Our hospitals offer childbirth and infant care classes for a minimal fee. I was curious how many of you attended a class like these? Were they helpful?

First of all Congratulations on your pregnancy :) That is wonderful news!

I did go to classes for my 1st pregnancy and it was helpful in regards to the breathing and being prepared of what maybe to expect. I had a weird experience but I don't think mine was the norm, but mine were free so I don't feel like it was a waste.

My husband and I attended Bradley Method classes prior to our birth. Those classes were tremendously helpful. The method is a husband coached method of childbirth and it really trained and prepared my husband to guide me through it. Through our long labor, Tim was incredible. Our midwife commented on how well we worked together as a team. I do believe that that was due to the classes we took. The classes lasted for 12 weeks and were very in-depth, covering nutrition, exercises to prepare for birth, relaxation, etc.

Our desire was a completely unmedicated homebirth, so even though the classes were more expensive than traditional classes and we had to hunt around to find a class to go to and drive aways to get there, we felt that it was money well spent.

Roughly 85% of Bradley moms who have a vaginal birth, do so without medication, so that was why we chose this particular method. Also we felt that the principles were sound. Rather than being affiliated with any particular hospital, Bradley classes are taught by independent instructors.

So these classes were great for us!

Hope that you find what you are looking for that will help you have the birth that you and Shawn want.

My dh and I are signed up for the classes at our hospital for Sept. 1st & 2nd. Since this is our first, I thought we'd definitely go take them to just know what to expect. I'm planning on taking the breastfeeding one as well.

I have never taken any classes, and had two really good birthing experiences. I basically focused on giving birth as something I was created to do and went with it... I put my mind in a place where women give birth all the time without all the extra "stuff" that goes along with it these days. I did a bit of reading on different methods, etc., but ultimately decided to just let God be my guide. I also relied on women in my life to share stories, ideas, etc. and had my mom, two sisters, neice and midwife there for my first and my mom, a sister and midwife for the second.

I wasn't able to attend mine, so I got on the internet and got a great DVD on childbirthing called "Laugh and Learn About Childbirth" by a certified Lamaze RN. I was so glad I watched it and got my DH to as well. If you can go to the class I highly encourage it. It really helped me be aware of what was going on and make well informed decisions at the time. I was especially glad I knew the terminology such as "pelvic station" and the medicines available and what the effects are. I felt so much more comfortable. I have passed around the video to my friends and all of them were glad to have watched it. Again, congrats and hope for a happy and healthy, safe delivery when the time comes.

I never got to go to birthing classes because they wanted me to take them at 32 weeks and I had a bout of preterm labour at 30 which was stopped - then I ended up having to have a caesarian.

Most of my friends didn't go and were fine, a couple said they went once and didnt like it. However a lot of Mum's I have met on CM have certainly found great benefit in them and that is excellent!

Basically, do what your heart tells you to do and what makes you feel comfortable, what you desire for your birthplan... it is so different from woman to woman.

My dh and I took 7 public health pre natal classes. I was glad I had taken them for the reason that they educate you on the differences between false and actual labour, Braxton Hicks contractions, etc. I found though that even though we talked to others in the class we didn't necessarily make friends either. And when they go on about teaching you how to work through labour, it ended up I forgot how to breath and didn't use any of the techniques they suggested anyway. Otherwise it was educational to go. And they also give a good hospital tour so it is nice to familiarize yourself ahead of time with where you are going to go and be after the birth, etc.

Thank you. It's always good to see what everyone thinks about things. I think we will end up taking classes, but now I will check around to see what else is out there beyond what the hospital offers.

I probably will go to the breastfeeding class they have - it's only $30/couple. I figure that's a pretty good price. I'm going to look for a La Leche group, but most of them meet during the day and I work. So, we'll see.

Thank you for all your good advice!

Our hosptial classes were free. They offered a birthing class for three hours a night for three Mondays or a one day marathon. We took the marathon (Hubby couldn't get those three nights off work). I learned nothing at mine frankly. Hubby did learn some stuff that he was too scared to ask me about. At mine they showed a natural vaginal birth video to highlight breathing, a video about epidurals (that one freaked me out horribly watching them put the needle into the woman's spine) and a video on c-sections (that one freaked out Peter. He had no idea what was involved in a c-section). Then, we had to watch the corniest baby care video ever (they said that rectal thermometers are not to be used now. And then I get a baby magazine in the mail today that says to use the rectal therm. for the first three months. ARGH all the conflicting info out there). We were given stuff for going to the class (a cereal keeper, outlet covers, samples. I guess it was worth the nine hours of boredom). And of course the tour of the maternity ward was included (basically all I wanted to begin with). I then did go the nursing class. Didn't learn a whole lot there either actually (if you do a lot of reading like I do, I think you'll be pretty prepared). The hosptial also offered a sibling class (this is our first, so didn't bother) and an infant CPR class, but since Hubby and I are both certified in CPR for all ages, first aid and aed, we didn't bother with that one either.

I found that reading a variety of materials has helped me to make decisions the most (I have 27 more days to go). My favorite books thus far are by Dr. William Sears (he's written several, the one that covers the broadest range of topics is the Dr. Sears Complete Guide to Baby and Childcare. He is also a Christain) and Debra Evan's book The Christian Woman's Guide to Labor and Childbirth. That was a great book. I have also read the book they gave me at the ob's office (boring!!!! Promotes all the interventions and optional tests) and the What to Expect book (hated that one).

I couldn't find any regular childbirth classes around here, and with my husband's crazy work schedule we probably couldn't have made it to them anyway.

I think whatever makes you feel empowered/comfortable is a good thing.

Crystal, I can't believe all the contradictions that go on with pregnancy and childrearing LOL. They don't recommend rectal thermomiters here and the chemist only sells the ear ones. I have never seen a doctor use a rectal in the years I have been a mother...???

DH watched a caesarian on the discovery channel and it made him feel more empowered and comfortable knowing exactly what they had done and were going to do with me this time around.

I didn't take any classes - I basically just looked in books and online and got a basic idea of what would be covered. I ended up having an emergency C-section, so I'm glad I didn't spend the $40. :lol:

Definitely do what makes you feel comfortable and ready for childbirth, though!

And btw, congrats on the pregnancy. :D

My dh benefited from our hospital class much more than I did. He got an overview of what happens physically, the order things happen, etc. He said afterwards that most things he just didn't know. I guess being a woman, we just 'know'. KWIM? We also did the breastfeeding class. It was helpful.

i didn't find my pre-natal classes overly informative- but I've done tons of reading. However- they were great for dh. He really learned a lot that I had absorbed from reading and hanging out listening to women's birthing stories.
Ours was compacted into one full weekend.
d:)