Labor classes

alyssamarshall · June 2015

My friend told me it's not really necessary to take classes to prepare for giving birth so I was just curious if any other mommas think it's a must do or not

emmiemae08 · June 2015

FTM so no real experience, but I had to take an only class because my husband and I work retail. We were unable to get 2 months worth of Saturdays off. I found an excellent class at the baby center website. I'm also reading a ton of books on newborn care which is the one topic I feel like they didn't cover. My midwives said this is about the same as taking the hospital class. The only thing they think I'm missing out on is talking with other mom's to be.

lifesabeach85 · June 2015

Are you planning on going med-free? Might be more important to take a class if so.

april42007 · June 2015

We are taking Bradley classes. There's a couple in the class that didn't take any kind of class with their first child because they were told they really didn't need to by their doctor. They completely regretted not taking at least a basic class.

Thj417 · June 2015

If you're a self learner you might be able to get away with no class - but that means reading and practicing on your own. In the child birth class I went to, the first thing she told us was, "you have to understand your body and that it already knows what it needs to do." Don't limit yourself to one method, know many techniques for managing and working through pain. It's better to have a tool box with every possible tool you could ever need than a tool box with only a hammer when you needed a wrench.

deviduke412 · June 2015

I personally didn't find ours very beneficial for me bc I have been reading a lot and doing a lot of research so I didn't learn anything new, but it was very beneficial for my DH. I'm glad we went for his benefit.

usernameneededallaretaken · June 2015

We haven't attended a class and don't really intend to. I have cared for newborns and been involved with L&D in the past, but husband has had zero experience with any baby outside of a puppy. Thankfully, he has been able to watch and learn with our 3 week old niece this month while my sister's husband is deployed.

I am sure we will miss out on some techniques that may help in delivery, but are less stressed with not worrying about finding time for a class (and haven't given it any more thought).

fionalouise007 · June 2015

I'm really chilled out and would have been more than happy to read, show up on the day and go with the flow.. However, I thought I'd go to the classes (that our hospital offers for free) with my husband because I might learn something. Sure enough I feel SO much more confident about the whole thing now. It confirmed a lot of decisions/standard hospital procedures for me, I know what to expect from the birth, we met three midwives from the ward, had a tour and discussed birthing preferences, and learnt about the basics of breast feeding and after care. A huge positive which I wasn't expecting was that my husband has learnt so much too. He feels like he is across what's going to happen and is more involved and therefor more comfortable looking after me when I go into active labour all the way to helping weigh our daughter when she is born.
I think I got more out of our particular classes because they are tailored to and run by our chosen hospital. If was a general independently run Birth class I would be less likely to go..

SquidJelly528 · June 2015

We are registered to take a birthing class. Mainly for my husband. I don't need him passing out like my dad did when my mom was in labor!

puccagirl77 · June 2015

I think the class was most useful in learning about the details about our particular hospital and how they handle things. Unless there is a specific "method" you are interested in, the nurses can coach you through breathing.

msiedling · June 2015

I wasn't into going at first but am so thankful I did! So much important information was given and we received a tour of labor and delivery even in the operating room. Gave me peace of mind knowing where everything was so when it does happen I am comfortable and walking into a place I already know

Brodie and Chevelle · June 2015

If anything, the class gets you 100% familiar with hospital policies and where everything is located. I read quite a few books on labor and delivery prior to the class, so I didn't learn a lot in that respect. I did get to learn a lot about what the hospitals policies were from visitor policies to baby care policies and more. I found that part especially helpful!

sorensensm24 · June 2015

I am a FTM and we took the 6 hour childbirth class our hospital offered. It was very very high level/basic. I didn't feel like I learned very much since I have been doing so much reading on my own, but it makes me feel better knowing that I am doing everything I can to prepare.

We also took a seperate 3 hour "baby care" class that we found MUCH more beneficial. The nurses that taught it gave so many tips/tricks that we found very useful... like wash baby's hair last while the rest of her body is in a towel because she will stay warmer that way. Etc.

SashaDenn25 · June 2015

FTM, im winging it!! Lol I dont feel like taking a class and im assuming my body will naturally want to push and what not. Im hoping to do an epi or I would have considered a class on some hypno teachniques for natural birth.

tarheelgirl8 · June 2015

We're doing a class at the hospital where I will give birth, and I've found it very helpful. Some of the stuff I already knew, and some of it I probably won't use but it's nice to have options. If you and your partner are very motivated to do a lot of reading and online research on your own, then you may be able to skip it. Personally I liked having someone walk DH and I through everything. It was also really helpful to hear other people's questions. There were several great questions that I would have never thought to ask or research on my own.

Like others have said, the fact that it was at the hospital where I will deliver was a huge help. She was able to talk about the hospital's policies, what things you might want to bring with you, and what options that have at the hospital (birthing bar, ball, etc). Some of those types of things, I feel like you might need to know that they are options in order to ask for them during labor. I don't know if the nurses will just offer to bring you a birthing ball, for example.

mpmom1518 · June 2015

FTM here, and we've decided not to do the birthing classes. We are doing the free hospital tour, and I'm looking forward to that so we can learn our way around & learn all the hospital's policies. My doc originally suggested we do the birthing class, but when I told her the prices & times offered (convenient for most families I'm sure, but my husband is working insane hours all summer and wouldn't have been able to make it to them) she agreed that it's really not necessary and that there are a lot of self-education options out there which will still give us the peace of mind of knowing everything which could go down.

There are a few previous posts (if you search "class alternatives" you should find a few from various boards) and people were pretty helpful listing out books, documentaries, online classes etc. which they found helpful in getting prepared.

The only in-person classes I'm still considering are the breastfeeding / newborn care classes which can be cheaper & less a time commitment when taken on their own. I'd skip the newborn one even, except my husband & I are both very much first timers - no younger sibs or experience with little ones at all. Oh and we plan on taking an infant CPR class - because safety.

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