[Bonniew123]

How many of you have taken or will take a birthing class? I'm a first time mom and someone just recently told me that they are a waste of time and that there is a video you can just watch. What do you ladies think? I'm a first time mom and I would think that the birthing classes would be very helpful.

 

[BoringTales]

I never took them, even with my first. I did read a ton of books and any and all birth stories I could find online. lol I felt pretty prepared, and I didn't really feel that a class could teach me any more than that.

 

[alicewyf]

We just started a Bradley class this week. They run 12 weeks long. Honestly, I do not think I will learn anything information-wise, because I'm a research freak. I already knew most of the things in the workbook we received. I DO think I will learn a lot about relaxation techniques and the special exercises they teach you to do to help your labor go more smoothly. That is really why we are going. Also, I think it is good for DH and I to be around other expectant couples on a regular basis. There are very few young parents in our social circle.

 

[mags]

It depends what kind of birth you want. I didn't know any better and did the hospital birth class when I had my first child. It was very pro-epidural (in fact, they did not even make it sound like you could give birth w/o an epidural). It did cover basic anatomy, etc., which I think is good for ppl who haven't a clue (I'm an RN), but basically if I would have know that they DO offer a Bradley class in my area, I would have taken that. I had an epidural with baby #1, b/c I kind of got bullied into it, for baby #2 went med free, and baby #3 will be med free. I read, "Husband Coached Childbirth" and Dr. Sear's Birth book for baby #2 and now I feel that since I made it through that birth, ok, baby #3 will be ok too. However, if I could do it all over again, I wish I would have taken the Bradley birth class. Everyone I know who has taken it raves about it. I also would have went with a homebirth this time around, BUT my DH works at the hospital, so the insurance coverage for me to give birth is pretty much free vs. us having to pay if we went with a homebirth (no coverage). So, it just kind of depends on what you want to do for your birth.

 

[bajamergrrl]

I'm taking a natural birth class. It's a free series provided by a homebirth midwife. I have read books so I already knew some stuff but I still think it's been helpful for me because she covered breastfeeding, nutrition, and newborn care as well. It's mostly helpful for my DH who was clueless when it comes to birth and babies and is not the type to read or research anything about it.

 

[honeybunny65]

My DH and I have signed up for birth classes as well. I'm taking a 6 week course from where I take my prenatal yoga classes. I know they are low intervention focused. Although I have been reading everything I can get my hands on, I feel like you can never have too much info. As a fellow FTM, I also really want DH and I to learn different relaxation and painmanagement techniques.

 

[seattle mama]

I'm taking a Birthing From Within class. It's a 7 week class supporting all kinds of birthing. It is great for DH since he is kind of clueless but wants to understand what his role is. Last week we made some birth art which was informative for both of us. I'd recommend reading the book if anything.

 

[fawnanddoe]

DH and I are taking a Bradley class. Ours is only 8 weeks instead of 12. So far we have only gone to one, we have another one tomorrow, but I really like it. I also read a ton of books and have researched everything in depth, but the class is teaching me things that I haven't learned from books such as certain 'exercises' to do daily and relaxation techniques. I also think the classes are good for DH because he doesn't research these things like I do, and when the time comes I want him to know what is going on and what to do! I feel like you can never get enough information, and I like feeling even more prepared by having someone who is experienced teach me all the things I need to know.

 

[bemommy]

I think that if you're having a hospital birth and it's your first time around that taking the class offered at the hospital is a good idea. You might not learn a whole lot, but it is one of the best ways to read the vibe of the hospital and nursing staff ahead of time.

 

[curious&eager]

I'm taking Bradley classes and I love it so far. For me, I've read tons of books and I know a lot of info. But my husband is not a reader as someone else mentioned. He wants to support me, but is basically clueless. That is, until we started the classes. We've only been to two so far and now he is reading and studying, watching videos, and actively taking a part in learning how to help me. Even night now he helps me do pregnancy exercises. We had a class on nutrition, so now that he is more aware of its importance, he'll do things like add a little chicken to my salad so I get enough protein. I think he really enjoys the relaxation exercises which will help me in birth and even now brings us closer together. So the experience has been great. I am learning and he is too. The thing is most Bradley courses are 12 weeks long. So if you are interested, I would suggest getting on board now. I'm taking a condensed 8 week course at 3 hours a class instead of the normal 2 hours.

As for the courses themselves, it is very natural birth oriented. They will teach about epidurals and stuff like that, but only if they are truly necessary. The goal is to have a natural childbirth and over 87% percent of people that complete the course do. I feel like I am learning what I need to be successful is natural childbirth.

 

[tracysroberts]

I have taken 8 weeks of Bradley so far and read probably 4 books about birth before I began this class. I do not think it is a waster of time. It made me calmer about the birth seeing videos of woman who gave birth naturally and now I can picture myself doing it. The books helped too, but to be involved with the class helped me get answers to questions or even discuss topics that were raised in the books I had read.
I think if you are doing a hospital birth Bradley prepares you very well for what you might be up against. I also think husbands benefit so much if they have not done the same reading. Your partner/coach is so important and my husband feels so much better now than he did before and he became mine and the babies advocate as well. It was well worth it.

 

[dogmom327]

I think it really depends on what class you take, the instructor and the type of people you and your partner are. We took two classes. One was offered by the doula's who worked with our HB midwife. It was one day, 6 hours and it was great. Lots of good info, geared towards HB and BC clients. It was particularly good for DH because he doesn't do the research I do.

We then took the Hypnobabies classes later on and those were a complete waste of time but mostly due to the instructor. I wish I would have saved some money and just done the home study course. It was pretty clear the instructor didn't know much about childbirth and I'm not convinced she knew much about hypnosis. A different instructor would likely have made for a better experience.

 

[georgiegirl1974]

I took a weekend Lamaze class offered by my hospital before DD's birth. It was a waste of time. The instructor was pretty anti-epidural (for being a hospital educator) and emphasized that everyone should be prepared on how to give birth w/o one because they don't always work for one reason or another. DH is a physician, so he knows about birth already. I ended up with a typical hospital birth (epi and internal monitor), but I wasn't into natural things back then. It wasn't until I became a passionate BF'er and babywearer (and didn't have the heart the let DD CIO) that I found MDC and other like-minded mamas in my area.

This time I'm ordering hypnobabies CDs to do the self-study at home. We don't have time to take a bradley class (we both work full time and have a 3 year old). I'm still giving birth in a hospital, but I have a low intervention OB who is supportive of natural childbirth.

 

[eli's mama]

With my first, I took a class with one of the HB MW's in the area. It was wonderful and we got to do stuff like examine a placenta, that you probably don't do in other kinds of classes. I think that it was more valuable for DH as we watched HB movies and saw pictures from other people's HBs. But I'm glad we took it and would recommend it to others.

 

[penstamon]

Dh and I started Bradley recently and have been very happy. As a pp said, the info so far isnt anything I hadn't researched on my own but it is so wonderful to be around other preggo couples! I think it is real helpful for my DH who really only gets his info from me. I'm sure the relaxation techniques and exercises will be beneficial to be continually exposed to, whereas I may not be as motivated if I were doing them on my own.

 

[femalephish]

Is it just me- or was money ever a factor in choosing to take classes or not? Here's what we are doing for free;

1) I'm planning a homebirth and I have super supportive midwives who I think with help me deal with discomfort during labor. (like making suggestions for position changes and things.)
2) I have read Ina May's guide and watched Buisness of Being Born (with DH- which was great) and I also watch homebirth/natural birth video's on youtube.
3) I try to picture what my birth will be like and tell myself things like, 'No matter what birth feels like - I can do it." I am trying to imagine it will be harder and take longer than I expect. But I know I can handle it.
4) I have also axed ALL negitive birth talk around me. People (mostly family) have had a chance to ask questions about homebirth ect.. Now I will not listen to any doubting talk. Positive vibes only, please.

I feel pretty prepaired even without any classes. (really wish I could take a yoga class, though. Oh well.) Good Luck with whatever you do!

:

 

[rjruiz_415]

I have never taken a class. My first was a hosp. birth with epi, and my second was a quick natural (intentional) birth, that had it been longer, i might have gotten some drugs... Personally, I would not pay for a class. I read some natural childbirth books, and that, along with hanging out here, i think would prepare anyone for a natural birth/

 

[moonygoony]

With my first pregnancy we didn't take a class because my friend (who was my birth guru at the time) told me it would be a waste of time. I really regretted it once labor (induced with pitocin no less) started as I was completely unprepared.

For my second birth I took a Birthing From Within class and read everything on birth I could get my hands on. I loved it! As a doula and midwifery student, I've taken many other kinds of classes since and BFW is still my favorite.

This time, I am thinking of maybe doing a class for my husband's sake. He has a hard time staying focused reading birth books and getting a refresher course helps him to tune in and prepare. I think we will either go to another Birthing From Within class or find a good independent class. I guess it is about time to make up our minds on that though...

 

[LilMomma83]

I did with my first pregnancy, and I just found out the practice I use offers a free one so I will probably take it again if my mom can go (DH works during it), but, mom is also attending the birth). We are also doing the sibling prep class for our son (all hospital).

I really liked all the relaxation practice etc, and they did educate about meds, but, recommended natural (med free) delivery...I don't know if that is normal though, I think my local hospital is pretty relaxed when it comes to that...when I decided I wanted some meds (after like 30+hrs in labor) they didn't even get them for me until I asked several times because they didn't think I was serious lol. It was nice to have things related to the hospital too, during the class-for example, she could answer questions about fetal monitoring policies etc.

My parents are "retired" bradley instructors though, and that would have been my first choice---just so darn expensive! (My parents showed us so videos though and both my mom and dad ended up being there to help).

 

[LindsC]

We took a natural childbirth class when I was pregnant with DS. A local doula taught the class and she did a really good job. It opened up DH's eyes because all he had ever heard about was your typical hospital birth with interventions and epidurals. By the end of the 8 weeks he was convinced that a natural birth was a much better idea and was finally supportive of what I wanted. It was also nice to meet other couples that wanted the same things as we did.