Hospital Classes - Really Necessary?

expletive baby · May 2012

So my husbands been deployed (returning soon-ish) and I sort of dragged my feet about looking into child birth/child care/breastfeeding classes at the hospital. Well, now of course 7 weeks out from my due date and they're all booked up. I could probably talk my way into them, but the child care one is entire weekend and quite frankly, we have way too much sh!t to do around here in the three weekends we'll have before baby comes!

So, long story short...are they really necessary? We are first time parents but are pretty nonchalant about everything. Plus my mom, a former nurse, will be here the first two weeks. I just don't think I want to cram 12-18 hours of classes in when we need to do everything else to get ready.

Did you participate in any classes? Were they worth it - both time and money wise?

noah-bear · May 2012

I never took one. DS came the day before my first and I feel I did well with it, plus they're all expensive and just tell you to breathe and relax. The dr/mw will tell you the same thing.

meganandchase · May 2012

I took one and it was useless, especially if you have read anything at all about labor. There was one positive - Before they will give you an epidural, you must watch the epidural video. I was able to watch the video during the class, which meant I did not have to watch it when I was in labor pain.

YaMrWhite · May 2012

I really enjoyed mine and my husband and I both learned quite a few extra things to prepare for and we also got to see a lot of stuff that helped ease my nerves. We got to see an epidural catheter, a foley bulb, the hospital bag with goodies they send us home with (pads, mesh undies, breast pads, etc) and the tour of the L&D ward was really nice. We got to see an adorable 7 lb baby girl in the nursery

My hospital charged $90 for the class which my husband and I split and found very reasonable.

shopgirl78 · May 2012

For my first--I really liked them. I had never been in L&D (was new in this town) and never witnessed childbirth. The tour was really helpful and knowing what to expect and what was "normal" and procedural was nice too. They also had cookies and lemonaide : )

For my thrid--we did the sibling class (for my oldest only)--and that was really benefical to her, learning what to expect from newborns and how that's how they communicate...they did it in a way that young children could understand. They got to play with dolls, diapers, etc. And learn that babies can't have small toys. I really liked the sibling class too. It was a fun time to spend with DD. It also came with a hospital tour which allowed DD to know what to expect (and me because it was a new to me hospital : )

APendola · May 2012

Of course they are not necessary. They are helpful and informative and a great way to share the pregnancy experience with your partner. They also may offer some hands-on practice of things like birthing positions - which you don't get in a book. That is why a lot of couples like them.

Of course you can get all the information you need with books, you-tube videos, talking with experienced moms etc.

CLeigh03 · May 2012

We never did any and I ended up with a c-section.

elbelle77 · May 2012

We didn't take any classes. My DH is an accountant, so trying to find time during tax season was pretty impossible. Also, our class costs $165! I talked to friends and they pretty much said once you're in labor, all those breathing exercises and what you learn go right out the window. I also looked into a breast feeding class ($80), but spoke to a friend who is a lactation consultant and she said to just ask for the LC as much as I can in the hospital and since they also offer home visits, no need to pay money now if I can just wait and see if I need the extra help/advice when LO is here. She said the main thing is not to get frustrated and keep trying. I did read about it in the What to Expect The First Year book and so I don't feel totally clueless.

All this being said, if classes were cheaper, I probably would have gone to them.

expletive baby · May 2012

Thanks for sharing, everyone!

I am definitely planning on a tour of the ward at the very least, since that's free, an hour, on a weeknight and available after my husband returns. I had no desire to go to a childbirth class - the less my hypochondriac self knows, the better. I told my OB yesterday that my birth plan was "give me an epidural, get baby out".

It was mainly the child care class that I was questioning. I'm still on the fence. I would say I would leave the final choice to my husband, but I know his answer would be "@#%^! it. We can figure it out."

jlthompson19 · May 2012

I never took one with DD. I knew I wanted drugs ASAP, so I didn't care about the techniques and I had been the hospital where I was delivering about 10 times for friends/family births, so I knew the layout well. I'm sure bfing classes are informative, but I'm of the belief that you can't really prepare yourself for it until you're doing it. I EBF'd for 14 months, so that plan worked well for me.

I did take tours this time around b/c I had to choose between 2 different hospitals, but if you don't have to make that kind of decision, I wouldn't waste my time.

kdjudd · May 2012

I don't think they are necessary, but I do think that they are important for FTMs. (At least it was in my case) I had done tons of research so I had basically heard everything before I took my birthing class, but it was great to be able to talk to the nurse in charge and have any questions answered. Plus, it was really beneficial for my husband. He isn't a reader and I think it helped him know what to expect.

I don't know how I would have figured things out without my breast feeding class. It was fantastic. They gave us lots of tips, gave us emergency numbers to call, and worked with each person individually to make sure that we had the various positions down pat.

The baby care class was a blast, but that one I don't think is necessary at all. It was a great hands on class. We got to practice bathing a newborn, swaddling, and changing diapers. It was fun, but like I said it wasn't super necessary.

MrsWP · May 2012

If you can do a childbirth class I think that can be helpful because you feel a little more prepared for what to do and where you'll be.. but I didn't feel a need for childcare classes (then again - I am a certified teacher and I did lot of child development classes in college and I've had a ton of practice with kids from 1 month up through 18 years old.. so maybe thats just me).

Good Luck with your decision!

vagirl1 · May 2012

I would say they are not absolutely necessary. It depends on how much you already know. They go through some stuff about when to come to the hospital, how to breathe through the contractions, what to expect when you get there etc.

The infant care classes are only helpful if you have nobody to help you and you will be on your own and have never put on a diaper before (that was DH and I last time around) and to learn to swaddle.

The breastfeeding class is incredibly helpful if you plan to commit to it and want your best shot. It will teach you the science behind it and how it works as well as the frequency that you must follow to be successful. Also, they might go over what to do when you have to return to work if you plan to pump. I got most of my information from that class as well as who to call for help if you need it. And trust me, just b/c breastfeeding is natural, it does not come easy for most cases.

ksutt · May 2012

We signed up for a child birth class, a Breastfeeding class, and an infant care class...

Child Birth: didn't like it at all. Only went to 2 of the 4 classes (the only reason we went back for class 2 was that it was a tour of the hospital and we wanted that)

Breastfeeding: pretty good class, but I didn't really feel like I learned anything new from the Breastfeeding book I'd read. It was nice to hear the info again though to really pound it into my head, haha

Infant Care: ours was just a few hours in the afternoon (a whole weekend seems like a bit of overkill), but my husband and I both loved it. A lot of the info was not new to me, but it was still good to be reminded and it was great for DH who hasn't had much experience with babies. They also brought in a newborn (the class was at the hospitals) for her first bath to show us what to do.

If I had it to do again, I would skip the child birth class, but still do the other 2

Daniellekrista · May 2012

We are signed up for a childbirth class and I am signed up for a breast-feeding class.

I asked DH if he wanted to attend the child care class:

Me: Do you want to go to the childcare class?

DH: Why?

Me: To learn how to change a diaper, bathe a baby and what to do if he won't stop crying.

DH: That's your job, sink and ear plugs. So, no.

sarahandeddiejune212008 · May 2012

Thankfully ours was cheap, but it was pretty useless. We knew I had to have a c/s and our hospital required that the support person attend the c/s portion of the class in order to be in the OR.

snicksnack · May 2012

With DD I went to the childbirth class and I think it was helpful from learning about the hospital and what to expect. I had DD during the great H1N1 scare and tours were not allowed so I was disappointed by that. I really wanted to take the childcare class but my MIL wanted to have my shower on the same day and said there was no way to have the shower at another time. She also said she did not think it was really needed given we had so much help at home. I still would have liked to have taken it but my child survived without the class. As for BFing I read books and worked with the LC. I BF for 18 months with no issue. This time around I checked out from the library the Laugh and Learn childbirth DVD just for a refresher. I just got It last night so I can?t really comment on it. One mistake a lot of my friends made with the class is they were so focused on going natural they did not pay attention to the part on interventions and c-section and I had one friend freak out and had a completely terrible c-section experience. To this day she is scared and currently arguing with her doctor about wanting to have a v-bac. So I would recommend understanding all parts of birth because your plan may not go as anticipated.

aprillle · May 2012

First baby - we did the classes. It was fun and free through the hospital, I don't think we really learned that much but it was nice to meet people who were going to be having babies when we were and we really enjoyed the hospital tour.

Second baby - nah, no classes - figured had a baby two years so been to this rodeo recently but we did do a hospital tour.

maybe just see if you could do a tour?

SweetHurricane · May 2012

I didn't take any classes (same story... military - moved right before due date - classes were booked). My DD has turned out just fine so far. Unless you are going for a med free birth or something like that, I don't think it's really necessary.

yourmom5309 · May 2012

I never took one, and I would like to think our kids are just fine.

oohgrrl11 · May 2012

DH and I had H1N1 when I was pregnant with DS and missed our birthing classes. I was really upset about it and worried. But in the end we were fine and this time I didn't sign up for any.

catmtl · May 2012

We just went to the hospital tour (lasted 2+ hours) and feel fine about everything now. Friends I spoke to all seemed to think their classes were useless (they were all medicated births if that makes a difference).

dani2480 · May 2012

snicksnack:
... One mistake a lot of my friends made with the class is they were so focused on going natural they did not pay attention to the part on interventions and c-section and I had one friend freak out and had a completely terrible c-section experience. To this day she is scared and currently arguing with her doctor about wanting to have a v-bac. So I would recommend understanding all parts of birth because your plan may not go as anticipated.

I find this interesting because I have done a lot of research on interventions and c-sections, and the more I learn, the more terrified of them I become. However, I have learned that there are times when they do become medically necessary, and am comfortable with that should it occur. But many of them come with some pretty scary risks that childbirth classes and your doctor don't often tell you about. So, I don't necessarily think your friend is wrong to be concerned and trying for a vbac (chances are, the vbac actually will be safer for her and baby than a repeat c-section, based on the research).

kimmyg000 · May 2012

I went but mostly so my DH would be somewhat prepared. I don't feel I really learned anything I hadn't already known and there is nothing that can really prepare you for what is about to happen. You never know what is going to happen or what your contractions are really going to feel like and how you are going to be able to react to them until you are in the moment. As for bf classes, again to me it was way more beneficial to see a lactations consultant after the baby is born to deal with your individual issues. I recomend to just skip the classes, it'll be fine.

JuneBugBaby2012 · May 2012

I think it depends on how much information you want beforehand. If you are comfortable getting information from books alone then try your library for info on breastfeeding and labor. I felt much more comfortable talking/listening to someone about what to expect than reading alone.

snicksnack · May 2012

dani2480:
snicksnack:

... One mistake a lot of my friends made with the class is they were so focused on going natural they did not pay attention to the part on interventions and c-section and I had one friend freak out and had a completely terrible c-section experience. To this day she is scared and currently arguing with her doctor about wanting to have a v-bac. So I would recommend understanding all parts of birth because your plan may not go as anticipated.

I find this interesting because I have done a lot of research on interventions and c-sections, and the more I learn, the more terrified of them I become. However, I have learned that there are times when they do become medically necessary, and am comfortable with that should it occur. But many of them come with some pretty scary risks that childbirth classes and your doctor don't often tell you about. So, I don't necessarily think your friend is wrong to be concerned and trying for a vbac (chances are, the vbac actually will be safer for her and baby than a repeat c-section, based on the research).

I agree that she should try for v-bac if medically capable, but she is in a small town and the hospital is being very stubborn saying it is against their policy to allow for v-bac. Places like this are what is causing our nation's numbers to go way up. The things that freaked her out about the c-section included having her arms strapped down, she had a bad experience with the spinal block, which caused her to have an anxiety attack, she also felt after it was over that she got bullied into the C. Her baby?s heart rate was dropping and now she feels she should have let things go longer and tried better to avoid the C.

After it was all over she said she wished she had paid better attention to that part of the class because at the time it was happening she was not thinking clearly. I suggested this time she find a doula that has worked in that hospital and meet with her to discuss the policy etc? The hospital is her only choice because it is the only place that has L and D within two hours of where she lives.

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