Birthing Class

BabySykesOnTheWay · September 2013

What are your thoughts on birthing classes? Are any of you taking one closer to delivery date?

gcama85 · September 2013

I actually just got off the phone with the hospital to schedule. She advised us to have all our classes done a month before our due date, so we need to have everything scheduled by November 2nd. Between our calendars and their dates, we're starting classes this Sunday!

Tigger & pooh · September 2013

For my first we did, then took a refresher course with the second since we were in a different state/ different hospital. With the third even though it will be a different hospital again I think we will just do a tour.

thesportsgal · September 2013

We've already taken a CPR class and are taking our hospital tour/birthing class October 12. My doctor said to finish 6-8 weeks before my scheduled due date.

utlawgirl · September 2013

We took Bradley classes with our first, and will be doing a short refresher this time around, at around 30-32 weeks.

Marchmellow2 · September 2013

Glad you brought this up! Are birthing classes necessary? They cost $160 where I am and I'd rather use that money toward something for the baby. What are everyone's thoughts on how necessary these are?

kate14 · September 2013

I think I have decided not to take any. The people that have delivered at my hospital all told me that they didn't find them helpful and is some ways actually scared them more. I am doing a tour of the hospital and taking a BF'ing class there though.

Tigger & pooh · September 2013

Marchmellow2 said:
Glad you brought this up! Are birthing classes necessary? They cost $160 where I am and I'd rather use that money toward something for the baby. What are everyone's thoughts on how necessary these are?

It depends on your birth plan. If you want to use a "birthing method" like hypnobirthing or Bradley then yes it would be. If you just want to know basics like the different stages of birth, hospital protocol and what an epidural looks like some you tube videos and a hospital tour should be sufficient.

cammyisagirlsname · September 2013

We'll be taking ours at the end of October. They're two Monday night classes for $80.

thesportsgal · September 2013

Marchmellow2 said:

Glad you brought this up! Are birthing classes necessary? They cost $160 where I am and I'd rather use that money toward something for the baby. What are everyone's thoughts on how necessary these are?

Wow, that's an expensive class! We're doing it mostly for the hospital tour and for my husband. I think that I could be fine without it but I think it will be very beneficial for him. Watching videos/doing some research online could probably be good enough for me but if I asked him to do that, we'd be on our way to the hospital and he probably wouldn't have "gotten around to it". I know our hospital offers the maternity ward tours for free though so maybe you could just do that?

F47 · September 2013

We have taken a "Preparing for Natural Birth" class at the hospital. We have a long, all-encompassing class coming up next month that includes a hospital tour. Both are free.

We also started Hypnobithing classes on Tuesday. Obviously not free. They are weekly for 5 weeks.

Lpegirl2013 · September 2013

I'm going to one in November I believe

rkcaraway · September 2013

I'm doing mine on-line and signed up today. We have a short in-person Q & A session at the hospital on 10/19. We already did our hospital tour a few weeks ago. I am doing a breast feeding class in person next month.

Marchmellow2 · September 2013

thesportsgal said:

Marchmellow2 said:

Glad you brought this up! Are birthing classes necessary? They cost $160 where I am and I'd rather use that money toward something for the baby. What are everyone's thoughts on how necessary these are?

Wow, that's an expensive class! We're doing it mostly for the hospital tour and for my husband. I think that I could be fine without it but I think it will be very beneficial for him. Watching videos/doing some research online could probably be good enough for me but if I asked him to do that, we'd be on our way to the hospital and he probably wouldn't have "gotten around to it". I know our hospital offers the maternity ward tours for free though so maybe you could just do that?

I watch TLC's A Baby Story and feel like I've learned a lot from that. I know I want an Epi and I want skin contact with baby right away. I have more things on my birth plan list but nothing unique. I just want it to be as easy as possible. DH has 4 other kids (teens and adults) so I think he's pretty experienced in this. I do want to take a BFing class and I want a tour but I do not want to pay $160 for a birthing class. I'd rather have a first time parenting class, like things I need to know for when I'm at home with the baby. Anyway thank you, I will definitely research birthing online.

EmJacks0n · September 2013

We're in the middle of taking our classes- so far I thought the portion on focusing and breathing was helpful, and actually used it during my glucose test since I get freaked put by needles. It worked

. We are taking ours earlier bc the instructor had to cancel her October/ November classes. It is $150 for 5 classes and an extra $30 for the breast feeding class. The instructor is a labor and delivery nurse at our hospital, and could possibly be at our birth! Our 4th class is a tour of the hospital.

lifesaverz · September 2013

I registered to take a Bradley birthing class. When I was looking over the different methods that was the one I was most interested in, so I went to bradleybirth.com & looked up classes in my area, because Bradley-specific classes are not offered through my hospital. We start in just a couple weeks!

ETA: I should add that Bradley classes are generally 12 weeks long.

mteredominjas · September 2013

I signed up for a Bradley class and start next week. The class was pretty steep! $350 for 9 classes. But I'm hoping it's worth the money. I also need to register for a CPR class at my hospital.

Tigger & pooh · September 2013

Marchmellow2 said:

thesportsgal said:

Marchmellow2 said:

Glad you brought this up! Are birthing classes necessary? They cost $160 where I am and I'd rather use that money toward something for the baby. What are everyone's thoughts on how necessary these are?

Wow, that's an expensive class! We're doing it mostly for the hospital tour and for my husband. I think that I could be fine without it but I think it will be very beneficial for him. Watching videos/doing some research online could probably be good enough for me but if I asked him to do that, we'd be on our way to the hospital and he probably wouldn't have "gotten around to it". I know our hospital offers the maternity ward tours for free though so maybe you could just do that?

I watch TLC's A Baby Story and feel like I've learned a lot from that. I know I want an Epi and I want skin contact with baby right away. I have more things on my birth plan list but nothing unique. I just want it to be as easy as possible. DH has 4 other kids (teens and adults) so I think he's pretty experienced in this. I do want to take a BFing class and I want a tour but I do not want to pay $160 for a birthing class. I'd rather have a first time parenting class, like things I need to know for when I'm at home with the baby. Anyway thank you, I will definitely research birthing online.

OMG! Please do not use the baby story for preparing for birth!

*Mrs*Rohrbaugh* · September 2013

We start our child birthing classes next week. We registered for them 2 months ago...can't believe it's come so quickly.

lp0 · September 2013

I didn't take one when I was pregnant with DS. I felt I did plenty of reading and watched enough videos on YouTube that I knew what to expect. But I don't see anything wrong if anyone wants to take them.

MissyC979 · September 2013

We took one through our hospital last time. We're not doing anything this time.

lilypienmessimy · September 2013

We are doing CPR, breast feeding class and a tour of L&D at our hospital. The birthing classes were really expensive and I do feel like I have and will have done enough reading/research etc about actually giving birth.

lilybeth12 · September 2013

I wanted to do hypnobirthing, but the closest instructor is over an hour away. also the class size was so small that the cost was prohibitive.

We are taking the hospital based 1 day class a month before our EDD.

mamashan12 · September 2013

Marchmellow2 said:

Glad you brought this up! Are birthing classes necessary? They cost $160 where I am and I'd rather use that money toward something for the baby. What are everyone's thoughts on how necessary these are?

Check with your insurance, ours is actually reimbursing us for the birthing class, breastfeeding class and infant CPR.

I just took infant CPR this past weekend. I called to ask the hospital when I should schedule the birthing class and they set me up for a class next weekend, I'll be almost 28 weeks.

crazyblessedmamma · September 2013

We decided not to take one last time, I was induced and had an epidural. This time I would really, really love to do everything un-medicated, so I kind of want to take a pain management class that my hospital has. DH doesn't understand why I want to try un-medicated and is not quite on board yet ( I made it to a 7 before epi and then stopped progressing, he said that I was a completely different person after epi and says as soon as labor starts this time he's going to personally summon the anesthesiologist)... I should pull out the hospital bill from our son and show him the class cost vs the epidural cost ;-) I think its just hard for him to see me experiencing pain that he can't take away and feels an epi is the next best thing.

BabySykesOnTheWay · September 2013

Thanks for your input everyone. I hadn't really thought about until now. I'm a FTM but also an RN so I have had some information on it during nursing school but in now way am I am OB nurse. Haha. I usually just ask my mom about her experiences and I from there.

BabySykesOnTheWay · September 2013

Tons of typos... So sorry. Mobile bumping!

Marchmellow2 · September 2013

Tigger & pooh said:

Marchmellow2 said:

thesportsgal said:

Marchmellow2 said:

Glad you brought this up! Are birthing classes necessary? They cost $160 where I am and I'd rather use that money toward something for the baby. What are everyone's thoughts on how necessary these are?

Wow, that's an expensive class! We're doing it mostly for the hospital tour and for my husband. I think that I could be fine without it but I think it will be very beneficial for him. Watching videos/doing some research online could probably be good enough for me but if I asked him to do that, we'd be on our way to the hospital and he probably wouldn't have "gotten around to it". I know our hospital offers the maternity ward tours for free though so maybe you could just do that?
I watch TLC's A Baby Story and feel like I've learned a lot from that. I know I want an Epi and I want skin contact with baby right away. I have more things on my birth plan list but nothing unique. I just want it to be as easy as possible. DH has 4 other kids (teens and adults) so I think he's pretty experienced in this. I do want to take a BFing class and I want a tour but I do not want to pay $160 for a birthing class. I'd rather have a first time parenting class, like things I need to know for when I'm at home with the baby. Anyway thank you, I will definitely research birthing online.

OMG! Please do not use the baby story for preparing for birth!

OMG! Never said I was

I have learned a lot from it is what I said.

AGriffin620 · September 2013

We're going this month through one of the hospitals in our area. We have two Saturday classes for $60.00, which isn't bad.

bty19 · September 2013

Doing a "birthing and preparation class" with the hubs, but next one isn't until November. Its only a one day, 3 hour dealio so I figure he will survive and at least we can say we did something!

lollipoppoop · September 2013

I think im just going to wing it

alanna7777 · September 2013

Our hospital offers a 3 hour childbirth class, infant CPR, breast feeding and baby basics classes for free. I am going to the childbirth one on 10/20-the next one was 11/17 and with a due date of 12/9, I want to feel prepared lol! I would love to do more classes but none are offered in my area.
My husband did the several week one with his daughter so I am hoping he remembers lol!!

Laumb11 · September 2013

I wanted to do hypno birthing but really didn't want to spend $350 and between the both of us we would be missing classes. I did sign us up for a intensive breathing class at the hospital. I also signed up for a breast feeding class and a basic baby care class. I think I want to get a birthing video that I forgot what it is called and need to ask doc at next visit.

tyedyeme12 · September 2013

@Sunshine5788, mine's $75 too for the one-day class.

It has the tour, meet a recommended pediatrician and of course, childbirth class. There was one scheduled for the 7th I think? but it's offered monthly so I think I'm going to the one in October. I haven't signed up for it quite yet.

Hols411 · September 2013

We start our classes next week. I am signed up for the natural birthing class at the hospital. We had to either do it now or wait and take the class that finished right before my due date. I opted to take it early so I have time to practice the techniques and decide if we want a doula or not.

BooBear1543 · September 2013

I am pregnant with my first child as well I chose not to do the classes because they are expensive. Between the Lamaze class, breast feeding, and childcare class it was going to cost me $250+. When I spoke to my doctor, she suggested I could watch videos, she gave me some recommendations and I went on amazon and spent $30 in videos, and so far they turned out to be great. My hubby and I watch them together in our own home and if I have any questions and just ask her on my next visit. Beats paying $250+ for the classes.

synergy_gd · September 2013

Mines $200 for a day class. I'm a little worried though, friend of a friend just did it last week and they had them watch a video of a birth. I really think less I know the better, im not good with anything medical I faint as the sight of blood! happy to learn some breathing techniques, although most mums I know said they couldn't remember any of it once labour started. Going to talk to the OB about it next week

August & After · September 2013

I'm in Chicago and I believe Northwestern Hospital's "Great Expectations" is about $160 as well and I have heard iffy things about it. Most I talked to felt they could have gone without it. I am doing the free tour, which will take me through the steps I will go through when I arrive at the hospital. Knowing what the area looks like is good enough for me. I don't have a birth plan, it's more that I want to be comfortable and the kid is safe. Whatever it takes to get to that point, so be it. I'm also taking an infant CPR class. My doc said the breastfeeding class at the hospital, while mildly helpful, she feels is something that could be somewhat of a waste of time. She said between utter exhaustion and not having breastfeed before, a lot of it you just figure out once you are doing it. She recommended a few books and the pediatric group we are going with has lactation consults on call, so I'll figure that out as I go.

m88bloom · September 2013

SO and I are taking the hospital tour tomorrow and even though he wants to (only to meet other parents) I don't think classes are necessary. One sister took them and it was very helpful to her but she also had a birthing plan the other just watched a lot of "A Baby Story" lol and said it was good enough. I have no plan besides to get some "drugs" I would probably be more inclined to take a class if I were opting for a natural birth.

skye180606 · September 2013

We started ours this week. Only $55.00 for four 2 hour sessions. After session one, I think I am a little more nervous about the whole pain situation, but I think our teacher is being really honest.