Trying to decide if I should bother with a birth class

[MarineWife]

I'm planning my 2nd homebirth, my 4th baby. I took Lamaze over 20 years ago when I was pg with #1. Ended up not using it at all because I needed a c-section. With #2, my dh and I took a Bradley class. I was induced at 40w1d. I don't know if it was the pitocin or that my dh just wasn't a very good coach or just being in the hospital but none of the Bradley methods helped me and I ended up getting an epi. #3 was at home. My dh was deployed so I didn't have a coach, per se. I did have a doula but didn't use her for comfort purposes. When the time came, I just wanted to be left alone. While the first 10 hours of labor were fine, the last 2 were extremely painful, just like my hospital induction. I did not take any classes or really do anything else to prepare for labor with that one. I just figured I'd follow my body's cues and do whatever felt right. Once I got into the thick of things, I couldn't really do anything, though.

Now I'm planning homebirth #2 and wondering if I should try a birth class again, if for no other reason but to refresh me on relaxation techniques. I got the Hypnobirthing book but haven't read it all yet because I loaned it to a friend who is due in March. As far as I can find, there aren't any Hypnobirthing or Hypnobabies classes in my area (I know they are different). There is a Bradley class and a Lamaze class. My dh will be deployed and I don't have anyone else to be a coach so Bradley seems kind of pointless. I've heard Lamaze has changed in the last few years so maybe that would be new to me. When I took it before it was also very coach-focused.

I could just go with self-study. Although I've already got the Hypnobirthing book, after reading the difference, I'm thinking maybe I should try Hypnobabies self-study instead. I don't want to invest more money in something I'm not really going to use, though. Are any of these classes or methods really useful in a homebirth, especially since I've already been through two?

[goldenwillow]

I am not as "seasoned" of a Mama at birth as you but I found that looking back...  I think it is positive to take another class.  We just spoke at our Bradley Class teachers current class about our birth experience and it caused us to take a look back. 

I remember thinking during classes that we could just take the book and not return to classes.  I now believe it was good to have those weekly chats and have the community of others whom were expecting.  I bet you would be a great help to 1st time mamas as they may be to you in remembering things that you may not... KWIM? 

I skimmed the Hypobirthing book while prego and have had a few friends try that route and didn't have much success, however, all were 1at time mamas. 

My good friend has 3 babes under 3... whoa... the first 2 were birth center babes and their 3rd was a HB.  For their 2nd... they didn't take any classes since they had already had 1 babe and she later regretted it.  Her statement was that she didn't mentally prepare herself for birth since she thought she had already been there and done that... would come naturally... as it does but she said she should have really done another class. 

[lovebeingamomma]

Both my natural hospital births I had no preparation.  and I was fine.  HOWEVER after taking Bradley classes for my doula training I was floored at how much I didn't know and how I could have actually had a much more comfortable birth (I didn't even know what a birth ball was!).  Also didn't know about doulas when I gave birth, wish I had one!  So for this birth, my first homebirth, I've hired a doula, and I'm just going to be doing self-studying.  In other words I'm just going to read books.  First on my list is "The Art of Giving Birth".  I've heard great things about the hypnobabies self study course, don't think I'll be using that technique but I heard it's good!  You may want to see if you can find a "hypno-doula" if you go that route. 

[laohaire]

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't take a class (unless of course you don't want to) but just posting to mention that I didn't take any birth classes (ever) and I didn't regret it. Of course I'd read up on as much as I could (mostly on homebirth) but I didn't pursue much study of birthing methods. In my particular case, I naturally went into laborland, and think that trying to focus on anything (focal point, mantras, sound or music, touch or massage) would have actually been counterproductive for me. Though I can see the value of those techniques for women who aren't able to just be completely out of it like I was.

[goldenwillow]

Originally Posted by laohaire 

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't take a class (unless of course you don't want to) but just posting to mention that I didn't take any birth classes (ever) and I didn't regret it. Of course I'd read up on as much as I could (mostly on homebirth) but I didn't pursue much study of birthing methods. In my particular case, I naturally went into laborland, and think that trying to focus on anything (focal point, mantras, sound or music, touch or massage) would have actually been counterproductive for me. Though I can see the value of those techniques for women who aren't able to just be completely out of it like I was.

I agree... We did take a class but I ended up just tuning out everything and went into "laborland".... love that. 

[MarineWife]

I think part of the reason I'm hesitant to take a class again is because I was never really able to use anything I learned in them. I don't think of and can't focus on things like that when I'm in labor. Like I said before, I just want to be left alone, no touching me, no suggesting other positions. Both of my vaginal births were so painful, though, and I don't think I handled it well so I'd like to have some tools for handling it better this time. I'm not good at meditation or relaxation techniques normally so I'm not confident that something like Hypnobirthing would be very useful to me. I don't want to shoot it down without a chance, either. Ugh. I'm sure this would be much easier if my dh were going to be here. I'd take a class again just for his benefit. He would certainly need it. Even after 12w of Bradley classes, he tried but he was still useless in labor.

I'm not really into hiring a doula this time, either. I had one at my other homebirth and really didn't use her at all. Afterward, I felt like my MW and her assistant were enough. My doula ended up just video taping everything. She even said she felt like there was nothing else for her to do for me.

I feel like I'm being a negative Nelly. Maybe I think I should take a class but I can't really come up with any good reasons to. IDK. I'll talk to my MW tomorrow and get her opinion on it.

[laohaire]

I didn't see any mention of a birthing pool. How does that sound to you? Not every woman likes birth tubs, but a lot of them swear by them - myself included. I spent my labor and birth in the warm water (including six hours of pushing) and I felt miserable when I got out. Well, I was often miserable in the tub as well, to be honest, but within my ability to manage. It wasn't like birthing was bliss or anything for me, I would just fade away and try to cope, but the water made it easier. I floated, so I didn't have to prop myself up, and I had fewer external sensations to deal with. It was easier to move around - I'd "open up" between contractions and relax, and then curl up during contractions, and it required very little effort due to the effect of low gravity. And the energy I saved was valuable, six hours of pushing really drained me. Personally, if I gave birth again I'd go to great lengths if I had to, to get another birth pool.