I have "enjoyed" (if you can call it that my birth class) so far and felt that any acknowledgement of what can go wrong was put in a way that I could hear it. The nurse teaching is in her 70s and spoke lovingly of a time when doctors knew how to deliver babies "beautifully with forceps" when the need was there. Now, she doesn't believe the doctors know how to do it well enough so they need to rely on other things. She demonstrated a number of interventions that made them less scary to us all. If you are anxious about what can go wrong and hearing about them make it worse, than sure, skip the class. But if hearing about things that will make the moment less scary if you need them will help you, I recommend learning about the things that can be used in labor to help you along in a tense situation.
She also mentioned one of the reasons why they recommend no food: vomiting during labor. If you have an empty stomach, the risks are less for that. She said, "The nurses don't mind, they've seen it all before. We just don't want you to feel uncomfortable about it." If you'd rather risk it and have the extra snack, have the extra snack. You have to know your own mortification level. Personally, I know that whatever happens, happens and I don't know how much shame I will have in L&D.
Did anyone indulge in wine during labor?
I don't care for wine, but if I liked it, I'd totally sneak some in my hospital bag. If a glass helps you relax, and you want a vaginal delivery, it may be helpful.
We have taken a bunch of classes and we both really liked them. We did the "normal" birth class, breastfeeding class, hospital tour, a natural birth class and we are doing a water birth class. I would say that DH has learned more than me in the birth class and BF class. The tour was nice because now we know where to go when in labor! We also got to see a water birth room which was good. Plus a regular labor/delivery room and a post partum room. We didn't get to see triage because it was so busy but she showed us where it was.
I think you will just "know" when you need to go to the hospital.
I woke up in the middle of the night and didnt abide by the 5-1-1 rule because my contractions were immediately about 3 minutes apart and pretty intense. Everyone is different. I had read that as a FTM the average labor is 17 hours so I labored alone from about 1am-5am while my husband slept, oblivious. I was worried he needed his sleep for the long day ahead.
At 5am I realized I probably needed to go to the hospital so I woke him up and sure enough - when I was in triage I was in transition and went from a 3 to a 8 in an hour. My son was born 4 hours later. In the time I was laboring at home, I did eat and shower thinking it could stop false labor. I am glad I did - I would have been starving by the time I ate at the hospital.
You'll be uncomfortable regardless of whether or not you eat. May as well not be hungry too.
Re: Before the hospital
I don't care for wine, but if I liked it, I'd totally sneak some in my hospital bag. If a glass helps you relax, and you want a vaginal delivery, it may be helpful.
I woke up in the middle of the night and didnt abide by the 5-1-1 rule because my contractions were immediately about 3 minutes apart and pretty intense. Everyone is different. I had read that as a FTM the average labor is 17 hours so I labored alone from about 1am-5am while my husband slept, oblivious. I was worried he needed his sleep for the long day ahead.
At 5am I realized I probably needed to go to the hospital so I woke him up and sure enough - when I was in triage I was in transition and went from a 3 to a 8 in an hour. My son was born 4 hours later. In the time I was laboring at home, I did eat and shower thinking it could stop false labor. I am glad I did - I would have been starving by the time I ate at the hospital.
You'll be uncomfortable regardless of whether or not you eat. May as well not be hungry too.
Me: 29 DH: 35
Married: 9/29/12
DS #1: 3/8/15