Birthing Classes?

LovesBooks · August 2014

What type of birthing classes have you done or are you doing? Why? Was it helpful or unhelpful?

sarahlynne30 · August 2014

I just signed up for a five week one it covers everything from what I was told.. also signed up for two breast feeding ones

PacoCat33 · August 2014

I'm doing a dogs and storks class, a breast feeding class, preparing for birth, and an infant care class. I want to be armed with as much information as possible.

soulcupcake · August 2014

I went to one class with my first, and didn't return. I thought it was pointless. I opted to go the Hypnobabies route during the latter part of my second pregnancy as a "just in case labor becomes intense" measure, because I had a pretty easy "labor" sans meds my first. I was also really intrigued with the philosophy and heard many great things about it when I was pregnant with my first.

The program and philosophy were invaluable, and while I was already natural-birth minded and had read plenty on natural birth (a lot of Ina May material), this philosophy added another element, and I greatly enjoyed the scripts (CDs) and the hypnoanesthesia works. I've known many mamas that have had pain-free or very easy and manageable labors due to their Hypnobabies lessons and training. I never had to use the techniques. There wasn't any real time to once active labor got going, and my contractions were manageable without needing to use the techniques.

I still have some of the scripts, but didn't bother going through them with #3 and 4, but I am sort of considering it this time just because I really enjoyed the scripts. I'd totally do it if I had normal labors/births and/or truly needed to use it to relieve tension and discomfort.

Jessie333 · August 2014

We went to a class at our local hospital. It covered the various stages of labor, how to manage the pain, different medications, natural childbirth, and some newborn care. A lot of the content I was familiar with, but DH wasn't. I had a hard time getting him to agree to go, but once he went he was really happy he went and he learned a lot.

marriedinaugust · August 2014

We took Bradley classes last time. Intense 12wk course for 2hrs/wk. Well worth the money and time for us. It is geared toward natural husband-coached childbirth. Giving you many tools for pain management/prevention and how to avoid interventions. The type of class you take really depends on the type of childbirth you envision. That said, it is totally possible to have a med free birth without a class and also a possibility to prepare for no interventions and run into extreme circumstances. My husband and I felt like our Bradley classes prepared us very well.

We did not take any breastfeeding or newborn care classes.

allfalldown14 · August 2014

I'm taking my girls to a sibling class that my hospital offers -- it has a hospital tour for them along with talking about babies on a kid's level and then a little craft for them to do. I will also be taking a new parent class with my SO(this is his first child) and then a breastfeeding class for myself.

xc1148 · August 2014

We are doing a lot of classes....we like to be prepared lol. I highly recommend Bradley...even if you don't plan to go natural, there are some useful tips and it's great for dads. I also recommend reading some type of science-y book...just to get a good background on everything. I loved the Mayo Clinic book.

We also signed up for breastfeeding, c-section, CPR and new parent classes at our hospital.

I have a friend that was so confused her entire pregnancy and for a week of early labor...it's good to read online and talk to friends, but knowing what you're in for is going to be very valuable later on.

Eora3 · August 2014

With my first baby, I took the hospital class and a baby care class. Both had some great info but my husband really benefited most as he had no clue what to expect. Lol

I also did the HypnoBabies home study course. It was hugely helpful during my induction. My epi did not work and I was having intense pitocin contractions. I won't say I was anywhere near "pain-free" but I was much more focused and less panicked than I would have been without the coping methods.

I recommend seeing what is available in your area and what seems to fit with your personality and needs.

Beansjjo · August 2014

Myself I am taking a Healthy Baby program runs every week, she comes to my home and its more of a one on one. Offered from the hospital. Runs right up to birth, and 6 yrs afterwards whenever you need them.

LovesBooks · August 2014

@Eora3 the HypnoBabies home study course sounds interesting!

Eora3 · August 2014

LovesBooks said:
@Eora3 the HypnoBabies home study course sounds interesting!

PM'd you!

bowlwoman · August 2014

allfalldown14 said:

I'm taking my girls to a sibling class that my hospital offers -- it has a hospital tour for them along with talking about babies on a kid's level and then a little craft for them to do. I will also be taking a new parent class with my SO(this is his first child) and then a breastfeeding class for myself.

I will do the sibling class too if I can remember to call them tomorrow morning for the class on Monday night.

I'm pretty comfortable with the breastfeeding not to want a refresher, and DH still remembers the types of food that the baby poop is correlated to, so we're good.

tracey525 · August 2014

We're also starting a Bradley Method class next month and signed up for the daylong course our hospital/OBGYN practice recommends, which covers labor/delivery and a tour of the facilities. We probably will sign up for an infant CPR class, too. I may need some additional info on breastfeeding, depending on how much it is covered in the ones we're already signed up for.

erynpdx · August 2014

I'm looking at just the hospital classes both for the time commitment and $$$, but I'd love to know if there are books or home materials for Bradley or HypnoBabies that you recommend. I've done some Amazon searching, but it's fairly unclear what's legit.
TIA!

bombe4 · August 2014

I did Bradley last time, as well as a few courses the hospital offered on breastfeeding and baby care. My Bradley instructor is awesome and offers refresher courses for all her students so I will be going to some as my due date gets closer.

Eora3 · August 2014

erynpdx said:
I'm looking at just the hospital classes both for the time commitment and $$$, but I'd love to know if there are books or home materials for Bradley or HypnoBabies that you recommend. I've done some Amazon searching, but it's fairly unclear what's legit.
TIA!

You can order the Hypnobabies right off their website. Also, ask around. It is a fairly popular option in the "crunchy" and "natural drug-free birth" community. You may be able to find used or even just borrow it from someone. I know my doula had materials that she would lend out.

turkeyleg5 · August 2014

We're taking the Bradley Method courses as well. We've been to a few so far and really like it. As PP have said, it prepares you for a natural childbirth (but I've heard it can be really helpful even if you don't chose to go in that direction). The focus seems to be on preparing your body and mind with nutrition, exercise, and relaxation.

The thing that I like most is that focus on the role of the partner (it is referred to as the Husband-Coached Childbirth Method, but any partner it fine). DH is learning how to support me with my nutrition and exercises, how to help me relax in labor (using various types of massage and other techniques), and how to support me throughout pregnancy and in labor. We had talked about this some, but it's much easier when it comes from a professional. He has become much more involved and excited about the birth since we've been going to the classes. I think it has helped him to realize the important role that he has during labor, and that it's about a lot more than just letting me yell at him. Plus, for homework (yes, there is daily homework), I get at least one 10-minute massage every day. And the techniques we are learning (and his commitment to making it work) are making the massages better than any he had given me before the class.

ETA: words are hard

emp156 · August 2014

i JUST started thinking about this. picked up a brochure of classes offered at my hospital when i was there yesterday for my 20wk AS. there are a TON. will definitely do an infant car/CPR course, probably a breastfeeding class. will talk to OB about birth class + hospital tour.

nolanova85 · August 2014

We start Bradley next month as well. My understanding is that the class will also cover some breastfeeding basics, but if it doesn't I make take a class on that offered through the hospital. We'll probably also take a newborn care & infant CPR class at the hospital.

kaytastic25 · August 2014

Taking a lamaze class and reading the bradley method book. (Bradley class was too expensive for me)
Also enrolled for breastfeeding and newborn care classes.

ColeyCannoli · August 2014

I went to the day-long Birth Basics class that my hospital provided but it was so bad we walked out before it was over. I don't know if it was the class or just the presenter that ruined it. She would just read out of this book (that we all got) and then she did a relaxation technique that left everyone really stressed out (cause she couldn't remember how to do it without turning on and off her desk light to read her page again). At least it was free so I can't complain too much.

I really want to try drug-free so I'm doing a Bradley class. I really hope it's better. It's certainly much longer so if you want to try something like it, you should start looking them up now.

Edit: Another weird thing about the Birth Basics class was how far along everyone was. Everyone was in their last 2-3 weeks at best and one woman was the mother of a woman who had just given birth that morning. I never got around to asking why the heck she was there...

JCM285 · August 2014

Im taking the basics birthing class with DH at our hospital. I just finished the preregistration for that so we still have to register for the actual dates of the classes. I am also signing up for all the free parenting classes at BRU. So far, I've been to BF basics and the consultant who hosted it was amazing! I signed up for one in Sept and there are a bunch more so I will probably wind up going to all of them! I love any information people have to offer.

Annaess26 · August 2014

I will be going to the basic birthing classes with SO.
& I hope to be taking prenatal yoga. I think that will be good for me as a FTM.

colliebabe · August 2014

I took a typical 8 hour on a Saturday birthing class last time. Honestly it was informative but not really that important IMO. What I really benefited from was a Newborn Essentials class and a Breastfeeding class. Those were very helpful!

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