Childbirth classes...

briemartin · March 2012

Hi Ladies,

I wanted to get some opinions from FTM's out there about taking Child birth classes. Did you find these helpful? They are expensive where we live and insurance only covers some of the cost, just curious to hear some thoughts. Thanks!

georgi611 · March 2012

You are lucky insurance covers some!

I'm a FTM and my DH and I aren't taking a class. We have read enough books and have watched enough videos that I think we will be fine. A bunch of my friends said that the classes were okay, but in the end, they would have done fine had they not gone.

Good luck!

I am, however, signing us up for a breastfeeding class in May. I think that will be more beneficial to us.

crazyduckme · March 2012

As a first time mommy, I decided to take the classes. There was a class offered by my hospital that was $80 (for 4 classes 1 night a week OR one saturday 8 hour class). It was actually very helpful and the teacher was awesome! My teacher was 23 weeks pregnant herself and on her 6th child, so she definitely knew what she was talking about!

I enjoyed the class and learned a lot. I say do it if you can!

kdjudd · March 2012

DH and I just finished our child birth class. I really wanted to take one from a private group of midwives, but we simply didn't have the money to afford it. We took ours through the local hospital and it was fantastic! We had so much fun. It was 3 hours every week for a month. I learned so much and DH now has a much better idea of how to support me. I highly recommend them.

We will also be taking a breast feeding class next month and a infant safety course in May! I think the classes are worth the money! You can never be too prepared!

dojo1 · March 2012

Bor-ring. If you read what to expect, you're good

NewzieMom · March 2012

I never took birth classes. Didn't fit in our schedule and it's not really us. Just did my research online and was able to have a natural birth.

briemartin · March 2012

Thanks for the feedback! Seems like such a personal choice, I am just confused I guess. Does anyone have any recc's on good child birth DVD's??

tcu_2003 · March 2012

We're not taking ours until the end of April, but we decided we'd go ahead and try it. At the hospital I'm delivering at, the childbirth class (and BFing class, and maybe one or two other ones) are free as long as you deliver there. I take it that's not an option at your hospital?

briemartin · March 2012

The hospital in Boston I am delivering at does offer classes, but they are not free. I did sign up for one but had a conflict so we had to cancel, but it was expensive and I was pondering the decision to do it for awhile. I have done a fair share of reading and have a "plan" somewhat in place of what I want, but then I hear from so many women that plans often change...

JennyJensing · March 2012

I'm a FTM and I'm in the middle of taking them now. Some PP's are correct, "What to Expect" covers a lot of the techniques and silly questions. The things they've gone over in my class that I've found most helpful are things that are considered "the norm" at the hospital in which I'll be delivering. For example, one important thing to know is if they will have students in the delivery room or administering your epidural (which actually DOES happen in some hospitals and takes longer!). Also, my hospital encourages immediate skin-to-skin contact and nursing immediately after in the l&d room.

Our classes are Monday nights from 6:30-8:45 for four weeks and cost $50. Remember to keep track of expenses like these and keep track of your mileage to and from doctor visits, ultrasounds and classes because you can report all of this with your taxes at the end of the year!

JennyJensing · March 2012

Sorry to be a PW, but I forgot to add that you can probably put together a list of hospital-specific questions and take it with you to ask if you do a tour!

cltk12 · March 2012

DH and I took our 6 hours child birth class this past Saturday. Ya, we woulda been fine if we hadn't, but we're glad we went and did learn a few things. Personally, I think the best thing was for DH to see the videos where the partners were rubbing the feet and backs, etc and also for him to see a birthing video. I watched a few at home, but he wouldn't. Now I feel like he has more of an understanding of what's going to happen.

wakko · March 2012

I would recommend taking one if possible. I read quite a few books beforehand and still learned more during the classes - AND you get to ask questions. Also, DH didn't read nearly as much as I did, so it was particuarly helpful for him. I think he got a good idea of what he can do to help as far as pain management goes.

RedDDD · March 2012

We went to ours last weekend and left half way through.....it was so basic and to be honest I didn't learn anything that I hadn't already read in what to expect when you are expecting. The hospital tour was a must and glad we did it so that we knew where to go and what to expect as far as what the rooms looked like etc.

bornmommy · March 2012

DH and I are taking Bradley classes and I am so happy we decided to. Neither DH nor I are big on reading that much and prefer classes. They are very informative and really go through every aspect of labor. This being said, they are expensive and you would have had to start them them about a month ago to finish them on time because they are 12 weeks long. (Hence the expense!)

QueenofAnything · March 2012

We're taking ours at the hospital. Honestly, I already knew the vast majority of the information, but by taking it at the hospital, you learn more about what to expect. I appreciated the heads up on registration, the requirement of a heplock if you're not having an IV, what equipment they have available for assistance (squat bars, birthing balls, etc). I took a c-section class just in case and that was mostly about the hospital's procedures for planned, unplanned and emergency c-sections and the anesthesia. Again, I knew most of the stuff about how long recovery takes, etc.

Really, if the classes hadn't been at the hospital, they would have been pretty useless.

EmilyXLC · March 2012

My childbirth classes were free but they were a joke.

Anyone that had at least partially researched pregnancy could've taught this class. We were required to bring two pillows & a blanket to which we never once used. It was like being back in Human Anatomy class in high school... along with the maturity of the people in the class.

I'm pretty sure if it's a class you actually have to pay for, it won't be such a joke. Good luck to you!

JaimeG183 · March 2012

we didn't learn anything groundbreaking but I thought it was good to see how my particular office/hospital does things compared to what I've read in books and online. it also helped to have a place to ask any questions.

we also took a breastfeeding class, infant care class and infant cpr class that were very informative

stemms8810 · March 2012

Even if you don't want to learn about breathing/relaxation techniques and such it's still good to know your hospital's policies about what will happen before, during, and after delivery, how many visitors you can have at one time, visiting hours, how many labor coaches you can have in the room, where to go when you get there, what will happen if you need a c-section, most offer a hospital tour, etc.

I had to go to L&D yesterday for monitoring and I was glad when I got to the hospital I knew where I was going and what to do from my hospital tour without having to stop and ask someone (this is my first time delivering at this hospital).

briemartin · March 2012

I wish the hospital offered classes and then I would do it there, however, my provider does them off-site. We are doing a tour of labor and delivery though.

kjem182 · March 2012

We're taking them-last one next week! We did a full day of labor and delivery and a Wednesday evening each of breastfeeding, postpartum, infant care and baby safety. Dh also gets a father's class. I think it was $170 for all of them, for both of us.

I've really appreciated them as it's helped us talk through some situations we might not have. We've also really gotten to understand how our hospital works, exactly what to expect during labor and after, etc. Tonight we met a pediatrician that seemed really nice, so I'll be setting up an appointment with him and hopefully checking that to-do off my list. So for us, it was a great investment.

Oh, and tonight we had a newborn in the class so we could see what it's like to give them a bath. SO CUTE! That was worth tonight's class alone.

corrado2 · March 2012

DH and I are in the process of taking our 4 week childbirth class. We signed up through the hospital I will be delivering at. It was $120 for 4 weeks (2 hours each class). I've really enjoyed the class so far and I learned about different pain management options, and more about what actually happens in labor, and what happens if you need to have a C-section. The teacher used to be a labor and delivery nurse for 20 years at the same hospital.

It was useful to me because not only did it explain about labor and delivery, but your learn about options available at your hospital. I also liked being in a class with people around the same time in pregnancy as me. I recommend taking a class if you can afford it. The next session is a tour of the maternity ward of the hospital. If you can't afford the class, I would definitely do a tour, which can be scheduled separately.

MommaTracey · March 2012

I'm really glad I signed up for the classes.

We took a one-day intensive baby prep class. I found that I knew most of what they covered from all the reading and Baby Story watching I've done but it truly was reassuring for me to realize that I know more than I thought I knew. It was also very helpful for DH to learn because, as other mom's have said, he has read limited stuff and didn't truly understand the process. We both really enjoyed learning about our hospital's processes, went on the maternity tour, and learned ways to comfort a laboring mom.

The BF class was very helpful as well. I walked away from that one feeling like I will be patient and successful. I know that I'll have assistance in the hospital but there won't be someone with me 24 hours a day and it's reassuring to me to know more.

Lastly I took a 'Happiest Baby on the Block' class that came with the DVD as well and again I'm happy I did. I like to read but the info gets cemented more in my head when I see and do.

I probably spent $300 total on all the classes. Not cheap but I felt like it was an investment that I was willing and able to make. My insurance does not cover any of the cost. In addition, I know that there are baby classes that are free in the hospital once I've had the baby and the hospital has tv channels that cover baby education. I'll be doing it all. I'm not welcoming guests to visit me until I'm home (aside from immediate family).

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