Prenatal Classes

nikki0808 · February 2014

So it finally hit me yesterday that there's only a few months until delivery. (Hard to believe). So I started reading my books again and freaked myself out about the whole labor and delivery process. Mostly because I'm a control freak/planner and I have no idea what to mentally prepare myself for because I don't know exactly what is going to happen (I know, nobody does until it happens... But remember, I'm a control freak).

So, my questions are... All STM+ did you do prenatal classes with prior pregnancies? Did you find them beneficial? And (to anyone) if you're planning on doing them, when are you planning on going?

Pepper6 · February 2014

The hospital I'm delivering at offers several prenatal classes, both for birth and parenting. They have them posted on their website along with the suggested range to take them in. I'm planning to take a few just so I know a little bit better what to expect.

elsa1688 · February 2014

The hospital we are delivering at has a "welcome baby" package. It covers a labor class, infant CPR, newborn care and a few other classes. We are taking them in March/ April.

nunzchucks · February 2014

We took the childbirth education class at our hospital which included a tour. I didn't like it, but I'm glad I took it. Our hospital also had a basic baby care class that you had to take during you post partum stay. The recommendation was to take them 8 weeks before your due date.

SecondTimeinMSU · February 2014

For me they were a waste. They said my water wouldn't break and gave all these exercises designed for early in labor to do at home....But my water did break and things were pretty darn fast and furious so I had no down time for stretching. DH seemed to use the most of it as he kept telling me I needed to breath better but I wanted to strangle him if he told me that one more time. There was a section on breastfeeding too but it really didn't help me, I am more of a hands on learner. For me personally it I did it again I'd read books and watch videos on relaxation techniques and spend the money on a lactation consultant to actually help me at home in a relaxed setting but I could see how the broad overview might be nice for a FTM.

hollygb22 · February 2014

I spoke to my dr about them. he gave me a run down. The childbirth one at the hospital I delivered at was a tour and a movie with a question and answer period (it was a large hospital and large classes).

I opted not to take it. I took a BF class at a local place that had lactation consultants on staff that taught them. That was a great class and worth it..not sure the one at the big hospital would measure up the same.

i also took an infant care class at a local maternity store..good info but no make it or break earth shattering stuff I couldn't have found on google.

MrsCase1 · February 2014

I took every class the hospital offered, even if it didn't apply to me. No such thing as too much knowledge.

BMaidPlanner · February 2014

SecondTimeinMSU said: For me they were a waste. They said my water wouldn't break and gave all these exercises designed for early in labor to do at home....But my water did break and things were pretty darn fast and furious so I had no down time for stretching. DH seemed to use the most of it as he kept telling me I needed to breath better but I wanted to strangle him if he told me that one more time. There was a section on breastfeeding too but it really didn't help me, I am more of a hands on learner. For me personally it I did it again I'd read books and watch videos on relaxation techniques and spend the money on a lactation consultant to actually help me at home in a relaxed setting but I could see how the broad overview might be nice for a FTM.

I've heard this a couple times now. People saying to me, "You know, your water doesn't actually break." Well, I don't know. Also the people telling me have never had babies. So, what is the deal with this?

snowpants · February 2014

DH and I went to a class at our hospital and found it very helpful. It was a Friday evening/Saturday class so we got it done in one weekend and that worked best for us. It included an indepth tour of the birthing center and all the areas you could end up in, where to check in, etc. There was plenty of stuff about labor and leading up to labor too, and while I didn't need to know all of it based on how my experience went down, I felt better knowing it going in. Does that make sense?

Anyway, I thought our particular class was helpful.

tdf2010 · February 2014

We took almost every possible class the first time since it was $10 no matter how many classes we took. For the most part, I thought they were all very informational. I don't think I would think that though if I had to pay more for them. At the hospital that I will be delivering this time, I know each class has it's own price per class.

nikki0808 · February 2014

The class my hospital offers only allows up to 10 couples (I love smaller classes :-) ) and it says it covers hospital routine, relaxation/breathing, choosing a pediatrician, a massage therapist will show massage techniques, labor overview, tour of the birthing center, video of labor and delivery, breast feeding (taught by lactation consultant), newborn care, postpartum care, postpartum depression, immunizations, and car seat safety. So... I think that's quite a bit of info that would be helpful. Only thing that sucks is that (since it's a smaller facility) there's only a Feb, April, and June class before due date. It's one day, June cuts it too close to my due date, my baby shower is that day in April so DH and I are signed up for this month's class. I wasn't sure if it's too early but it's now or never I guess for this pregnancy.

PinkKEL9 · February 2014

My Ob office does a 3 week small group class. We will be doing that in April. Then we're doing the hospital tour too.

MollySm · February 2014

H and I went to the hospital 'lamaze' class. It was 2 Saturdays in a row, all day. We really loved it. It was hospital specific, so we learned a lot about how that particular hospital did things(like where to park, where to go in after hours, etc.). I already had read enough about birth that I don't think I learned much about that, but that part was super helpful for H. Practicing breathing techniques was also helpful (I did use them) and getting practice massages was great

I really found the whole thing worthwhile, even if some of it was repeating what I already knew.

nikki0808 · February 2014

Awesome, thanks for the input

BabyCurtiss2014 · February 2014

Hubby and I took a 6 hour prenatal class @ the hospital where I'm planning to deliver and it was very helpful! I would recommend to all FTMs! They just explain everything step by step so it gave me a much better understanding of the entire process.

MrsRage · February 2014

We signed up for a labor/delivery class and a caring for newborn class. I also want to do a BF class. I'm a FTM and pretty clueless about all this stuff so I'm excited to learn.

jshrop · February 2014

I signed up for breast feeding and baby basics classes in April. I need to sign up for prepared childbirth class, just haven't yet.

Kinipela7 · February 2014

We're taking the class in March. It meets once a week for a month for 2.5 hours. I have a feeling it's going to make me incredibly nervous. When I think about L&D I get sick to my stomach! Ackkkk

coffee89 · February 2014

As far as I know right now we are just going with the hospital tour in April/May. I don't need a newborn class and I know DH won't be taking one alone. I'm mostly going down the read everything and watch videos route vs paying the almost $200 for a 3 hour class my hospital is charging.

MrsNunes · February 2014

We didn't take a class with our first. I read "What to Expect When Youre Expecting" and another book my ob gave me (very similar) and took a hospital tour. I figured anything else I needed to know, the hospital staff would tell me as it happens. I'm also a self-proclaimed control freak and very much a planner, but through others' experiences I learned that things usually don't go according to "The Plan" (kind of like weddings - something unexpected always happens). I knew this would freak me out more. For me personally, the worst part was not knowing WHEN it would happen. My due date came and went and I ended up having to be induced a full week later. I don't regret not taking a class at all. Women having have been giving birth FOREVER with a how-to class first.

wtfisup · February 2014

We're doing a birth class with midwives geared toward unmediated birth rather than the one offered by our hospital. That will be April, and in the meantime, reading lots. I feel like the books give info, but I want the practice of the positions and techniques in te class. I also want to do the class for my husband: I think it will help him feel prepared.

babygabe614 · February 2014

I signed up for a BFing class in April, and I'm still on the fence about the labor and delivery class. I can tour the maternity ward at my hospital for free, but if I take the childbirth/L&D class (tour is included) it will cost $105. I'm thinking I might just try to find another childbirth class somewhere else that's cheaper (it will all be the same info, right?) and just do the free tour at my hospital.

nikki0808 · February 2014

I think ultimately I would be fine without a class, like pp said, women have been giving birth without classes since forever. But I like to learn and try to feel as prepared as I can. I think the nurse brain in me automatically goes to worst case scenario so I am prepared for the time when things go wrong... For some crazy reason it's if things go right that makes me most nervous (I'm backwards I think...) plus, I agree that I think a class will help prepare DH for everything as well. I have several books I'm reading/have read, but I like to be able to ask questions and have as much 'hands on' learning as I can. I don't know why I worry about it all. Whatever is going to happen will happen however it wants I guess.

ncbelle · February 2014

Some sort of education is really important. I didn't take classes, but I did a TON of reading and research on my own (just what works best for me as a learner). This is a useful website to start self-educating - https://www.childbirthconnection.org - you want to know what all the possibilities are and what your preferences are.

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