What classes did you (will you) take?

SuperTinkerham · March 2014

Like birthing, baby care, CPR? I kind of want to take all 3, but feel like maybe I'm going overboard? We are first timers, and he's never even changed a diaper. I was there when sister had both kids, I've babysat quite a bit. TIA NFT

AKB090609 · March 2014

I did nothing last time and I'm not doing anything this time. To be fair I worked in child care, and knew far more that what I think is the norm. DH had never really held a baby before DD, so I asked if he wanted to take a class he said that he would rather just follow my lead, so we didn't. The hospital I delivered at had a baby care class you could take (for free) before discharge.

MonkeyJD · March 2014

We're doing a 5 week birthing class at our hospital. I also plan on taking a breastfeeding class & probably baby CPR.

Stacigirl413 · March 2014

With my son I was all about taking the classes just to get a good overview. I took the infant CPR, an infant class, and a breastfeeding class. Once the little one came out the hospital I delivered at really gave me good advice and directions so if I didnt' take the class I would have felt comfortable too

cuntasaurusrex · March 2014

I'll take anything available to me, really. Information soothes me.

tealowl · March 2014

I took a Lamaze class (Do they still do those? LOL I'm old) with DD.

I really want to take Bradley classes that start in April, but they are $200-$275 around here and I can't afford it. Boo.

ashcross · March 2014

We are FTP's as well. We are taking breastfeeding and a birth class that is being held at our hospital center through our insurance for free. I'm paying to also take an infant CPR class to get certified. My husband is a Surgeon and is already certified. I've been a nanny before and babysat so I know how to change diapers and feed a baby but as a FTP, I want to be as prepared as possible. We are debating taking Lamaze classes or Bradley classes. I'm not sure if I want to spend the money for Bradley classes.

hcsmiley417 · March 2014

I never took anything at all with my 3 prior pregnancies and I don't plan it with this one. To be honest from what I heard the people that did take classes didn't think it was worth the money but to each their own. The staff at my hospital are always helpful, give advice and do so much for patients. They also came in for 1 on 1 to help with any questions or show you how to do things. They also gave a resource list if needed for everything.

slensic · March 2014

I took breastfeeding and child birth last time. I didn't feel that either was incredibly helpful, breastfeeding more than child birth though. I ended up with a c-section anyway and will have another one this time. So I won't be taking anything, I have thought possibly about the sibling class for DD but I am not sure yet.

TricksyPixie · March 2014

Me and my DH are already signed up for both classes offered at my hospital (childbirth and breastfeeding), and I have an invaluable resource in an RN that visits me at home every two weeks and provides me with information on my pregnancy, and we are now going over baby care basics. I'm a FTM, and honestly... I've only ever HELD a baby. Like twice. So I need the help.

lindslalala · March 2014

We took a class on natural birth relaxation techniques. I found it worthwhile. DH is CPR certified so he just told me the basics. I just googled infant care issues as they arose.

BW1088 · March 2014

I didn't take any classes, but if I could do it over, I'd take a breastfeeding class. I would also recommend a general birthing class for those who aren't familiar with the birth process.

ETA: I would've taken a CPR class, had I not already been certified. That's an important one to have!!!

Fletch82 · March 2014

We're taking a class through the hospital. It includes birth, newborn care, tour of the hospital, and car set installation.

I'm thinking of signing up for breastfeeding class too.

alyssa719 · March 2014

I took a childbirth (6 week) class with DS, and in the end used nothing from it (sadly, because of circumstances). This time, I have signed us up for an Expectant/New Dad class, Hospital Tour/Orientation, and a Second Trimester class (which, ironically, isn't offered during my 2nd tri). I'm still looking for a childbirth class in the area.

The New Mom/Baby class my hospital offers is only held on Wednesday nights (DH works at night), but they offer the information on video while in the hospital, as well as have lactation consultants at the hospital which I plan to snuggle with.

nolongerdinks · March 2014

Our hospital offers a slew of classes. We took a ton when I was pregnant with DD1 in 2009. We took the basic childbirth class, a newborn care class, breast feeding, baby and dog (this was awesome!), and I think the best one was a medical options class. This walked us through all the various medical options that may arise during labor including inducement drugs, IV pain meds, epidurals, spinal blocks (for Caesarian), post birth meds (if needed), and even birth interventions/assistance like forceps, vacuum, etc. I felt SO well informed after that class that I really wasn't worried about my choices for pain management.

eortman · March 2014

I took the one day hospital class before DS was born. I would have taken more, but it was the only thing offered in our town so I didn't have much choice. It was a total waste of time. I skipped it with DD and will skip it again this time. With DD I did the home hypnobabies training. It was very good and relaxing and helped me deal with alot of labor and delivery anxiety. It was only mildly useful for actually coping with pain, though. I may listen to some of the CDs again before this LO is born, but after a pleasant birth experience with DD, I am way less worried and haven't freaked out about deliver (at least, yet).

alyssa719 · March 2014

nolongerdinks said:

Our hospital offers a slew of classes. We took a ton when I was pregnant with DD1 in 2009. We took the basic childbirth class, a newborn care class, breast feeding, baby and dog (this was awesome!), and I think the best one was a medical options class. This walked us through all the various medical options that may arise during labor including inducement drugs, IV pain meds, epidurals, spinal blocks (for Caesarian), post birth meds (if needed), and even birth interventions/assistance like forceps, vacuum, etc. I felt SO well informed after that class that I really wasn't worried about my choices for pain management.

I'm jealous of your classes!!

kimeetee · March 2014

STM here and I took a birthing class (Lamaze based) and a breastfeeding class. Overall, I don't think I would've missed much if i skipped both. I would like to take an infant CPR class this time around, though. I feel like that kind of information will serve you for a lifetime (I read an article about a woman giving her infant nephew CPR along with another man and they saved his life). She had taken the class 10 years prior.

MstoMrstoMom851214 · March 2014

I definitely plan on taking a CPR class, a breastfeeding class, and some sort of infant care class (mainly for the benefit of my husband).

However, I am debating the childbirth class because I'm afraid it will just make me more anxious. I have anxiety and am off my normal med (due to pregnancy), so I wonder if ignorance is bliss in this type of situation. I am planning on accepting pain meds/epi when I feel like the pain/anxiety is too much, but I'm obviously going to try to endure as long as possible. I recently found out more about tearing during delivery and now my anxiety is even higher.

Thoughts or opinions on the "ignorance is bliss" attitude towards birthing classes? I'm really not sure what is the right decision for me!

sxymamakat · March 2014

We're doing the one-day intensive birth class because our schedules don't work with the 6 week one at all. It's a tour, some Lamaze, general birthing and basic newborn care, although my SO is the oldest of 6 and has a LOT of experience with babies, so I'm not worried about him at all. I want to do the breastfeeding class as well, but I'm going to try and aim that for closer to my due date. I want to find a natural birthing class since I'm all gung ho ambitious to go sans drugs, but the only course I found was absurdly expensive at a weird little "salon" like place that says bottles are the root of all evil. Don't think I need their juju.

ETA: Forgot, I'm already CPR certified, including infants, so that's taken care of.

Eener31 · March 2014

I'm taking a day-long pregnancy class at my hospital, which is supposed to cover a lot of topics--breastfeeding, labor & delivery, child care, etc. I'm thinking about taking a separate CPR/first aid class, but idk.

knitsandgiggles · March 2014

How Not to Break Your Newborn class
Breastfeeding
All day child birthing class

They were all pretty helpful last time and we got some great coping techniques in the birthing class. This time we aren't taking any classes.

jensavicci · March 2014

Haha I was thinking this was going to deal with high school or college classes when reading the title.

But, I've taken pregnancy yoga, Lamaze classes, and full on birthing classes. I think I'm done now haha. DW and I work together towards the end on what needs to be done and we prep ourselves.

INmommy871278 · March 2014

We did a birthing and baby care class, it was a combined class that they did on a Saturday. We also did infant CPR and I did breast feeding. DH requested that I sign us up for infant CPR again this time, even though it hasn't even been 2 years since our last course.

unaveragejane · March 2014

DH and I went to a childbirth class. I really liked it and felt a lot more prepared going into delivery with what we learned there. I also took a BF class, and it was just okay. This time I plan to find a really good lactation consultant before the LO is born. I was very disappointed last time that I couldn't get DS to BF, and the hospital LCs were absolutely no help at all.

MstoMrstoMom851214 · March 2014

ashleysyn2 said:

I definitely plan on taking a CPR class, a breastfeeding class, and some sort of infant care class (mainly for the benefit of my husband).

However, I am debating the childbirth class because I'm afraid it will just make me more anxious. I have anxiety and am off my normal med (due to pregnancy), so I wonder if ignorance is bliss in this type of situation. I am planning on accepting pain meds/epi when I feel like the pain/anxiety is too much, but I'm obviously going to try to endure as long as possible. I recently found out more about tearing during delivery and now my anxiety is even higher.

Thoughts or opinions on the "ignorance is bliss" attitude towards birthing classes? I'm really not sure what is the right decision for me!
In the end I think this is a personal decision. I get very anxious and uncomfortable when I don't know exactly what is going on. So for me, ignorance is the opposite of bliss.

Thanks for the reply! I'm normally all about being informed, but just hearing about tearing completely freaked me out. I think I'll see how I feel as we get closer, and how much information my doctor is willing to provide beforehand.

JayBzo · March 2014

We're taking an all day hospital tour/childbirth class and a baby basics class. My husband was very interested since he feels like he has no idea about babies! I also considered breast feeding but never signed up, I might buy a book.

Ylvelill · March 2014

Hypnobabies, c-section, breastfeeding

drunkenhandstand · March 2014

Nada.

Jbosarge85 · March 2014

Just a breastfeeding class the hospital offered for $20, got a free pump...

snysilver · March 2014

I took a 5-week childbirth class at our hospital (one of the weeks included the tour), and I liked having a longer class, it didn't feel rushed.
Also took a breastfeeding class, but could have skipped that actually. Didn't feel like I left there with any new helpful information at all.
Didn't need to take CPR, I'm actually certified to instruct CPR, so I just brought a practice dummy home from work one day & taught infant CPR to DH. Plus, the childbirth class actually taught some basic infant CPR & infant care skills on the last day.

RoxanneA · March 2014

As far as birthing classes, I took one before my first and when the time actually came, I found that class completely useless. Once your actually in labor you find none of that stuff they "taught" you matters. You just get through the best you can.

[Deleted User] · March 2014

With DS we took an 8-hour childbirth class which was okay. The biggest thing for me was the tour of L&D. We did a breastfeeding class as well which was also okay but probably not necessary.

CPR was probably the most important thing (we had a friend who is an instructor do it in his home for us). I don't plan on taking any other classes again except maybe a CPR refresher.

Pinksundrops · March 2014

birthjunkie13 said:
I took HypnoBirthing classes. I didn't think it was enough/hated the instructor, so I ended up doing the Hypnobabies home study and LOVED it.

I'll be doing the Hypnobabies home study again.

& @ashleysyn2 what is this hypno babies home study you speak of? I want to do the hypnobirthing class so bad but sadly can't fathom dropping $300 to do so. I would LOVE to do a home study!

brooklynesque · March 2014

So far I've signed up for Bradley Method classes and an infant/pediatric CPR and first aid class. I may sign up for childcare and BF classes too but I think Bradley covers some of that stuff (it's like 10 weeks of classes).

@tealowl You might try contacting the Bradley instructor and telling her you'd be struggling to afford her classes. I think lots of instructors do a sliding scale or reserve some lower-cost spots in group classes.

ksuRN09 · March 2014

AKB090609 said:
I did nothing last time and I'm not doing anything this time. To be fair I worked in child care, and knew far more that what I think is the norm. DH had never really held a baby before DD, so I asked if he wanted to take a class he said that he would rather just follow my lead, so we didn't. The hospital I delivered at had a baby care class you could take (for free) before discharge.

Yup, this is me. DH said any questions he has, he would rather just ask me. Any questions I have could easily be answered by my doctor. I'm a CPR instructor so I plan on teaching DH and our parents a little closer to the due date.

SuperTinkerham · March 2014

I might be getting too ambitious. I'm about to sign up for a class on cloth diapering and another on baby wearing.

Pinksundrops · March 2014

SuperTinkerham said:
I might be getting too ambitious. I'm about to sign up for a class on cloth diapering and another on baby wearing.

I want to do a baby wearing group, too. I didn't know there was such a thing as cloth diapering classes!

flmomof4 · March 2014

With DD we took a breastfeeding class and both found it very useful. We also did a free class at the hospital during our stay where they showed you how to bathe baby, suction nose, basic care type things. DD was the stunt baby

This time we're doing an in person Hypnobabies class with our doula. I've heard the home study is good, but I'd rather have the in person instruction.

acohin · March 2014

My sister has an eight day old baby - I've been spending a lot of time with them in the last week. DH lived with his brother when their kids were born so he is much more comfortable than I am. I was really nervous just changing her onesie and told him I felt like I was going to break her. But watching my sister with her and helping out and gaining hands on confidence has been so awesome, and bonding with my little niece is priceless! As for classes we were planning on taking an express one day childbirth class and the infant CPR and safety.

MonkeyJD · March 2014

I forgot about cloth diapering & baby wearing. I already did a CD class & found it helpful because I like to be able to touch things. I don't think I'll actually do a babywearing "class" but I'm going to a meeting where I'll be able to try out different carriers.

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