Birthing Classes

gonetothesea · October 2016

Sorry if this has been brought up in the past.. I did a quick search and didn't see anything.

Are any of you taking birthing classes? Or have you taken any in the past, if you are a second time mom?

I asked my Facebook friends last night, and was so surprised to see that a majority of them took zero classes and winged it. I am an over planner, so I feel like I want to get as much information as possible before giving birth. I know once you are in the throes of labor, everything you learned might go out the window, but I just want to be informed.

Did any of you take Lamaze or the Bradley Method? Did you get anything out of them? Would you recommend them?

I live in a smaller city, so I would have to travel to the next city over if I wanted to do any of these classes. Just wanted to see if they are worth it!

Image result for birth gif

ceclarlinetlo · October 2016

I'm taking a one day class offered by my hospital. I thought about doing Bradley but my DH wouldn't be able to go often due to his ever changing work schedule which defeats the purpose. But now I'm glad I didn't because a friend let me borrow the book he wrote and it's probably my least favorite book I've read. It has a lot of gems like this

makes him sound like a bit of an arrogant ass.

BAJDesigns · October 2016

I'm also just taking a one day hospital class for crazy DH schedule reasons. Honestly I'm more worried about taking a breastfeeding class and reading breastfeeding books. I'm also an over planner but in my mind, labor and delivery is just one or two days, breastfeeding is for months! I'm wondering if I will have some delivery anxiety kick in soon, but so far, none!

gonetothesea · October 2016

ceclarlinetlo said:

I'm taking a one day class offered by my hospital. I thought about doing Bradley but my DH wouldn't be able to go often due to his ever changing work schedule which defeats the purpose. But now I'm glad I didn't because a friend let me borrow the book he wrote and it's probably my least favorite book I've read. It has a lot of gems like this makes him sound like a bit of an arrogant ass.

WOW! Yes it does.

Carly79 · October 2016

I took Bradley classes with my first and loved them. If your goal is an unmedicated delivery the Bradley method is a good route to go. I loved how involved my husband was in the classes and then also during labor. I will also say, we didn't focus much on the actual book during class. There were other materials and teachings and I think I read about one chapter in the book. Some of the things are rather opinionated and I don't like some of the things in the book but we never felt that way during class. This time around we are taking a refresher birthing course through a local company that offers a 5 class series loosely based on the Bradley method. Regardless of what classes you take, I definitely and strongly suggest taking a class of some sort just to get a feel for the different stages of labor.

Our hospital offers something like 20 different classes on birthing and babies. We didn't take any of the birth classes at the hospital but took 5-6 of the baby classes. These were on things like breastfeeding, infant care (bathing, swaddling), happiest baby on the block, and some other things that escape me. This time we are taking the hospital offered class on Preparing for the unexpected during delivery. It covers C-sections, inductions, and other interventions during birth. I am at a higher risk of being induced this time which puts me at a much higher risk of a C-section. I had a basic understanding of this last time but really want to see it from the hospital perspective.

I'm a huge proponent of learning as much as possible to be prepared. But more importantly, I think my husband got a lot out of all the classes because he knew nothing. I had witnessed births before as well as been around and watched infants but he had held an infant maybe once in his life and have no idea what to expect.

gonetothesea · October 2016

BAJDesigns said:

I'm also just taking a one day hospital class for crazy DH schedule reasons. Honestly I'm more worried about taking a breastfeeding class and reading breastfeeding books. I'm also an over planner but in my mind, labor and delivery is just one or two days, breastfeeding is for months! I'm wondering if I will have some delivery anxiety kick in soon, but so far, none!

Yes, I am nervous about that as well. I also signed up for a breastfeeding class. A friend of mine mentioned joining my local La Leche League and go to their meetings while I am pregnant to learn from breastfeeding moms, but I am a nervous wreck when I have to go to those types of things alone.

christac1010 · October 2016

We signed up for a 5 week course through the hospital (where I'll deliver and where my doctor's office building is located). It's on Tuesdays from 630-9pm for 5 weeks. Each class covers a different topic - labor, delivery, postpartum, newborn care, and breastfeeding. I have absolutely no experience with newborns (other than visiting my best friend every few days when she had her baby), so I'm really looking forward to attending a class. We preferred this class, because it covers a little bit of everything and it is instructed by the doctors/nurses at the hospital.

gonetothesea · October 2016

Carly79 said:

I took Bradley classes with my first and loved them. If your goal is an unmedicated delivery the Bradley method is a good route to go. I loved how involved my husband was in the classes and then also during labor. I will also say, we didn't focus much on the actual book during class. There were other materials and teachings and I think I read about one chapter in the book. Some of the things are rather opinionated and I don't like some of the things in the book but we never felt that way during class. This time around we are taking a refresher birthing course through a local company that offers a 5 class series loosely based on the Bradley method. Regardless of what classes you take, I definitely and strongly suggest taking a class of some sort just to get a feel for the different stages of labor.
Our hospital offers something like 20 different classes on birthing and babies. We didn't take any of the birth classes at the hospital but took 5-6 of the baby classes. These were on things like breastfeeding, infant care (bathing, swaddling), happiest baby on the block, and some other things that escape me. This time we are taking the hospital offered class on Preparing for the unexpected during delivery. It covers C-sections, inductions, and other interventions during birth. I am at a higher risk of being induced this time which puts me at a much higher risk of a C-section. I had a basic understanding of this last time but really want to see it from the hospital perspective.
I'm a huge proponent of learning as much as possible to be prepared. But more importantly, I think my husband got a lot out of all the classes because he knew nothing. I had witnessed births before as well as been around and watched infants but he had held an infant maybe once in his life and have no idea what to expect.

That sounds perfect. I want to have an unmedicated delivery at a hospital. A lot of the women that I have seen that used the Bradley Method seem to have had home or birth center births, which I admire, but I would feel more comfortable being in an hospital in case something goes wrong.

Did you think to remember to use the Bradley Method while you were in labor? Were you successful in having a completely unmedicated birth? Did your husband help you use the method while you were in labor? (That's what I worry about with my husband... I feel like he's going to be a nervous wreck the whole time and not be helpful. Haha.)

Did you like the Happiest Baby on the Block class? I signed up for that as well.

Parley · October 2016

we did two one day classes, one for labor&delivery class and a newborn class with #1. I would really recommend- I'm also an over planner, and just being familiarized with all of the different things was so helpful to me, so when the time came I felt like I knew all the different options and possibilities. I had an epidural, which I was not against, but wast originally planning for, so all the parts of the class that dealt with pain management ended up being supernaluous, But it was really nice having an understanding of what the epidural process was going to be once I decided I wanted one. The Newborn class was also nice, and a couple times I referred to our notes to check things after we had baby home.

canavara · October 2016

I just took a breastfeeding class last night and it was invaluable! I feel a lot more confident about doing it now than I did before, especially after getting detailed info about good and bad latches and how to encourage good latching.

We're doing Newborn Basics later this month and then a 6-week Lamaze class. My doula said the newborn basics and BFing are musts but that she doesn't recommend the birthing classes (for someone that has a doula) since she teaches all the same stuff and is actually there as a support person during labor. Oh well, already paid for.

Parley · October 2016

to tie in to @canavara- I did not do a bfing class and I think it would have been a good idea. I had a great eater and latcher from the get go last time, BUT i spent a lot of time worrying and researching simple stuff like amounts and storage procedures etc after baby was home, and I think I would have felt more relaxed If I'd done one of those classes

moosette113 · October 2016

H and I will be taking a weekend birthing class as well as a weekend newborn care class. I don't think they'll be teaching a specific method, but rather a mix of positions and coping strategies.

@ceclarlinetlo there's a whoooooole lot of nope in that.

ceclarlinetlo · October 2016

@moosette113 - the weirdest part is that a man wrote that! I have never heard even the worst self-righteous sanctimommy say anything like that before.

Carly79 · October 2016

Yes, I definitely used what I learned. One of the things I learned was that transition typically lasts 30 minutes at the most and is the time that most women who are trying to avoid an epidural ask for pain medicine. It's the most intense part and I remembered that. My husband very much used what he learned. He actually suggested different positions for laboring, was very calm and patient (not like him in those situations), and right there. I'm not saying he wouldn't have been but I think he was pretty confident about things. I labored in a tub, I was on a birthing ball for a while, standing up, leaning on DH, hands and knees, and even laying on my back with my eyes closed focusing on my breathing. It also helped me in writing my birth plan. I did achieve my goal of an unmedicated birth. I labored for about 12 hours from when contractions started and then pushed for 3.5 hours (DS was crooked).

Carly79 · October 2016

@canavara I'm someone who wants to know a lot and not rely on one single person. I think taking the other classes can only be beneficial and top off what you learn from your doula.

ashanne88 · October 2016

We took a few classes through the hospital's community outreach program. We took a labor and delivery class (it was spread out over a few weeks), breastfeeding class, an infant and newborn care class, and did a hospital tour. There were a few other classes that we just didn't have time for or interest in. I am really glad we took the ones we did.

On our hospital tour, we were given the admittance paperwork to fill out and turn in early so that all our info was already in the system. I know this isn't necessarily birth class-related but something that was extremely helpful to have done and not worry about while in labor and helped me feel more prepared.

hayhay2501 · October 2016

We're doing a six week long intro to parenting class (made of 3 hour classes) that covers loads on labor and has a whole class for breastfeeding. There's even a dads afternoon included. It's a super popular thing to do here, mostly as people say it's a great way to make friends. I'm hoping to be likeable and learn something about laboring...

Briala · October 2016

I didn't take any birthing classes with my first and I don't plan on it this time either. My birth plan was what needs to happen will happen. I read up on the stages of labor so I knew what to expect. I went in with an open mind and trusted my body, nurses, and obgyn to know their work. I'm glad I went in with that mentality because it saved me a lot of birth regret and allowed me to accept everything with an open mind and not panic that things went differently than I expected then to.

I didn't do breastfeeding classes either but in retrospect I wish I had. It would have given me more tools to use and I likely would have reached my breastfeeding goals that way. I made it to 3 months but I was hoping for 6. I was planning on taking breastfeeding classes this time around but Now that I'm stuck on bedrest it will have to wait. I have already requested a LC though.

susykat77 · October 2016

I am a FTM but I will be taking HypnoBabies classes - 6 weeks for 3 hrs a week. My doula is the one teaching the classes so I am really hopeful that this combination will help me have a un-medicated birth.

hjmorgan-2 · October 2016

The birthing center I am going to offers free classes. It's a three-day series day 1: labor day 2: active labor/birth day 3: post-natal/infant care

They'll be starting at the very end of this month, thankfully they are Friday evenings at 7PM so my husband will be able to attend them all.

My mother, who has had 7 children, even told me take any classes I can. Because she was so unprepared with her first and swears by all the breathing techniques and everything the nurses taught her to cope with the pain. (she was all natural with the first 6 births)

canavara · October 2016

Carly79 said:

@canavara I'm someone who wants to know a lot and not rely on one single person. I think taking the other classes can only be beneficial and top off what you learn from your doula.

Yup, I'm the same way haha. I figure too much information can't be harmful!

nolemama24 · October 2016

I am a FTM and over planner, as well! I signed up for a three parter Childbirth class (one day a week for three consecutive weeks), one breastfeeding class, and a hospital tour of the L&D where I will be delivering (you get to pre-register for your stay during this time, as well). I am actually planning on signing us up for a Newborn Care class as well, and maybe even the one that my OB office offers, even though I think that is starting to become overkill, haha! Also---- to be honest, so far, I have been good with myself in thinking "what will happen, happen, so go with the flow"....... But, I still would rather be over-informed

BTW all the classes are through the hospital where I will be delivering.

stumptownmama · October 2016

My DH and I took a birthing class through the hospital. It met 3 Saturdays for 4 hours. I read a lot of books but it was still a valuable experience for me, and especially my husband. I mostly wanted him to be prepared for what I would go through and how he could support me. And he did great!

ThePax89 · October 2016

I'll be taking 1 two hour class with my husband. We didn't take any classes before my daughter's birth. That was a freaking mistake. Now that we have a toddler, carving out time to take a class is nearly impossible.

AlabamaRedhead · October 2016

I took both with DS. The L&D class was okay, but it was such a letdown after the BF class. The BF class is amazing, it covers everything! I always suggest it way more than the L&D classes.

Carly79 · October 2016

I will add, I'm glad that I took classes and was prepared for what I hoped to happen, knew the worst that could happen and knew where to ask questions. During my labor, after pushing for about 2.5 hour the doctor came in (mind you this is not my OB but the one that's on call with the practice) and basically said I wasn't progressing with pushing and we needed to move toward a C-section. I asked some questions, baby was still doing great, my vitals were great, and between me and my awesome nurse, were able to buy us another half hour. At that point I was at least getting baby down a little bit with pushes so he was good and we kept going. Then baby's heart rate started taking a while to come back up after each contraction but because we had that extra half hour to make a little bit of progress we were able to opt for a vacuum assisted birth versus a C-section.

I like my OB but I look at it this way, most doctors are trained and have it engrained in them to make things better, avoid risk, prevent pain, and like things they can control. While these are great when I break an arm or can't breath, in labor the desire for them to go right to a C-section based on a certain amount of time and not based on vitals and actual situations bothers me. Because I had learned a lot in my classes, I was confident asking the questions and working with the doctor. Overall I think I had a great experience even though we had some ups and downs during the labor process.

KRB22 · October 2016

FTM, but we took a class offered at my MW's office - 2 full days last weekend and the weekend before. The class was taught by an independent childbirth educator, and was open to anyone, but it worked out that everyone in the class was planning to deliver at the same hospital we are. The benefit of this was that the instructor could talk specifically to policies and protocol at that hospital.

I think overall the class was more useful for my husband than anything. It was good for him to hear specifics about what will go on in the hospital, ways to manage pain, and just in general things he can do to be supportive. The 2nd half of the class focused a lot on newborn care and breastfeeding. I have 5 younger siblings and have spent a lot of time around newborns, so I didn't get too much out of all that, but again I think it was good for my husband to start thinking about that stuff.

I am planning on an unmedicated delivery, and am kind of regretting not signing up for a Bradley class instead. My mom had 6 home births and took Bradley classes before the 1st and 2nd, and she highly recommended them. But it was surprisingly hard to find 1 nearby, and between the schedule and the travel time the options seemed like too much of a commitment. I haven't read the book but like PPs I am kind of turned off by excerpts and reviews I've seen.

We are also taking a yoga for labor class in November, and I might look for some other books or online classes that have more in depth coverage of natural pain management. Luckily we have a doula, and ultimately I will be counting on her when it all goes down

I am also planning on meeting with a lactation consultant prior to delivery, in lieu of a BF class. The LC appointment is covered by my insurance so I figure that's more cost/time efficient than a class. And I might take an infant CPR class if I can swing it, but will skip the other newborn classes, etc.

mommy2ane · October 2016

We did a quick, three hour birthing class that had a hospital tour at the end at 36 weeks. It went over the stages of labor and had us practice breathing, which really was so valuable. We were on the later side in terms of classes. It was the only one that we could fit into our schedule and we lived almost two hours away from our hospital. I actually ended up being part of the hospital tour and had my son four days later. Everything was really fresh in my mind so that part was kind of nice! I also took a breastfeeding class that was very informative and helpful. I'm thinking about taking a refresher, but we'll see! We will definitely be practicing our breathing again though. That was the most important part of the class.

TinaBelcher · October 2016

Our childbirth through my OB (taught by an independent consultant) class started Monday (the next 2 Mondays as well), this one is great for my H to learn more about the things I obsessively researched over the years while TTC.

He might take a dad's only class through the hospital but he's so painfully shy. He WANTS to he's just afraid (I'm working on him there lol)

We're doing the online version of our hospital's newborn care class because I have a huge audit next month at work and I'm nervous about signing up for a scheduled class that I don't know I can make.

I'm waffling on doing the online class or in person breastfeeding class. I think in person will be more valuable but I just don't know if I can swing it with my current schedule yet

colleenkevin · October 2016

I took a birthing class last time but I think I'm just going to take the online refresher option this time. I really feel like it was worth it to take the class before my first delivery. This time I am taking a breastfeeding class because I didn't last time and I struggled with getting a good latch in the beginning. My DD as newborn had zero instincts to latch well and I was a bumbling mess so I hope to refresh my memory in preparation for this new nursling.

MaryNog · October 2016

We're taking the childbirth, newborn care, and breastfeeding classes offered by Kaiser. Apparently the childbirth class used to be 8h long and recently got shortened to 4 plus online videos you watch at home. The midwife at my last appointment was a bit judgy about that and didn't think 4h would be enough to convey all the necessary information. Reading the groups answers to this thread make me think that she might be right, since some of your classes last for several sessions. We'll see how it all goes.

expandcontract · October 2016

Hi. I'm lurking from Feb 17. I'm a FTM and I started taking my classes this week. I'm glad I'm taking them now as opposed to later because it's already so hard to stay comfortable and focused. Currently taking a BF and Birthing Basics class. They are each 3 hours long for two days. I certainly do not want to be doing this in the middle of winter when I'm huge and uncomfortable. Even now, after just the second hour, my back was hurting quite a bit. And I'm sure I'm not going to forget everything I learn buy the time I deliver. Hope this helps.

Knottie1443924966 · October 2016

I'm so an over planner too!! I signed up for all the classesame through Kaiser. I think the first one will be baby CPR

sarahmsoda · October 2016

@ceclarlinetlo I have heard the classes can be great but the book is awful and super sexist and only supportive of "natural birth" I was going to buy the book and then read reviews and decided not to bother. We have the book The Birth Partner and my DH is planning on reading it (although he likes putting it off)

We are taking a prenatal class through our health region. It is 9 hours over 3 nights. I have only taken one night so far and it was really great. It is lead by a Public Health Nurse but she is really supportive of all types of birth plans. The class has already started to calm my nerves about birth, especially knowing the common practices in the hospital such as immediate skin to skin and allowing you to labour however you feel you need to (in a shower, bath, walking around, with music, dim lights etc)

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