childbirth classes

[aprildawn]

what childbirth classes are you planning to take? with dd we took the class offered by the practice my mw worked for. it consisted entirely of the patients of the obs in that practice and was a waste of time and money.

this time i'm interested in bradley, but i don't have time for a 12 week class. plus, i don't feel like i need to hear the anatomy and birth stuff again. i just want some help preparing for labor. also, cbe classes can be expensive and i'm wanting to invest in a doula over a class.

so, ladies, what are you planning? for those of you who have already had more than one baby, do you recommend spending the time in a class? is a book or video sufficient?

[wasabi]

Well I tried to go natural with my first two based on just reading a Lamaze book and practicing breathing and relaxation. And you know it might have been enough if they had talked about avoiding interventions. With DD I read books and took a Bradley class. Obviously I knew all about labor but DH didn't so it was good for him. It was also just about the only time I could get him to reliably practice relaxation with me so it was good for that reason too. This time I expect to just start making him practice again when we hit the third tri. Bradley classes were expensive and time consuming. I know I could take a refresher course where we'd just go to a couple of classes but DH isn't interested. I'm also pretty sure we'll be having a doula this time too. FWIW they do have Bradley classes that are offered in a shorter time frame=8 or 10 courses instead of 12.

[theelfqueen]

Before I talked to my midwife about this, I was all set for Bradley classes (and I'm still considering them) but she is recommending and I'm leaning toward a class offered in our area specifically for homebirths.

Henci Goer has a great article on choosing a childbirth educator on her website -- hencigoer.com, under articles.

I have also been looking at the Birthing from Within classes. I think a class is a better choice FOR DH & I together -- for me, I'd be cool with no class... but he needs that structured setting to get him focused.

[sunbaby]

last time i did a 'birthing from within' class taught by my doula. it was extremely helpful. this time,we are not feeling the need for a doula as we will be at home with a midwife we trust very well, the same one who delivered dd. were palnning on doing hypnobirthing this time, and i am reading the material, but dont know for sure if i will do the class or not. so basically i am undecided. pretty sure i can tough it out without a class, but something to ease labor might be nice. have already reviewed birthing from within reading material.

[Hayes]

CAll around. Here there are a couple of CBEs who do private classes. A good friend of mine does a 2 class refresher course for a very reasonable price.

[Stream]

We asked our MW about childbirth classes and she recommended against them. Not a "don't even think about it!" kind-of thing, she just doesn't think that for second-time mamas-- who had a vaginal birth the first go-round-- they're particularly helpful. I'm totally buying into her philosophy that your body remembers what to do and, if you can get your mind to go take a hike for a while, your body will take over and you'll most likely have an easier time of it. Dh and I took Bradley with dd, and it was helpful, but not excessively so. Definitely the best thing we got out of it was getting to know our classmates, not so much the labor-coping techniques.

Good luck with your decision!

[seren]

We are just taking the classes offered by my mw's office. And i think just the refresher courses.

[crat19]

With my dh being a firefighter on a unique work schedule, and me feeling comfortable with all the reading I did and confident that my body will do what it does best, we opted not to take any classes. We had a doula at our intervention-free hospital birth that really helped both me and my dh have the birth we (I) wanted. I do think it's good to have refreshers on the details, like the phases of labor etc., so it's fresh in our minds.

This time around we likely won't do any courses either...just some refresher reading for me and dh. Hopefully we'll have the same great doula for this birth! :D

[danaalex]

how about that hypnobirthing? i'm intriqued by that. i think it's something you do on your own............. someone was selling there stuff on the TP a couple of months ago, you might be able to find another person sell theirs if you do an ISO? i think it sounds really really cool :)

[natashaccat]

My MW teach a "mandatory for first time moms and highly reccomended for 2nd time moms and all DP's" 1 day cb class that DH and I will probably take for mostly his benefit.

We don't have a sitter for dd to take any other classes together. I'm thinking about making him watch some videos also, any suggestions?

Also can I add a question? Would you let your toddler watch a childbirth video?

[Stream]

I would *definitely* let my dd watch a childbirth video-- at pretty much any age. She has seen the birth on the Nova Miracle of Life video and she's familiar with various pictures of births in books that we have. I want her to feel very comfortable with the concept of childbirth-- not just because she may be present at the birth (and I hope she is), but because I think it's a healthy outlook to grow up with. I'm hoping to contact my old Bradley teacher to see if we can borrow some of her videos to show dd-- dd is truly fascinated by the whole process, and I'd really like to encourage that, but at the same time normalize it for her so she has the best odds of not being scared at the birth.

[JoyAnne]

We are taking a 10 week Bradley class, and already it has been a huge help mainly with getting my husband active and involved, he even watches what I eat now! He proudly told everyone last week that I would probably be giving birth standing up, well maybe! I know we are getting a lot out of it, but this is our first birth.

And as I am working towards changing us from an OB/ Hospital birth to a MW/ birthing center birth- it really helps when he hears support from someone other than me, his crazy hippie wife.

[heket]

I hadn't really thought about it. Dh and I signed up for a lamaze class at the community college when I was pregnant with dd. After a few weeks, we looked at one another and decided it just wasn't worth our time. We had hired a doula, and the only thing we found useful was the breathing -- but she worked with us on that!

I've considered Bradley for this time around, but my first concern right now is seeing we can find a homebirth MW. If we do, then we prolly won't take a class.

[nmccarroll]

We did the full new parent sequence at the hospital with #1. The childbirth part was a complete waste since we ended up with a scheduled c-section. With #2 we took the hospital's VBAC/refresher sequence. Pretty useless -- we didn't use anything from the childbirth classes (I couldn't even do that "he he ha ha" stuff when I WASN'T in labor!), but found the info in Susan McCutcheon's book "Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way" indispensible. We're working through the book again this time. My MW offers classes, but we're not sure yet whether we'll take them -- we need to talk to her a little more about that. I'm feeling confident that things will be a lot easier this time since we're planning to avoid the hospital...

Nikki

[Meli65]

We did a Bradley class the first timearound and it was wonderful for us -- we learned a lot. I liked all the information, although I didn't find the relaxation techniques very relaxing :)

This time we probably won't do anything (had a lovely unmedicated birth the first time out with no problems) but I am interested in hypnobirthing -- I heard a speaker on it about a month ago and it sounded fascinating!

[mrzmeg]

We're planning on trying hypnobirthing, though I don't think we'll take a class. I have a book and a tape I got off the TP, and some extensive scripts that another mama was nice enough to give me. I'll have dh record the scripts for me to listen to, so that I'll relate his voice directly to relaxation. Hopefully, it'll work out. I had a medicated labor last time (Nubain), but would like to try all-natural for this one.

[theelfqueen]

I'm borrowing a birth video just for my kids from my midwife -- I can't remember what it's called right now, my placenta is taking its turn as my brain today, but when I remember I'll try to remember to come back and post about it ;)

[aprildawn]

i'm glad to know what everybody else is considering. helps me to know we're making a good decision. i'm planning to borrow a video from a friend (can't remember what the name is) and do some reading. also, i want a doula this time around. last time was a hospital mw assisted birth. this time is a hospital doctor assisted birth and i think i'd feel better with a doula there to be my mouthpiece. my doctor (who is very cool, btw) even recommended i have one for that very reason. :thumb

[philomom]

Bradley was the best. It's like a college class in childbirth. They really hepled me to feel empowered and in control.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

[Mizelenius]

I have been thinking about this, too. I am trying to find a GOOD Lamaze video/DVD. I just want a refresher on the breathing, and I don't want to take a class (I took a weekend quickie course when I was PG with DD). I talked to people about Bradley and hypnobirthing, and I don't think it's my style. Lamaze worked for me last time . . .I just need some more practice!

[ctdoula]

I have been thinking about this, too. I am trying to find a GOOD Lamaze video/DVD. I just want a refresher on the breathing, and I don't want to take a class (I took a weekend quickie course when I was PG with DD). I talked to people about Bradley and hypnobirthing, and I don't think it's my style. Lamaze worked for me last time . . .I just need some more practice!


I teach Lamaze classes (certified for 7 yrs), and I'm trying to think of a good video for the breathing.... hmm................... Honestly I can't think of any specific "breathing" video. We use one in our classes called "Stages of Labor: A Visual Guide", and it's a great overview of everything, great for partners to watch, computer animation of the cervix dilating/effacing, etc. It's geared for hosptial deliveries (the scenes are mostly in hospitals), but in general is a very well made video. It does show women using breathing techniques (doesn't actually teach them), but it may help. You might be able to find a CBE program that could let you watch just the video (it's hundreds of dollars to purchase). Otherwise, all our videos are "births"... kinds of like the baby story, but without all the background & prettying-up. They are real life births shown individually for specific purposed (i.e. situations w/back labor, water birth, induction, c-sections, unmedicated natural birth in the hospital, etc). They're excellent, but again, not what you're looking for.....

hmm..........

maybe call the local hospital program & see if they have something you could watch. Because we 'teach' breathing within the classes, none of our videos do that, kwim?

Good luck!! :)