Natural Birth Without Taking Classes?

Ziegeficker · June 2012

Hello Ladies! I just wanted to know...how many women out there were able to birth naturally (med-free either at home or in a hospital) without attending any sort of childbirth class?

I live in a small town, and it's starting to look like I might not be able to find a suitable class that works with our schedule. I could always do the hospital class, but my understanding is that it won't be geared specifically for natural birth and may not be as helpful as one that is. So I'm wondering if this should be upsetting or if I should just not worry about it...

I plan on birthing in a hospital that, for what it's worth, seems very accommodating to natural birth plans, my OB seems great, and I'm hiring a doula. I'm reading all kinds of books, practicing daily meditation, and I've just started a prenatal yoga class with a teacher who is helping us (it's a class of only two people!) work toward our goals of birthing med-free. I feel like I'm giving myself the best possible shot at succeeding here...but I just wanted to know how vital you found your classes to be to your success if you had them. And if there are any other ladies in a similar boat, have you found good instructional DVDs that can substitute for a good class? Or were you able to birth naturally with no classes at all?

Thanks in advance!!

vintagejjane · June 2012

I didn't do any classes at all and had a natural home birth. I just researched a read a lot of information to prepare myself.

alanap · June 2012

I did it naturally at a hospital via a midwife practice. I didn't take any classes, just did a lot of research.

It was a great experience and I look forward to doing it again in November!

hellomommyhood · June 2012

you can do it! i took a few CBE classes but they weren't that focused on natural birth. Practice breathing and research positions online. good luck!

AmyRI · June 2012

I found that the hospital's birth class was very helpful, although mostly for DH. I had done a lot of reading and knew what I wanted, but I could not get any information to stick in DH's head. The class taught him that labor has stages, and what happens in each stage. It went through the standard protocols of the hospital as well as what happens in emergencies. It was really good to get him on the same page as I was, and to tour the hospital so we both knew where to go and what to expect.

We didn't take any natural birth classes and I still had a natural birth in a hospital with an OB. I think I could have done it without a class if DH did any reading about labor, but since he learns better in a class than from a book, we took the class.

superned · June 2012

I took the hospital's childbirth class, but nothing specifically geared toward natural birth. If you can at least do that, I do recommend it. The most helpful parts were being there with DH and making sure that both of us were on the same page, hearing the same information, and talking about it. The other was getting all of the logistical information about the hospital - everything from where to park to where to rent a pump to a quick peek at the NICU (which you obviously don't want to have to know about, but unfortunately, we ended up there and I was glad to know where DD was going when I couldn't be with her).

As far as natural birthing techniques and tips, I got those from my own research. : )

AshNish · June 2012

I had a natural med-free birth at a hospital with a midwife practice and only took the hospital birth class. The class was not specifically for natural birth or anything but it did go through different labor positions, breathing etc. The class also went over different pain med options and the risks associated with different interventions. It had good general information. I don't plan on taking any sort of classes this time around.

strawberrytree · June 2012

I had a natural med- and intervention-free birth with no classes. We did do a basic L&D class that touched on different options for pain management, including med-free options like different positions, birth ball, etc, but doing my own research on the Internet and books was more helpful for me. I had a doula and my husband in the hospital with me- I laboured on my own with them until it was time to push, when a nurse and later a doctor came in. I went into it with the philosophy that this was what my body was designed for, and when the time came it would know what to do.

wifeofadam · June 2012

I've never had any classes other than the generic childbirth class I took with #1 that taught us hospital protocol.

Ziegeficker · June 2012

Thank you for all of your experiences and encouragement. My last-chance seven-week hospital course starts on Monday, so I'll consider signing up for that. It's relatively cheap, and I do like your points that it may, at the very least, help get DH involved. He's been reading books, but I'm hoping the class will teach him some more hands-on stuff, too.

Thanks, everyone!

PS - It occurred to me last night that women have been birthing for centuries without birthing classes...Such a silly and simple revelation, but it gives me faith that if I just trust in my body, prepare myself mentally and physically, and surround myself with supportive people, there is no reason I can't do this.

Mani · June 2012

I just did it 2 days ago it was do rewarding and empowering to know that my body could do it w/o pain meds. I didn't have an iv or heplock either. I didn't take any classes I just used a midwifery hospital practice. I got tips from my mom and just followed my body cues. My mom went natural with all of my sibs and me. I also got a lot of good birthing tips from the here on the bump.

My 1st time I was induced and had an epi my labor was 24 hrs. This time i labored at home for 2.5 hrs and I arrived to the hospital 5 cm dilated and almost 100% effaced I labored for 4.5 morehours and my baby was born. I used a birthing tub for Pain relief and did a lot of walking around and bending and squatting. I also did not to pay the a extra $1000 for anestistia. That was a big motivator, lol.

I think you'll be fine.

VABride2008 · June 2012

I did the birthing class at our hospital but it was not geared towards going natural. It was more about the hospital policies, stages of labor, etc. I was able to go pain med free (twice). So you can totally do it!

RMama2012 · June 2012

I did it 6 weeks ago without classes. I read a ton about birth and natural childbirth and I had a great support person who acted as my doula. She applied counter pressure where/when needed and gave words of encouragement. I knew different potions to try as well as the right mindset- one contrax at a time, relaxing your body through them, and at the very end, a growl/moan as opposed to yelling.

At my 6 week pp visit yesterday, my DR remembered my labor but forgot that I didn't have an EPI. I take that as a compliment to my demeanor during labor!

Alliebooberz · June 2012

I didn't take any classes & had no problem. I read multiple books and felt very prepared.

april262011 · June 2012

Me! I did a lot of reading and felt confident enough from that to do without. I had the natural birth I was hoping for thanks to the support of a wonderful midwife and H.

rxredhead · July 2012

I took no classes, read nothing, and had the attitude "I want o go without pain meds but there's no shame in an epidural if I can't do it" that apparently rarely works but I had a fast labor and didn't get to he hospital until I was ready to push and an epi wasn't an option. I'll probably do more reading and preparing next time since I saw how it benefitted my son and especially me. My recovery was a complete breeze. Plus I felt super awesome having made that ,ilestone and I want to do it again.

I will say my labor was not painful or awful at all. It was uncomfortable but mostly managable. I dont know how much of that was pure, dumb luck. My moms family historically has easy births, I may have benefitted from genetics

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