How important are birthing classes?

lolasmit · December 2013

Do I need a birthing class? For some reason I am having trouble finding one in my area and my midwife just told me to find one.

Is it really that important if we have this natural birth without having a birthing class?

aylafsu88 · December 2013

I do not think a class is important per say. What I do think classes provide is information on labor and what to expect which is really helpful. Some people learn better in the class environment and other prefer to read/study up on their own. If you are the type of person that likes the class enviorment then it would be great for you. I think you can educate yourself and be prepared for a natural birth without taking a class. Read up and study on your own time and you will get all the information you would from a class.

lolasmit · December 2013

DH and I both have been reading, looking at videos, and researching as well. I just wasn't sure if that was enough or if the class is something that would help me more being that I am a FTM. thank you for your comment

sschwege · December 2013

For us they were. We did Hypnobirthing and I attribute a large part of my positive experiences to having taken the class and practiced the material.

pixieprincss · December 2013

For me it was. I had read extensively and been interested in NB since I was a teen, but the relaxation practice that Bradley classes gave DH and me was just the accountability we needed to take the ideas off paper and actually practice them. For DH, it was particularly helpful since he had read only a fraction of what I had.

*LrCg* · December 2013

My first was a homebirth and I never took classes. Honestly, I never saw the point- what could a book teach me when my body already knew what to do. I did read the Bradley Way book which explained to me the process of birth and what your body does in birth which I thought was interesting but to be honest I forgot it all when the time came. It was my husband that realized when I wanted to throw up after eating that I was in transition (throwing up is a sure sign) and called midwife ASAP (I didn't want to call her prior to that). He glanced at a book called a husband coached birth or something like that & seriously I mean glanced, he's not a big book reader. I liked Ina May's book and I actually used a few ideas given in the book during labor (my midwife would offer suggestions too but non-intentionally I've always called her late in the game). I've had 3 med free births so I think its very doable.

Chellbell20 · December 2013

Depends on where you are birthing. The class I took with DD did little to prepare me for birth itself, but it did help me to understand many of the hospital's procedures and what I might be presented with in L&D.

boogerbearoriginal · December 2013

We took a birthing class at our hospital that was one Saturday like 9a-2p or similar. They went over the usual here's what happens to your body during birth, and also talked about various hospital policies and covered both medicinal and non-medicinal pain relief methods.

IMO if you're giving birth at a hospital, it's very helpful to know their policies ahead of time so you know how to best prepare based on your wishes. AND I think even if you're planning on going med/intervention free, sometimes those things don't work out and it's helpful to plan/know what those plan b and c options look like.

While yes I'd love to have another med-free birth, I also know there may come about circumstance that dictate a csection as best option so I want to know what that will entail as well so I can plan appropriately. I know for me, during labor I was not in a place to absorb new information or always make thought out decisions.

lolasmit · December 2013

Booger+Bear said:

We took a birthing class at our hospital that was one Saturday like 9a-2p or similar. They went over the usual here's what happens to your body during birth, and also talked about various hospital policies and covered both medicinal and non-medicinal pain relief methods.

IMO if you're giving birth at a hospital, it's very helpful to know their policies ahead of time so you know how to best prepare based on your wishes. AND I think even if you're planning on going med/intervention free, sometimes those things don't work out and it's helpful to plan/know what those plan b and c options look like.

While yes I'd love to have another med-free birth, I also know there may come about circumstance that dictate a csection as best option so I want to know what that will entail as well so I can plan appropriately. I know for me, during labor I was not in a place to absorb new information or always make thought out decisions.

Thank you.

We have looked at many videos, and spoken to his mother regarding the policies in the hospital. She is the manager of their maternity department. We definitely have figured out all the medication intervention possibles, and what you were saying.

I just don't know if for us is worth it to pay $300 dollars for the classes. That's the price in our area. I have one of those directive plans, and the "birth plan" for my husband to know what decisions are best because I also felt that I won't be thinking clearly when I am in labor.

The next step is to let my midwife know exactly what we want because they said to speak to them about what we want later on when I am further along like 30 weeks. Thankfully, my husband and I have spoken about all the alternatives in case anything does go wrong,etc.

lolasmit · December 2013

*LrCg* said:

My first was a homebirth and I never took classes. Honestly, I never saw the point- what could a book teach me when my body already knew what to do. I did read the Bradley Way book which explained to me the process of birth and what your body does in birth which I thought was interesting but to be honest I forgot it all when the time came. It was my husband that realized when I wanted to throw up after eating that I was in transition (throwing up is a sure sign) and called midwife ASAP (I didn't want to call her prior to that). He glanced at a book called a husband coached birth or something like that & seriously I mean glanced, he's not a big book reader. I liked Ina May's book and I actually used a few ideas given in the book during labor (my midwife would offer suggestions too but non-intentionally I've always called her late in the game). I've had 3 med free births so I think its very doable.

That makes sense. We have read the Ina mAy's book too. I am trying to figure out what other books I may need to read. My husband will watch videos with me, and if I find something interesting as long as I read it out loud to him he pays attention, haha.

sschwege · December 2013

lolasmit said:

*LrCg* said:

My first was a homebirth and I never took classes. Honestly, I never saw the point- what could a book teach me when my body already knew what to do. I did read the Bradley Way book which explained to me the process of birth and what your body does in birth which I thought was interesting but to be honest I forgot it all when the time came. It was my husband that realized when I wanted to throw up after eating that I was in transition (throwing up is a sure sign) and called midwife ASAP (I didn't want to call her prior to that). He glanced at a book called a husband coached birth or something like that & seriously I mean glanced, he's not a big book reader. I liked Ina May's book and I actually used a few ideas given in the book during labor (my midwife would offer suggestions too but non-intentionally I've always called her late in the game). I've had 3 med free births so I think its very doable.

That makes sense. We have read the Ina mAy's book too. I am trying to figure out what other books I may need to read. My husband will watch videos with me, and if I find something interesting as long as I read it out loud to him he pays attention, haha.

"The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" is a good book!

ncbelle · December 2013

I think it depends on you. I never took a class - just did a ton of research on my own. That's how I prefer to learn so it worked well for me.

L0L0 · December 2013

I did all my research through reading. I think a class might be nice to meet the other parents. I had a doula so she was my go-to for general questions (like the recommendation for a lactation consultant).

gobbo1985 · December 2013

We did classes through our doula group and as a FTM I feel they helped both me and my husband and were great classes. They made me feel more relaxed and got to talk to other couples without feeling judged so that was great. And we learned and experienced alot that we wouldn't get from books.

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