When do you start taking classes?

MrsRage · January 2014

I'm a FTM and really haven't been around babies at all! My husband and I really want to take a good amount of classes at the hospital (breast feeding, diapering, etc.)

When would I sign up for those? I'm not sure if it's still a little early.

katekat8721 · January 2014

The classes for my hospital mention when the best time to take them are (like 2nd tri, 3rd tri etc.) Most were in 3rd tri it seemed!

MrsRage · January 2014

I just looked on the hospital website and they have a schedule of classes but not recos on 2nd or 3rd tri.

wtfisup · January 2014

I'm taking mine in April.

Jenn111211 · January 2014

I was wondering the same thing. I just started researching the different classes and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed! Does anyone have any experience with the Bradley Method, Alexander Technique or HypnoBirthing? Do you have a recommendation? Is there any benefit to taking a birthing class if I am planning to get an epidural? STM's, help!

Sfarrell1124 · January 2014

My hospital said to sign up for classes in the 4th or 5th month to take them in the 7th month. We are taking classes in April.

kks4471 · January 2014

I actually asked my OB about this last Wednesday. She said the later, the better, and recommended 3rd trimester after 30 weeks. We'll be taking at least 2 classes in April. My friends back home have already taken some classes though, which makes me jealous!

MrsRage · January 2014

What about doing a hospital walk through? Also after 30 weeks?

lola4411 · January 2014

@MrsRage we have our hospital walk through on Tuesday, but aren't taking classes until April. I wanted the walk through early enough so if I didn't feel comfortable with the hospital I would have plenty of time to search for another. Plus it's free and I am excited to go

MrsRage · January 2014

Our a/s is at a different hospital than where I'll be delivering. I think I have a long list of questions for my next ob visit!

deepoceanmama · January 2014

We have to take an hour-long orientation "class" (free) to register at the hospital where we'll be delivering, but other than that, we're not taking any classes at the hospital. Most of the people I know have said hospital classes weren't very helpful to them.

We are, however, taking Bradley method classes. It's a 12-week program, so we're actually starting them next Saturday. @Jenn111211, if you're interested in Bradley, start looking now! The course is so long that you really need to jump in early.

babySchmidt · January 2014

With our daughter (our first child), we took the class at our hospital in October, we were due late January, which was considered "taking the class early". It was a one day, 8 hour class that included a hospital maternity ward walkthrough, basics on tests, delivery room tools, pain management, breathing, breastfeeding, c sections...etc. I figured if I went into early labor I wanted to know everything that was going on. I recommend taking it early, just in case, and keeping your paperwork/pamphlets so you can brush up on the info a couple weeks before your due date or research anything you are unsure how you'd like to handle (epidurals, if you want to be induced, etc). Also, if you will be using any breathing techniques, etc you will want to practice...a lot...so it's second nature!

lellymine · January 2014

I'm doing mine in April as well

BabyCurtiss2014 · January 2014

We are doing childbirth next weekend and breast feeding and infant care at the end of April.

Kinipela7 · January 2014

Im taking a labor/delivery class that is each Thursday in the month of March. After that we will be taking a newborn basics one time class (early April). I am due May 20th. I think as long as you are done a month before that is good. You may get too uncomfortable/baby could come early if you wait longer than a month before your due date. The classes here fill up though so it's good to book it early.

MrsStarns · January 2014

I signed us up for the end of March going into May. That way if there's something we want to take again we can and it'll be fresh on our minds

MrsCase1 · January 2014

We started at the end of 2nd trimester.

Dharmatron · January 2014

Were most of the classes free for you ladies? My hospital is charging $50 for the labor/delivery class and $25 for infant care.

puttyeast · January 2014

We are starting a 5 week course in mid-March. I qualified to get it for free because of my income level. I'm also planning to take a breastfeeding class that is only $25.

LaRouge8382 · January 2014

For FTMs I would recommend doing it sooner rather than later. Just because I know that they usually have the "baby care" portion of the clas at the end and you don't want to miss that if you go into labor early.

elsa1688 · January 2014

@KrystaJ are you doing your classes in Edmonds? I am delivering at swedish ballard and Swedih doesnt have any April classes online yet

elsa1688 · January 2014

Oh weird. I thought I was looking at the schedule for all campuses but it list have just been Ballard.

CrysW08 · January 2014

My hospital said to sign up for most of them by your 20th week. So I signed up for the general childbirth class but we aren't taking it til March.

JNerd · January 2014

Normally the hospital/host will have information on how far along you should be in the class. And for some they won't let you register for too far in advance.
I know we did 2 with DS. One was an early pregnancy class, supposed to be between 10&20 weeks for that one. The second was a 10week class that spent half the time focused on L&D and the other half on baby care- so they wanted your due date to be in the middle of the class.
Best bet- call and talk to them.

MissBHaven1024 · January 2014

Most of the classes are best to take during 3rd tri, so all of in the info is still fresh. Classes can fill up quickly, so check your hospitals website to see when classes are being offered and get signed up.

hollygb22 · January 2014

i took an infant care class and BF class with DH. We looked into the ones at the hospital but its a big hospital and the classes were huge. We opted to take them at a local maternity store. I skipped the child birth classes...most who took them told me they were a hospital tour and min. info. I took them maybe a month or two before I was due

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