Natural Childbirth Classes

[beachsea]

I am looking for a natural childbirth class and I am having a very difficult time! I am still debating between Lamaze and Bradley. On the Lamaze website there in no educators listed in Illinois, and the 2 hopsitals listed are very far away. I foun one hospital in Chicago that offers the clases but i wa shoping for a more "at home" setting.

As for Bradley, I emailed 4 instrucotrs in the general area and none are currently teaching classes. One gave me a contact 1 hour away and she is doing classes but I was hoping for something closer to home (the Orland Park area in the southweat suburbs of Chicago). Does anyone know a good internet source for educators?

I am waiting for the Birthing From Within book from the library and I have heard I can take classes in this method as well. Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks...

[phoebemommy]

I don't know much about Lamaze and Bradley, but I've heard that the hospital Lamaze classes are often pretty crummy. They tend to be more about teaching you to be a good patient than teaching you how to how to birth naturally.

I did hypnobirthing, have you looked into this? There's a homestudy course from hypnobabies that people rave about, if you can't find a class. I didn't have a painless labor like they say you can, supposedly, but I did find the breathing and relaxation techniques incredibly helpful anyway.

[lizabird]

Maybe you could look up some doulas in your area and ask them for suggestions?

[RockStarMom]

I took a Bradley class and LOVED it, so I would recommend that over Lamaze.
I'm assuming you found the instructors on the Bradley website...I would also ask birth centers, midwives, doulas, and birth organizations if they know of anyone.
But I *think* I remember reading something about Bradley teachers being allowed to give private crash courses to couples, but they aren't allowed to advertise it because it's only to be done when necessary. So I would ask the teacher who is doing classes(and maybe the others too, it can't hurt) if she would be willing to do that for you.
Good luck!

[mom2emerson]

Originally Posted by phoebemommy

I did hypnobirthing

I was also going to suggest HypnoBirthing.
I did Lamaze with #1: useless.
HynopBirthing with #2: great experience
doing it again with #3 and really looking forward to taking it to a higher level.

[crunchy_mama]

We took Bradley classes and loved it, very helpful, especially for a first time mom who hadn't been around other birthing women. We drove about 3 hrs one way for our classes and it was totally worth it. However, I have heard good things about Birthing from Within, it depends really on you and what your looking for, I think you will get a better idea after reading their respective books.

[babsbob]

We had private childbirth classes from someone I found in the doula listings. It was the "Birthing from Within" philosophy. I didn't really use any of those relaxation techniques though so I think I will look into Hypnobirthing or Hypnobabies this time. I read the Bradley Method but I don't really like the idea of being "coached" by anyone - not even DH - in fact I labored by myself most of the day and it was wonderful!!!

Here are some links to doulas in your area - I would check with them and see if they offer child birth classes or can recommend one.

http://doulanetwork.com/directory/doulas/1054.htm

http://doulanetwork.com/directory/doulas/373.htm

http://doulanetwork.com/directory/doulas/1746.htm

[beachsea]

Thansk ladies, I will try the doula sites and see if i can find something that way.