CPR class.  I'm still kicking myself for not taking one before this new baby comes.  

kateronium

I didn't take a class and already had my cpr class for work. I did however drag my hubby to a tour of the maternity ward which helped put both of us at ease

Sam Buttons

We only took a hypnobirthing class last time and I felt it useful for preparing me mentally for a natural labor, it was definitely unnecessary and I wouldn't pay the 300 plus for it if I could do it again.

That.Just.Happened

I didn't take a class. My birth plan was literally "go to hospital, get epidural".  I ended up being induced when DD was 2 weeks late, and of course once I got to 10cm my epi stopped working. So I had 2.5 hours of active labor/pushing that was completely natural.  And It.Was.Awful. 

In retrospect it might have been slightly useful to have had some sort of birth preparation ahead of time.  That being said, I am still not taking a birthing class this time around, and my birth plan remains "go to hospital, get epidural"  Because - really - what are the chances of it failing twice?  My karma couldn't possibly be that bad.  

eilatan&nhoj88

I didn't take a class with any of my babies. If you want to be freaked out by every possible thing that could go wrong, watch shows like the baby shows on tlc. Your body will end up pushing whether you want it to or not when you're fully dilated. I just figured with my first pregnancy, women have been doing this since the beginning of time so I shouldn't need anyone to teach me how to have a baby. The nurses will tell you if you're not pushing often enough/hard enough.

Khaleesi07

I'm at FTM, and I'm taking an infant care/CPR class, as well as a breastfeeding class. They're giving them for free at babies r us, so I figure why not go? I'm doing the hypnobabies home study, prenatal pilates/yoga, and reading some books on natural labor. I looked into taking classes, but it's cheaper for me to just do a home study and read some books.

 Of course women have been birthing since the beginning of time, but why not go in prepared with the knowledge needed to give yourself and your baby the best chance possible? I wouldn't just have blind faith in the L&D nurses or the OB, it's your birth, your baby, and you should be responsible for educating yourself.

rcoldanghise

I am giving birth at New Birth Company in Kansas City. It is a birthing center where you give birth on your own terms in the comfort of a beautiful suite with a midwife and whoever else you want present. No drugs, whatsoever. You can choose to do a water birth too, but you must take a class on that. 

ALSO, you are required to take a childbirth class that they teach there. I feel the more educated I am, the more prepared I will be. I want to be in control of my baby's birth so I can understand why it is a requirement. 

Mama-Bear

I never took a class other than a BFing class and I don't regret it, honestly even the BFing class was pretty useless (with the exception of changing our minds on where we wanted to deliver).