Did you all take classes? What to do if I can't

[dylan1984]

Hi! I live in an area with next to no resources for people wanting a hb. I am having an hb, however, 7 hrs away at my parents house (where I grew up) in August. I am reading "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" that my MW gave me to read, I know tons of people who have homebirthed so have picked their brains over and over, will be reading "Birthing from Within", already read "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way", but there are NO classes around here, other than the lame hospital "What we will do and What you can't do" class. So I am feeling a bit like that is a huge element of preparation that I am missing out on. The MW I am using is a wonderful friend, very experienced mw, but my best friend had all three of her babies with this mw and says that she is very hands off in the labor process - which I know it isn't her job to coach me through labor, so I don't hold that against her, but I don't have a doula-type person to be there (can't really afford to hire one, and even if I did, I wouldn't be able to get to know her since I will only be going home at the very end before I deliver, so I don't know if there would be that trust and bond)

Anybody gone through HB without classes? Is it a dumb idea or can I make it work? I feel like I can, but I just got a surge of self doubt last night and feel like some feedback would help. Thanks in advance.

p.s. my history of childbirth is that w/my ds (1st) I was induced for no real reason but b/c the doc said I should since I was a week late and I was tired of being pregnant and went along with it...so naive. I immediately was in excruciating pain that I was only able to deal with for about 2 hrs before completely caving on my hopes for a natural birth and taking every drug they gave me at the nurses' urging. Ended up with a beautiful 9lb 8oz boy, not so beautiful 3rd degree tear, and no idea of how I will react to a normal labor...

[Ruthla]

I took a class before DD1 was born, and IMO it wasn't particularly helpful. It was nice that DH took an hour (or was it two?) a week to think about the pg and the upcoming birth, but I didn't learn ANYTHING from it, not that I didn't learn from my own reading. I pretty much devoured both the LLL chapter and my midwife's lending libraries. I didn't have internet access then, but I suspect that everything I read in print 15 years ago is available online today.

I think you'll do fine without a "childbirth class."

[Maela]

I did not take a class. I did read A LOT though. I think Ina May's book is wonderful! My birth went well except for a very long pushing stage that was a bit overwhelming. This time I am going to buy the Hypnobabies homestudy course. You could try something like that, maybe?

[Raene]

Sometimes classes can be more harmful than helpful. I took Bradley classes and thought that they were so pain-based that it caused more pain in my birth.

Now I'm a hypnobirthing teacher and I'll be using that for my birth.

I would think you'd be fine without classes. Choose which childbirth education method flows with you (Bradley, Lamaze, HypnoBirthing, HypnoBabies, etc) and then buy books/CDs/DVDs to support that. Teach yourself.

[Sihaya]

I took a class at our local birth center because it was our first baby and I wanted DH to meet other people having similar births. I think the other people in the class got more out of us being there than we got out of the class itself. I had read so much and watched so many birth videos on my own that nothing said there was new to me. We will definitely not be taking one next time.

I would, however, highly recommend the Hypnobabies Home Study Course. I took it and think it had a huge impact on my having a relatively short & easy labor & birth. I will be using it for all of my future births. It is possible to get the course for less than full price if you buy it used through Hypnobabies. There is a number on their website or they have a Yahoo group you can join that has the info too.

[zoebird]

i UCed with out classes, so you shoudl be fine.

you don't need classes. you just have to do the internal work to prepare (emotional work). you'll be fine.

i find reading birth stories is good prep too!

[dylan1984]

thanks for the encouragement! Like I say, I really do feel like I can do it, guess Im just having a moment of weakness today I did look into the hypnobabies, but was scared off by the price - I will def. try to find out more about those dicounts, thanks!

[babynatasha]

We didn't take any classes either. Our midwife answered any questions we had that I hadn't already found the answers to from reading books or confirmed what I had read. I liked Ina May's books although I found "Sprititual Midwifery" to be a little to touchy/feely/hippyish for my taste, I much preferred her "Guide to Childbirth". I felt very comfortable without having taken classes.

[haren.13]

We haven't had our homebirth yet (July ~ yay!!! ), but we are planning on taking a class taught by a local HB MW. But, the only reason I want to take the class is for DH. I have read so much, watched videos and movies, talked to friends who've had natural births/homebirths, etc. that I really don't know if I'll get much out of the class. I had done the same thing last time around (natural hospital birth) and had tried to get DH on board to read and talk to people, but he didn't follow through. In labor, he wasn't *bad* per se, but he had no clue what was going on. We took the hospital birth class (ugh) and he missed the only important one (the "stages of labor" one), so he was pretty much like a deer in headlights I think he would have paid exorbitant amounts of money for a doula after that experience!

I'd say that with the prep you are doing, you'll be fine Will your DH/SO be there? If so, make sure he's prepared, too! Especially without a doula, you'll want someone to lean on, tell you you're doing a great job, massage, help you move, etc.

Good luck, mama!

[dylan1984]

Yeah, DH will be there, and I have been cracking the whip on getting him to read "Natural Birth the Bradley Way" I felt that was a good one for him since it talks so much about the stages of labor, signs to look for that I am in pain, signals of what stage I am at, and things he can do to be helpful and not a bump on a log (he was kind of a bump on a log in the hospital, tho he did TRY, I think he was just overwhelmed at my reaction to the induction) He has been doing his homework apparently b/c he keeps busting out with little bits of trivia from the book that I have totally forgotten since reading it like a month ago. Of course none of it is the important sort of trivia I'd have had stick in his brain, but what can I do - I imagien the important stuff is in there too.

[Maela]

Originally Posted by zoebird

i find reading birth stories is good prep too!

: Lots and lots of birth stories!!


There's a book called Adventures in Natural Childbirth that I really enjoyed.

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by dylan1984

thanks for the encouragement! Like I say, I really do feel like I can do it, guess Im just having a moment of weakness today I did look into the hypnobabies, but was scared off by the price - I will def. try to find out more about those dicounts, thanks!

I found classes to be helpful because they increased my confidence. That doesn't mean it would be the same for you. Plenty of people don't take classes.

I was going to recommend Hypnobabies as well. You can get a used set for ~$80 by calling 714 952-2229.

[JorgieGirl]

I didn't take classes. I knew the basics of the physiology of birth. On top of that, really it's all about going with your own flow.

I agree with reading as many positive birth stories as possible. I couldn't get enough!

You'll do great!

[Burnindinner]

I didn't take any classes. I read all the same books you did, talked to a lot of people, watched some videos so I would know what was going on (sort of).

I am betting you will be fine. HB is a lot different than hospital to me (I think, I have no experience in the hospital).

Birth is very normal.

[Gena 22]

No classes here either, although I found the Hypnobabies home study helpful. I got a secondhand copy for $85!

Yeah to birth stories too.

[Peony]

I've never taken a class, I studied Birthing From Within and some Bradley myself before #1 was born. I never used any certain technique while in labor though, just did my own thing. It was the same for my last birth and I'm sure it will be for this one as well.

[library lady]

I have had 4 kids and have never ever had a single class. My first babe was an induction at the hospital with all of the interventions that typically go along with that.

All of the rest of my births were at home. I just read a lot of books. My DH read "The Birth Partner" to help him prepare for the birth of our second daughter. I found that it helped to read and try to get the mainstream ideas out of my head and just let let my body do what it needed to do.

[ChaoticMum]

I also never took classes - and all three were midwife attended. I found the midwives answered my questions enough that I really didn't need to find a class.

My first homebirth was an unplanned homebirth and I did just fine - just listen to your body and your midwife and they'll give you the information you need!

[Emmeline II]

Read lots. The Bradley book is very good and I'd make sure your support person reads that one cover to cover and watches "The Business of Being Born" or some other home birth videos.

[mommy2two babes]

I never took any classes, I just read alot.
I think classes would have been a waste of money for me.