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Alabama Babies
Childbirth Classes
Specifically at Huntsville Hospital...when did you register and at what week during your pregnancy did you take the class? Did you like the class or did it seem to be a waste of time?
I've read on some of the national boards where people said it was recommended they register by the end of the first trimester. I'd much rather know what you ladies did.
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Re: Childbirth Classes
I didn't do mine in Huntsville but we were registered by the 2nd trimester and took the class at about 28 weeks.
I personally didn't feel like we got anything out of the classes. We took the parenting class which I thought we be a ton of hands on stuff, but turns out, the only hands on was the last 30 minutes of class. The first part of the class was all about vaginal birth, medicated/non medicated birth. The second half of the class was about a c-section birth. I really wanted them to focus more on handling babies and changing diapers, bath time, etc. DH had never held a baby before MC was born so he needed that hands on training, but it was lacking. Unless you're completely clueless about having a baby, birth/csection then I wouldn't recommend the classes. I got a ton of into online and from the bump and felt VERY prepared. The class didn't offer anything that I didn't already know. HTH
I took a class at UAB during my 2nd trimester. While I don't think I got much out of it because most of it was covered in What to Expect..., I think my husband learned a good bit about what I was going through (he wasn't reading the books). You would be just fine if you skipped it.
However, I did take the Happiest Baby on the Block class and felt like I got a lot out of that one. I'm not sure if they offer this in Huntsville.
We took classes at Crestwood from 34 to 38 weeks, but most people were around 28-30 weeks. I also heard you needed to register super at HH.
My hospital requests expecting moms to register for classes at 20 weeks, but because of the timing, I had to wait until January (around 27 weeks) to register for 2011 classes. So I guess in that instance it didn't make a huge difference when I registered.
As far as the usefulness of the classes, I have learned a few things, but almost all of it is stuff I have read about since getting pregnant. The "Caring for your Newborn" class DH and I took so far has been the most helpful, but even it was a lot of info I already knew. We've still got three more classes to go, including a BF class, CPR and Breathing and Relaxation, and I suspect those will be more informative for me.
I can't remember when I registered but I have to say I really liked my class at HH. it was really informative.
another book to read is "the birth partner" by penny simkin.