[Carolinamidwife]

I was pretty sure we were going to take a Bradley class but now as the time to sign up is passing I'm feeling well... lazy. I can't believe that I am too lazy to take a CBE class but here there it is. Plus, dh is not too gung-ho and there is always the issue of childcare for our 4.5 year old. On top of all of that I have been studying midwifery for a couple of years now so the idea of sitting through the non-birth related segments doesn't sound too appealing to me. Boy, do I not want to do this or what?

Has anyone had a drug-free birth with no method backing them up? I'm going to do a lot of reading but I'm not sure if it is possible to glean the same type of information from the books alone.

Anyone else?

Amy

 

[Imonion2]

We're not going to take any classes,either. This is baby number 3 for me, and 2 for my DH. I wasn't able to take the hospital-sponsored class last time (didn't even know about Bradley back then!) because I was on bedrest. But we managed a med-free natural birth without it. My Dh and I have discussed the things important to us (mostly me, LOL) about labor and delivery, and have come to agreements about them.

I've beendoing lots of reading here and some books and feel about as prepared as I could be. Of course, I get jitters when I remember how labor really is, but I'm confident about getting through just fine. (Plus, I have a doula friend who has volunteered to be there anytime we want her to be there.)

 

[Destinye]

Hi there

I am not doing any classes per se but I am doing a home hypno-birthing course (www.hypnobabies.com) as I feel that will help me more than anything, and do not want to do a course that might cause more fear, as I believe the key to a gentle birth is to be as relaxed as possible, and really like the theory of hypno-birthing. Anyhow thats what I am planning, and it just feels right. I know people go to classes to meet other pregnant women, as well as get knowledge, but I do feel you can get a lot of knowledge from reading. Whatever works for you is best! It sounds like you know most of the facts anyhow! Just do what feels right!

Good Luck

Destinye

 

[Spark]

This will be my second child. My DS will be 2 at the end of Nov. So, I feel like it wasn't that long ago that I was in my HypnoBirthing class (2 years ago exactly). For me, I plan on practicing the tapes as the birth gets nearer, continue coming to MDC for support for natural childbirth (and I mean drug free/ induction free, not just vaginal), continue going to LLL meetings and reading whatever my fancy is. But, no, I am not going to CBE classes this time.

I think good classes are really helpful for first time moms and moms that want a dif kind of birth the for subsequent babies or anyone who has a strong desir to take them! I just don't feel like I want to do anything differently from my last birth, so why should I?

Also, Destinye I'm getting the HypnoBabies student set for $50 to supplement my HypnoBirthing tapes. Looks really good.

 

[sadean]

I took one when I was pregnant with my first child. It was completely useless (very hospital oriented, though a "community" sponsored class, focussed on the Lamaze method, which even though I understood to be pretty much worthless for me).

I did not take one with my second child as I had been through labor and birth before. Why bother paying someone to tell me what I already know/have experienced? Bradley classes are VERY expensive here ($350 for someone to tell me to relax and work through it? Forget it

: ).

I think classes may be useful for first time parents who haven't had time/resources to educate themselves. For anyone who has educated themselves or gone through labor and birth, they are a waste of money.

Just my opinion.

 

[Destinye]

Hi Sparklin,

I have both the hypno-birthing and hypno-babies tapes and course/books and really like them both. I find the hypno-babies more extensive and specific, and really would recommend it highly but I love Rainbow Relaxation too; they seem to complement each other though and the more positive imagery the better! I am really going out on a limb as I am a first time Mom, but when I talked to the more conventional child birth educators (who I know do a great job) it just felt wrong for me and felt I needed to be inside myself and at that level. I have read tons of books though, but focusing on the positive, and wonderful birth stories, and I am a vet so I do know about the process of birth, and since animals do it much more easily I think I will just keep that positive image for now! I also plan to be drug free and hope that I can do it that way and have a healthy home birth. This is not just how I plan my birth its how I live my life. But I know that might not happen, I just would hate to go the medical route. At 40 with first time twins though I have to realize there is that possibility.

Good Luck and enjoy the hypno-birthing!

Destinye

 

[Marco Esquandolas]

I'm not sure I'm answering what you're asking, but I never took any classes with either of my boys and had one induced, medicated birth and one all natural birth, but both were in hospitals. The second one was so much easier going too-I labored 19 hours at home and then showed up at the hosp in time for the doc to play catch.

 

[mamaley]

I was the same way--wanted to take something but had a hard time finding childcare, and wasn't super motivated to. I ordered the hypnobabies class, and while it's a great class and i have heard nothing but good about it, i just couldn't get into it and i haven't practiced or done it in about a month. I have a lot of knowledge about birth now, and I have a ton of trust in my body. Maybe I'm naive...we'll see soon!

 

[Carolinamidwife]

Hmmm, I have been considering ordering hypnobabies myself but I'm afraid I won't be able to get into it.

 

[Mere]

Dh and I took the Bradley course with #1, and while it was great, I'm quite certain that they won't be teaching you anything you don't already know. Even I found that I already knew a lot of the information (I read a lot), and I am not a midwife! Really though, I found it to be most helpful for dh, who hadn't read anything. He was pretty clueless about the whole childbirth experience, so going to class each week for three and a half months was good for him.

We won't be doing anything this time around though...I feel like I"ve been through it once, how could I forget? And besides, I have all the Bradley books if I want to review.

 

[Spark]

Oooh, I should have clarified when I was writing who I thought CBE classes were good for. I listed a group of women, but really I think it's about if you think you need them or not. I mean, so much of what is taught in CBE classes is the same info in books. I chose HypnoBirthing the first time around, because I didn't want to sit through explainations of the stages of labor, or positions to labor in, or fetal development or how to breastfeed. I got all that from other places. So, I totally should have put that caveat in my first post -- Don't take 'em if you don't want to!

I really think we're drawn to different information, different support and different birth choices depending on where we are in our lives and what the child we're carrying needs. Not just when it comes to choosing CBE, but with so many other things that we choose to do to prepare us for birth.

Destinye -- Ah, your post was so beautiful! I wish all mothers felt that strong sense of wellbeing and trust. That's more precious than anything during labor. You sound so beautifully prepared! As prepared as any of can be to birth our children.

To the other mamas on this thread -- I'm sending you such warm peaceful birth vibes right now. I think we've all found what we needed to for our upcoming births. Besides, it's not the CB educator will come and do contractions and push for you! We do that ourselves! Blessings!

 

[KKmama]

I'm not planning on taking one. We took a prenatal yoga-based workshop and a natural childbirth class before having ds, and I thought they were helpful to underscore what I had already learned (by reading and in my yoga class) and also for dh. With this one, we've talked about it, and we're going to put the money toward a doula. We're aiming for a VBAC (my C was an emergency, had nothing to do with our level of preparation), and I think a doula will be more helpful than reviewing all the theory again.

Kristine

 

[iris0110]

I plan on taking the hospital sponsored child birth class this time around. I really don't feel like I need it, but I want to check out how hospital policy has changed since Ds was born so I know what all I will be contending with and I know what to put in my birth plan. I didn't take any classes when I was pregnant with Ds, and I think i made it through labor pretty well with out. But I might have been a little less nervous if I had known more. Of course the best confidence builder for me has been hanging out here with all of you wonderful ladies. I feel much better about my body and what it can do than I did two years ago when I had my son.

 

[OlyMama]

I signed up and then skipped my class at the hospital and managed to have a drug free, fairly easy (considering) birth. It's definately all about your mind set.

 

[bloodrayne]

Quote:

Originally posted by Sheena Has anyone had a drug-free birth with no method backing them up? I'm going to do a lot of reading but I'm not sure if it is possible to glean the same type of information from the books alone.

We did.

I got almost all of my info from "Husband-Coached Childbirth", "The Birth Book", and message boards. We tried to sign up for a Bradley class but ran out of time, and weren't really into it.
DH and I both become impatient when being taught by someone else, we are both very much self-learners.
I felt very prepared for the birth and it went very well. My midwife said she'd have thought it was my third or fourth baby b/c I was such a pro at it (he is my first) - my labor was at home, totally drug-free, and only 8 hours from start to finish.
If you can be confident getting your info from books, I don't think it's necessary.

 

[EmmaJean]

Sheena, I'm sure you know much more than the nuts and bolts of birth, so I don't think you'd need classes for that info. for us, the classes were fun to get to know other couples due the same time, talk about their different ideas and approaches to birth, past birth stories, etc. It was a really neat experience. I can't say I got a ton out of the actual course material b/c I had read a lot already, but it definitely helped dh and I be more solid in our HB decision and he was ready to fight anybody who got in our way!

For the Bradley thing, just get the book and see what you think! If you think you like it and want to learn more, then definitely go. But it's a huge time commitment (many weeks) and that's hard with a child--finding a caregiver for those many hours.

I don't think it's something *you* need, but it might be helpful and fun!

PS I finally decided I wanted to go to class this second time around. I want to go to meet others and have time to talk birth and get encouraged and tuned-in to this baby! Our class should start soon...I can't wait!

 

[EmmaJean]

Oh, you asked about going drug-free w/o being educated with a "method"--I'd say a resounding YES!!! I was expecting more coping tools to be discussed and practiced in class, but it wasn't. My mom kept bugging me about it too! I felt fine just trusting my body. Finally, at my like 32-34 wk appt. my mw did the ice-cube trick/tool/whatever with us. Do you know what I'm talking about? Briefly, you (dh too) hold an ice cube in your hand for a minute, focusing on the pain, etc. You can barely make it through, it hurts!!! Then a few minutes later--with the other hand!--you do it again, but this time you close your eyes and focus on your breath. Either every breath in or every breath out. Whatever. This time you make it through the minute so fast and easy--nothing like the first time.

So basically, the ice cube is a pain stimulus to help you learn to focus on your breath through a "fake" one-minute contration. No fancy techniques, just deep breathing. I practiced this a few times a week, trying to be aware of where I needed to relax--like my mouth, shoulders, eye brows, etc. Learning to concentrate on my breath rather than the pain has helped in lots of real-life situations, not just birth--like stubbing your toe, getting burned, etc.

It's a tool discussed in "Birthing From Within". Awesome!

I've read the Bradley book, and I don't like how it gives the "perfect" position for birth and gives "cons" to all the others--sometimes you need more than one to get that baby through! There were some other things I didn't like--can't remember, but mainly feeling like this was the perfect way. Well, I don't want rules and constraints on my birth--I want to do it the way I want! Just my opinion. But it was helpful for pregnancy stretches and exercises.

 

[Ilaria]

We took the useless hospital birthing class the first time. I wanted a drug-free birth but ended up with an amniotomy, stadol, epidural, episiotomy, forceps....We research everything and had done the same for that birth..... I just think I was lacking confidence.

We are taking a Bradley class now. Dh is learning more than he would ever have, we are spending 2 hours together and really bonding even more. I am loving it. I love practicing relaxation and getting massages. I think we both will be more knowledgeable, prepared and confident. I really want a natural birth this time.

 

[angela&avery]

no class here, took one with my son, the birthing info was great for my husband, but i kinda did what i wanted to instead of really using any techniques we were taught.... so we skipped the class this time....

 

[HBBFJenn]

I did not take any childbirth classes. I wanted to take bradley with #3 but we could not afford it and didn't have anyone to watch #1 and #2. I read everything I could get my hands on. I gave birth at home to #3 , obviously unmed, so it can be done.
My midwife had another client due at the same time I was and she was a bradley teacher so she loaned me a copy of the bradley books that she uses in her class. I also read about a variety of pain relief methods, even lamaze, and none of the special breathing or relaxtion tricks worked with #3, only the water helped. However breathing worked with #2, so I am glad that I know a variety of coping techniques.
Also I am trained as a doula, hope to begin midiwfery studies as soon as finances allow and I am going to be attended, by 2 midwives, So I am confident that I won't "need" any classes for #4. Although I would really love to attend some sort of class, just to get out of the house!