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March 2016 Moms
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Baby Prep Classes

katy0990katy0990 member
edited December 2015 in March 2016 Moms
I did not see a thread on this, so I apologize if this has been discussed already. My husband and I attended a natural birthing series at the hospital/birthing center where I will deliver. Parts of it were very helpful, while other parts not so much. I honestly think the necessary material could have been covered in less than 4 sessions, but I am glad we did it. Now we are debating if we should take 2 of the other courses that are offered. One of the classes is a breastfeeding class. On one hand, I would like to do whatever I can to make breastfeeding successful and I know it may take extra work due to a breast reduction that I had in 2013. But, on the other hand, I am not sure how helpful a class would be without the baby and without having any prior experience breastfeeding. The birthing center where I will delvier has nurses that are certified lactation consultants on staff and I can always go up there after the birth and they will help me if we are having issues, so I am torn. The other class is an infant care class. The only reason I am considering it is because infant CPR is covered, though it is not a certification class. Since this is our first child, I want to make sure we do all we can to prepare, but I do not want to spend a lot of time and money on classes that are not useful. Can any of you ladies offer any insight?
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Re: Baby Prep Classes

  • emjeveemjeve member
    I did not take a breastfeeding class with my first and I regret it! I was not prepared for breastfeeding at all and after a few weeks I decided exclusively pumping was better for me. I'm taking a breastfeeding class this time because I really want to be successful at it this time around. So I can not attest to how helpful it will be, but for me, I figure it can only help!


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  • kyraaDkyraaD member
    I'm a FTM so very new to all of this! i signed up for a 6 week course that covers breastfeeding, basic baby care, & then pain management techniques for labour & birth.

    I've heard that the pain management stuff is really helpful for some women, & then others say it's completely useless. but when it comes to breastfeeding classes, everyone i know who's taken one says they are so happy that they did. if i were you, i would definitely sign up for it. it can't hurt, right?? that's how i look at it anyways.
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  • oceanchildoceanchild member
    I wish a BFing class had been available before I had my first – I feel like it would have made a huge difference. I think that basic infant care is something that you figure out on your own, and our nurses have gone over basic infant cpr before discharge every time (and we had to use it the day we got home with baby #2, so I was glad they did). I'm sure they can show you in the birthing center before you leave, if you opt for the BFing class. I will *always* recommend a BFing class if nursing is something a mama is interested in. I volunteer at a couple BFing groups here, and we have noticed the success rate for mamas and babies nursing has increased greatly since BFing classes have started being offered the past year!

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  • chimechime member
    Does anyone know of any online tutorials for BF or infant care subjects? To take classes I would have to drive 1.5 to 2 hours each way, plus the duration of the class. Being on bed rest that's a little much for me to be comfortable with.

    Growing up in a home-run daycare and then going into residential care I have done CPR every couple of years since I was about 13. I'll still brush up on infant CPR but I'm not concerned about sitting for that course. BF though I know nearly nothing about. Infant care I certainly wouldn't mind an in depth refresher.
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  • katy0990katy0990 member
    Thanks ladies! I will definately be signing up for the breastfeeding class. I am still on the fence about the infant care one, though.
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  • ClaireBear90ClaireBear90 member
    I'd imagine there are other avenues for getting infant CPR training. With our firstborn, we had an early home care (infant care) class. It was mandatory because we were having an out of hospital birth and would be sent home only 4-6 hrs after delivery, so it primarily covered danger signs for both mom and baby and what is normal and what is not in the first 24 hours. I'm assuming most hospitals keep moms and their babies for 24 hours, so it might not be as necessary if you can just press a button and ask a nurse a question. :) I wouldn't have bothered with the class if I had been giving birth in a hospital.
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  • yodapupyodapup member
    katy0990 said:

    Thanks ladies! I will definately be signing up for the breastfeeding class. I am still on the fence about the infant care one, though.

    Good choice! I loved the breastfeeding class I took before having DD and I learned so much even though I read a book prior to the class. Take DH with you (if you weren't sure). You'll need a support person and it's so helpful when he knows just as much as you do. You'll get some great tips like buy a bunch of nursing tanks and maybe only 1 or 2 bras. I lived in those tanks for the first year!
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