Classes- so many choices!

EmilyRugger · August 2015

Hi Board!

I'm using a midwives group and hoping to have a hospital birth that's as intervention and med-free as possible. What kind of pregnancy/birth/nursing classes are people taking? I'm a bit overwhelmed by the options.

Thanks!

Momona1 · August 2015

I am also planning on giving birth at a Midwife-led unit in the local hospital. I am going to start pregnancy yoga in September and attend some babywearing classes to learn about different wraps and slings. Other than those, I have looked into hypnobirthing, but did not sign up yet.

willashbaby · August 2015

I have an OB but I'm taking Bradley classes with DH.

katiedid0907 · August 2015

I loved the childbirth class that my hospital offered. It was several sessions but it reviewed the stages of Labor and positions to labor in as well as all of the meds that could be offered or given. I planned on going med free and ended up with a c section so I was thankful to learn about all of the medications and types of labor.

enkb · August 2015

I'm having the opposite problem, of not really any choices at all

We are planning an out of hospital birth and the only classes within an hour drive are hospital given. I don't even know if you can take a hospital class if you are not delivering at that hospital. I've looked into hypnobabies, Bradley, Lamaze or other independent classes and haven't found a single 1 that wasn't at least 1.5 hours away, and most meet once a week for 8-12 weeks, just not feasible for us! Has anyone taken any on-line classes that worked well?

shinyspade · August 2015

I live in Scotland and we deliver with a midwife. I haven't looked into classes yet, but I'm planning to ask about them at my next appointment on Tuesday. Not sure what they have on offer but I'm hoping for some BASICS since I'm a FTM and have pretty much ZERO baby experience. I think I have held a grand total of 3 babies in my life time. For about 2 minutes each. Haha.

mvhyde · August 2015

@enkb With our previous hospital you could take a class even if you weren't delivering there. You just had to pay for them.

There are a lot of books available on the Bradley method and Hypnobirthing (Mongan Method) you could request at your library and you can order a Hypnobabies course online and they will deliver the material (it's ~$350 though but comes with dvds, professional hypnosis scripts and books). Depending on what you want there are resources available.

I haven't taken an online classes. I tried reading up on Bradley method and taking the traditional hospital class for my first pregnancy. I found that my husband was not the best coach at delivery, I think if we had taken Bradley method classes he may have had more practice. There is a Hypnobirthing class at the nearby hospital, but I am going to look in to Hypnobabies and trying to find a doula that can help coach me for this delivery.

ETA everyone pays for hospital classes, whether they delivered at the hospital or not.

EmilyRugger · August 2015

Thank you so much to everyone for their thoughtful responses! So much to consider...

Rach8672 · August 2015

I'm sorry this probably won't add to your question but I too a FTM. I'm not really planning on taking classes and plan to read up on a few things prior. Anyone else ? This might be a risky decision

amyelise25 · August 2015

I am doing classes galore. We are doing a baby prep class in a couple weeks with our neighbors. It goes over basics of newborn care (e.g., bathing, diapering). We are mostly taking it for the dads. Then a child car saftey class in Nov.

The hospital does a Spa Mama class in addition to their birthing class which focuses on meditation, massage and additional positions for labor and delivery.

Cricket99 · August 2015

We are doing a baby basics class that goes over labor and delivery and all the things you need to know for a new baby.

DH is taking a Daddy class that only allows the men in

apparently it's taught by dads for dads so I'm excited for him to take it and get some insight.

I am also going to take a breastfeeding class with the lactation specialist at our hospital.

All of these are offered for free at our hospital. We got lucky to have a place with so many resources.

EmilyRugger · August 2015

@cricket99 that sounds so great!

dc072175 · August 2015

@Rach8672 - this is hubs and my plan as well. We've both done infant CPR, I have a few friends that are firefighters and will tell us what's up with the car seat. I have a general birthing plan that I write down and have with me - all the details came from a great book. Why pay the ridiculous money for classes if you're comfortable?

MrsB915 · August 2015

DH and I took Bradley classes during my first pregnancy. I loved all of the techniques we learned for natural labor and childbirth. We will be spending a good amount of time this pregnancy refreshing what we learned during the class. DH did a good job of coa coaching me through labor but since I delivered at 32 weeks we were both scared and could have done better. I also wasn't able to use any of the labor positions we learned so I'm hoping for a more relaxed experience this time around.

Overall I highly recommend the Bradley Method. We not only learned natural child birth but we're also educated on all interventions that we may encounter.

khf221979 · August 2015

We have signed up for the infant CPR class which was recommended by my insurance company. We are also taking a newborn class together which goes over labor and delivery at the hospital and newborn care. They also include a hospital tour. I am also taking a breastfeeding class to get as much info as I can to help with breastfeeding. The only class we are paying for is the CPR class and it's only $25 per couple.

CaraBoonie · August 2015

@Rach8672 My doctor said the classes are basically unnecessary nowadays with all the info online (especially since I plan to have an epidural the second I step foot in the hospital, so I don't need any pain-relief techniques, but those can also just be found online). The only one I'm considering is infant CPR...but I also could YouTube how to do that, frankly, lol.

My mom pointed out that the classes are a way to meet other parents in the area though.

cawalp · August 2015

I will be taking a bradley method class at a doula practice in my area. The classes at the hospital are just as expensive and will probably focus on the interventions more than the bradley class will. I may take a newborn class/taking baby home class but not sure yet.

MamaHolland · August 2015

My Bradley method classes start on Sept 1st with a doula. It's a group class at her home. $350. I'm so excited.

jodieHxx · August 2015

I'm a FTM and I'm not going to be taking any classes as well. I will be reading up on it, and watching online videos. I'll just go with the flow and see what happens, and I'll have my DH, mum and mother in law with me on the big day ;-) xx

laineylove78 · August 2015

Rach8672 said:
I'm sorry this probably won't add to your question but I too a FTM. I'm not really planning on taking classes and plan to read up on a few things prior. Anyone else ? This might be a risky decision

I didn't take any classes. I'm not sure if it would have helped or not DD was too big to fit under my pelvic bone and I had an emergency csection. Im going to try for a VBAC but still prob won't take classes and I'm not too optimistic about being able to have a VBAC so most likely I'm going to have a repeat csection.

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