Childbirth classes

Jennpatt23 · February 2014

FTM here and I feel terrible that I have procrastinated so long because now my hospitals earliest date for classes is cutting it waaay to close to my due date.
Please please give me feedback on how important these classes are

GouldenGirl · February 2014

Don't worry! I'm a first time mom too and we have chosen not to take the childbirth classes. Your body as a woman was designed for this. My mom had 6 children and never took classes. Your doctor/nurse/midwife whatever you have is going to be there to coach you. Personally I think it would only have scared me with all the possible things that they say can go wrong. When it comes down to time you probably won't be remembering all the info anyways or you will over think and stress out. Just relax and remeber to breathe! I'm sure you will be just fine!

awisern · February 2014

STM here, but I never took a childbirth class and it was fine. We couldn't find one to fit my work schedule. Instead we ordered this video https://www.amazon.com/Laugh-Learn-About-Childbirth-Bayles/dp/B000PLXFSS and watched it. I don't regret not taking a class....I did fine during birth without one.

FunSizeGrl · February 2014

How close? Mine schedules it for closer to the end anyways. I'll be 34 weeks when I take their class/go on the tour.

Peaceb0ne · February 2014

I'm a FTM as well, but I think that the classes are fairly important. It's useful to know about your hospital's policies and what to expect during labor and delivery. How close to your due date will you be?

sthomas1222 · February 2014

I feel it honestly depends on what you want from your L&D. If you want a natural, unmediated birth classes are invaluable. And your nurse/doctor is not going to be there coaching you. They have a floor full of patients. The doctor shows up to check your cervix every few hours then leaves, comes back to catch the baby. A midwife will stay with you for most of your labor though.

Jennpatt23 · February 2014

It's just over a week(9days) before my due date. My hospital does provided the tour/ going over hospital policies regularly that I am already signed up for.
I have mixed feelings about the classes and love all the input from you ladies!!!
Thanks a ton!!!

motoLyn · February 2014

What you take from the classes are up to you. So you could potentially attend these classes and get nothing retained in your head or you could learn a thing of two. I know my hospital classes are like one night each week for three weeks. Perhaps you could also look into seeing if there are classes offered that are one whole weekend crammed in. I know my Bradley coach does Saturday 9 to 5 info crammed classes for couples that need a crash course. In all I think online videos like the example above are just as helpful. Most of those classes are just preparing you for what to expect and perhaps how to deal or cope with the pain.

alyssajanell5 · February 2014

I waited as well but it should be ok. The last class ends 5 days before I'm due.

sparklingdiamond · February 2014

I am a FTM, so have no experience, but I am taking the classes because my hospital offers them for free. If I had to pay, I probably wouldn't take as many, but I would still take the childbirth class.

ho11yday · February 2014

I took the classes and felt it wasn't necessary unless you were really stuck on one method of pain management. Like another poster mentioned elsewhere, if you wanted a med free birth, best to prepare.

Mimaloo · February 2014

GouldenGirl said:

Don't worry! I'm a first time mom too and we have chosen not to take the childbirth classes. Your body as a woman was designed for this. My mom had 6 children and never took classes. Your doctor/nurse/midwife whatever you have is going to be there to coach you. Personally I think it would only have scared me with all the possible things that they say can go wrong. When it comes down to time you probably won't be remembering all the info anyways or you will over think and stress out. Just relax and remeber to breathe! I'm sure you will be just fine!

This is exactly how I feel. FTM here also and the only thing we are taking is an infant/child CPR class and DH really wants to take a baby care class because he's never changed a diaper in his life. So I will be taking that to humor him.

chknma · February 2014

GouldenGirl said:

Your doctor/nurse/midwife whatever you have is going to be there to coach you.
!

I would say that this totally depends in your practitioner. When I was a FTM, I went with an OB practice that had a good reputation and I liked through my entire pregnancy. The OB that delivered my DD only came into the room AFTER I had been induced and pushed for 3 hours with the help of my delivery nurse. I overall had a good experience because of my own attitude and the nurse that happened to be assigned to my room that night.

I am with a MW now that will be there the entire time, but I wouldn't rely on others to get you through labor if you have specific goals. There are a lot of options for educating yourself and preparing for birth. Do some research and decide what is best to meet your goals.

Jillzy86 · February 2014

I think the more classes the better. I'm taking a 6 week birthing class, a class to help train my dog for the transition on a child in our home, a green babies class, and prenatal yoga classes. My DH grandmother gave us some money for Christmas and we put it towards classes. She told me that she had four kids and didn't read a single book or take any classes and things went perfectly for her. My mom on the other hand swaers by them. She had myself and two brothers naturally and said her classes really helped her. So the truth is, it all depends on what kind of person you are and there is no right or wrong answer. If you don't want to take any classes you shouldn't feel obligated to.

lavendergiraffes · February 2014

I didn't learn anything new but dh and I had been doing a lot of reading and research online. It was nice to have the tour and hear what was specific to my particular hospital - policies and such. But it was not worth the $60 that we payed! That being said I wouldn't worry about doing it close to your due date (you most likely won't go early) unless you have to pay and you don't want to waste money.

raebee18 · February 2014

I work with a bunch of guys and they said that they thought that attending the childbirth classes with their wife would be a total waste. However everyone of them said that when it came to crunch time it was good to know what to expect and helped them keep their heads together. I think as women we are taught more about what goes on during a birth but I'm currently a bit terrified (I know it's natural I know millions of women do it but I've never done it!) so I wanted to attend one just to put my mind at ease. Our hospital offers an online course you can take as well, not sure if that's an option for you but might be something to look into.

crystalmir91385 · February 2014

My hospital doesn't even let you attend childbirth classes until you are 32 weeks. The first session after that point will be 35-37 weeks for me (3 week course). Not as close as yours, but I'm still a little worried. Hopefully you make it to your class!

mmks · February 2014

Personally, I didn't learn much from the class we took when I was preg w my son. This was b/c I had done a lot of reading and researching about labor and delivery already. But my husband said that he learned a lot from the class. I wished I'd taken a labor class since I struggled with coping with natural labor.

RachelCA29 · February 2014

I'm signed up for a class through a local Doula group, not my hospital that teaches several different types of pain management techniques as well as information about multiple pain medications and then a part on breast feeding. I picked the class because it offered that variety and as a FTM I have no clue what I want yet. If you are more sure in you plan then I can see a class being a bit of a waste.

tjkdlhb · February 2014

Classes aren't offered in my area. Babies still get born here. Women survive it.
:P

I file it under, it would be nice... but not necessary. If it had been an option and free or low cost, I would have done it as a FTM... but now that I've been through it and know roughly what to expect (granted each birth is different), I wouldn't bother. I did go to the nurse here who gave me some handouts about breastfeeding and birth... and I read through that.

I guess it's a personal thing depending on your personality type, circumstances etc.

Happypost · February 2014

I really found the classes interesting! I'm having so much fun in my birthing class that I'm gonna sign up for a breastfeeding and infant CPR class too. It's been fun for my husband and I to meet other pregnant couples and swap stories. Plus the coach training for dh equals massages for me

stina76 · February 2014

I signed us up for a 4 week childbirth class and had my first one last week. I'm hoping it was just because it was the first one that it was so bad! 3 hours of VERY basic information. My husband was miserable and I have to admit I was to! We may go this week and if it isn't very helpful, just skip the next one and go to the last one which is the hospital tour. I think you could get most of the information that they cover online or in books.

tjkdlhb · February 2014

kitchencolors said:

I found it incredibly useful, as did my husband. Why not sign up and if you miss it because you've already had the baby then you'll miss it?

The advice that you should anticipate your doctor/nurse/midwife coaching you is really awful. Doctors rarely spend time during actual labors with moms... they're there for delivery and for progress updates during labor, not the actual labor. Midwives do sometimes, but at the hospital where I had DD and at the one where this baby will be born they don't stay in the room the whole time. Nurses don't either.

Anyway, I personally think it's a good idea for you and your partner to know things like the various risks/benefits of interventions and what your preferences are before you're in the thick of things. Making decisions when you're in labor is much easier if you at least can anticipate what your options might be and have a chance to think about them before you're actually going through it.

There is a nurse assigned to us once labor starts, who stays until the baby is born. She didn't really do much to 'coach' me though. Other than to say that it was going to get much worse... (It didn't... thankfully... but thanks for scaring me!) The OB was there to do cervical checks and when it was time to push.

This is probably a good question to ask if you do a hospital tour. Hospital tours don't happen at our hospital either. Funny how different they all seem to be!

I agree with kitchencolors though... why not sign up and if you can get to it, great! If not, nothing ventured, nothing earned...

kshampeny · February 2014

We're taking our classes right now through our hospital. We've done two and have two more to go. I think they're great. A lot of stuff I already knew, but they've done stuff that I wouldn't have expected. They had a PT come in to show us stretches and strengthening exercises to prep for child birth and what their policy is for immediately after delivery. Which I was pleasantly surprised to find out is immediate skin to skin contact (unless there are complications) and that they want this to last for 1-2 hrs. before they mess with baby too much. We also did a tour of L&D and postpartum recovery rooms, told us the things the hospital provides (nice for not over packing), and are going to go over all methods of pain coping including things like Lamaze, hypnobirthing, and all the different meds you can have and how they work and what their side effects are. All in all, I feel worth the money.

I also agree with @raebee18 that unless your SO is super involved in informing himself and learning about child birth, it's really great for the guys. I think it is kind of a real eye opener for them, and gets them in the mind set of what they're expected to do and need to do if they're going to be your main support throughout your labor.

britab · February 2014

We're going and I'm excited for DH to hear the info. Ours is a full Saturday about birth and then three evening session on car seats, breast feeding and infant care. I'm looking most forward to the breast feeding and infant care classes. I hope DH pays attention to the birth stuff! I don't think he's reading about it.

kweetkiki · February 2014

I am just going to watch videos and not attend any class...maybe a CPR one later ..

JAM85 · February 2014

I am doing the classes- 5 classes one each week starting at 31 weeks but my goal is as natural and unmediated a birth as possible so I am trying to arm myself with as much info as possible. I also have a doula who will be there the entire labor for me- so others are right that it entirely depends on your goals. If you want to try for a Natural birth the more info the better as a regular ob and nurses will definitely
Not be there the entire time to hold your hand and will likely be pushing meds and interventions and if you have no idea of those before hand then it would be very overwhelming and hard to stick to a birth plan I think. While women are designed to so it naturally they weren't designed to be in the modern hospital doing it so the more education the better I say!

NorthernGal248 · February 2014

DH and I are planning on watching Laugh and Learn Childbirth together. If we have questions after that we will be talking to our midwife.

The birth center does offer classes, but I would have to drive 90 miles to attend the class!

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