[luv2sew]

I liked the thread that got started today about what books you are reading, and it made me wonder what classes you are taking or planning to take. I am taking Hypnobirthing right now. I plan to take a breastfeeding class(fee), a Prepared Childbirth class(fee), a New Parents class(fee), Infant CPR (free), and Car Seat Safety (free). That covers most of what is offered in my area.

I am contemplating ordering the Hypnobabies home course as well. The hynobirthing class is nice, but seems a little "sparse" in some details/materials?

I feel like I want to take as many classes as I can fit in so I have lots of ideas/preparation beforehand. (Yes, this is my first preg.!)

How about you?

 

[ChaoticMum]

We alas, will take nothing - there is nothing in our area being so rural.

 

[cristeen]

I already took Neonatal Resuscitation, and I've been attending LLL meetings for the last 3 months - although those really had nothing to do with my pregnancy.

I want to get into one of the local BW classes, but beyond that I haven't really thought about it, TBH.

We went to the first class of a Bradley series last pregnancy, and there were so many things that just rubbed me the wrong way... in part I'm sure because I was the only HB there, and the only one who already had done any of my own research on the risks of interventions. Even the 2nd time moms didn't know about those things. And in part I just didn't really care for the instructor (actually, neither of us did).

I'm really feeling the need to get DH more informed on certain things - from labor support to EBF... not sure how to do that, though, since i can't even get him to read a book lately (he's not anti-book, just overworked). But he's expressed certain things about BF that concern me (like not wanting me to NIP, he wants me to pump and take a bottle), and I'm not sure how to educate him on that.

 

[dosergirl]

i know nothing about anything

is that bad? should i be starting these things already? i figured at my 18 week appointment i would talk this over with my midwife. hope i am not behind.

my DP is trained as an EMT so he knows CPR and we also have all the videos and books for that (although he doesn't work as an EMT he is premed) so i think i am covered there.

as far as birthing goes though, do i really need the classes?

 

[ilovejeff]

I'm doing the Hypnobabies homestudy course. It recommends not taking any other childbirth classes, so I think I'm going to follow that recommendation. I have read a LOT about childbirth, so I feel like I'm pretty well prepared in that regard. We do plan to take an infant CPR class and maybe an infant care class. I went to my first LLL meeting last night and plan to attend monthly. We also took a CD class at a local baby store.

 

[texaspeach]

I think we're just taking bradley classes. We may not even take that. DH is on board with everything and has looked through my books and we'll have a doula.. I'm just not sure if I see the need. We're both informed about the natural progression of labor and the common interventions. I have books on infant care and breastfeeding, and if I need help my MIL will be staying with us. I don't know what info a class is going to give me that I haven't already read. I'm already certified in CPR for professionals and DH was cpr certified in the past though his has lapsed. I kind of feel like taking classes might be a waste of money and our budget is really tight.

eta: forgot about LLL meetings and babywearing meetings! we have very active groups here for both and I plan on showing up around 30 weeks to get to know people

 

[dosergirl]

what are le leche league meetings?

i know the organization from their website but i don't really know what the meetings would entail.

 

[2boyzmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dosergirl i know nothing about anything is that bad? should i be starting these things already? i figured at my 18 week appointment i would talk this over with my midwife. hope i am not behind. my DP is trained as an EMT so he knows CPR and we also have all the videos and books for that (although he doesn't work as an EMT he is premed) so i think i am covered there. as far as birthing goes though, do i really need the classes?

You have plenty of time, so don't get flustered that you haven't looked into classes yet!

It's great that your DP is an EMT (my husband is as well) but there will be times when you will be alone with the baby, so you will want to at least orient yourself to the basic first aid of a newborn/infant (CPR, choking, etc) You don't have to necessarily take a formal class, but if you find free classes in your area, it's something to consider. You can also call the hospital you're delivering at (if you are having a hospital birth) and ask if they have videos for you to watch post partum (some places actually make you watch them before you're released).

Quote:

Originally Posted by dosergirl what are le leche league meetings? i know the organization from their website but i don't really know what the meetings would entail.

LLL meetings are a gathering of women; some who have breastfed, some who are breastfeeding, and some who are wanting to learn more about breastfeeding; led by an accredited LLL leader who leads the group through a series of meetings by topic. There are 4 topics in the series meetings, so each meeting will vary slightly. Most meetings I've been to start off somewhat formal with a discussion of the scheduled topic, but inevitably stray off topic. There will also be a chance for anyone with specific questions to get them answered, either from the group or one-on-one. It's a great way to meet other moms, there's usually some sort of yummy snack food there (and feel free to bring some, too!), and you'll likely learn something you didn't know before! I definitely suggest that you look up when/where the meetings are in your area and visit some before the baby comes! That way you know the leaders in your area, and if you have a question after the baby is born, you'll already have met them

 

[octobermoon]

DH and I are taking a childbirth class together and I am also doing the hypnobabies home study course!

 

[cristeen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dosergirl what are le leche league meetings?

Well, to answer your questions, both here and above...

LLL meetings are all about BF. For some women they also serve the purpose of being able to get out of the house with the baby in a supportive environment, and getting to know other mamas in your community. For any BF issues, your LLL Leader would be one of the first people to turn to - if they can't help you, they should be able to refer you to a LC that can. Essentially it's a bunch of women who sit around and discuss their babies, share advice, experience, fears, etc., all while BF on demand in a semi-private setting. It's an excellent support group, and in many places the only BF support you may find.

As for whether or not you should be thinking about these things, the answer is yes. I know that the Bradley course is 12 weeks long, so if you decide that's the direction you want to go, you need to start that by about 20-22 weeks. And you may not be able to find one starting at the right time - I had to really search to find one that wasn't full last time, and would be done before I hit 36 weeks. Some of the other classes are shorter, or self-paced, but it is still something to be thinking about and researching. It's important to know how you function under stress, though - some people get through stress by focusing, and some by "centering", and those people would probably benefit from different approaches to labor.

I would also talk to your midwife about what some books she would recommend are. You didn't say whether this is a HBMW or a hospital MW. But I happen to think that for every pregnant woman who isn't already well informed, Henci Goer's books Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth and Obstetric Myths vs. Research Realities are important reads. If you're planning a HB, then there are other books that would probably serve you better. For anyone who is going to be there (DP, friend, mother, etc.) then a book like The Birth Partner can be a good read for them - it's all about how to be supportive without interfering. I'm sure that if you pop over to the book thread, some other mamas would have some recommendations for other books.

If you truly don't know ANYTHING, then I would really recommend either a natural birth class, or that you start reading, reading, reading (actually, I'd really recommend both). The more you know about how it all works (and I don't mean the medical knowledge in your DP's textbooks), but about the physical, the psychological, and the emotional aspects of labor, the better prepared you will be to not panic. If you truly know nothing, then I'd recommend picking up a copy of Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. It's a bit "hippy-dippy", there are some discussions about parents who are high during birth, and the like, but it gives a really great easy-to-read view of natural childbirth that I haven't found anywhere else.

 

[dosergirl]

thanks ladies

i will definitely be acquainting myself with baby cpr and first aide! but i feel like that is more relaxed and like i said, we have books and videos at home also.

i know some, i am not completely in the dark. i basically know what hypnobabies is and the bradley method and lamaze (which i don't want). i jsut don't know that i want a class. i tend to not enjoy classes.

as i said in the books area, i am reading a lot actually, i have all these pregnancy books, everything you need to know about pregnancy and your pregnancy week by week and what to expect. now i am getting into more birthing stuff, reading The Birth Partner (which will eventually go to the DP to read) and The Doula book and when i get through with those i will get more.

i wish there was a site that compared the methods, like what differs in the bradley class and the hypnobabies and such.

i know my birth center has classes so i will be asking about them next week. i don't think they are particularly method related.

i want DP to take an infant class so i will go with him , because he has never been around an infant ever. he was an only child born to much older parents and he had no children his age or even younger in his family. i can imagine him freaking out for the first poopy diaper. haha.

thanks again ladies, i promise to get on the ball

 

[pastrygirl]

I took Hypnobirthing last time, and want to try Hypnobabies this time. (Didn't get to use it because I had a c/s.)

My local LLL group was disbanded, so I have to find a new one. I loved that group and went the whole time my son was nursing (28 months).

I'd like to take a full CPR class at some point. I took a little intro-to-CPR before my son was born, but it was very brief.

I'm a CPST, so I've got the car seat thing covered. I keep trying to teach FREE car seat safety classes, but no one is interested!

 

[darcytrue]

I'm taking a couple of breastfeeding classes (free). I'm not planning on anything else at this point. I'm having a planned c-section due to an abnormal shaped pelvis. This will be my 3rd one. I am also planning a tubal.

 

[b-girl]

We're looking into taking a childbirth class, the other week I flipped through the Birthing from Within book and we liked it so we're leaning towards that.

I'm taking prenatal yoga starting this Saturday!

I'm a PNP and my husband is a Pediatric ED RN, so we're set as far as CPR stuff and handling newborns and up -- he even took a class where they were required to learn (and practice on a simulation mannequin) how to deliver an infant for a precip delivery. I was required to take breastfeeding and car seat classes when I worked as a RN in Mother/Baby -- so I don't know if we'll actually take any. Though it would be nice to find some free classes to attend with my husband, so he can learn too. It would also be nice to meet other expecting couples too. I think I'll try to attend some LLL meetings too. Otherwise I don't really know

 

[clemrose]

With my first pregnancy my husband and I took a birthworks course from our a student midwife in our midwife's office. We loved it. I really recommend it to anyone who is looking less for birth instructions (breathe this way etc) than for information about the body and the birthing process.

This is from the birthworks website and it so totally sums up my experience (bolding added by me for emphasis) that I wanted to copy it here:

Welcome to Birth Works International! We are a nonprofit organization with certification programs for childbirth educators and doulas. The programs have an innovative and experiential design embodying a philosophy that develops a woman's self-confidence, trust, and faith in her innate ability to give birth and nurture her child. Birth Works International programs are based on the belief that the knowledge about how to give birth already exists within every woman. We do not believe that a pregnant woman needs to be taught how to give birth but rather work to help her have more trust and faith in her own body knowledge.

• Birth Works is a process, not a method. We believe that each woman will labor and birth in her own way. Our programs offer a unique and innovative design for childbirth education that integrates the mind, body, and spirit through the practice of human values.
• Birth Works encourages women to listen to their bodies by following their instincts, moving and eating as needed, and breathing slowly and deeply to promote relaxation and facilitate labor.
• Familes are encouraged to take Birth Works early in pregnancy or even prior to pregnancy, as this is an optimal time for identifying and exploring beliefs about birth, interviewing caregivers, learning about good nutrition, and choosing a birth place that feels safe.

Since this class, my husband, who pretty much knew nothing about birth beforehand, talks to women who are planning, experiencing or have just completed a pregnancy about epidural risks, pitocin and what it can lead to, etc. etc. He is amazed at how much more he knows, having never been to a hospital birth (our daughter was born at home) about the proceedures than women who are (or are planning to) giving birth in a hospital.

There is very useful info about the pelvis and how and why babies fit through there

and other body info of a practical nature. But another aspect of it is working on emotional stuff, like any potential emotional issues that might come up (this is written down for your own use, not shared).

Anyway, sorry for the book about it, I just really found it valuable.

This pregancy I'm not sure if we are doing anything as our wonderful instructor is going on maternity leave

yeah for her!

Oh, and I didn't post in the book thread but I loved Henci Goer's The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth.

 

[preemiemamarach]

I am a nurse and used to work in pediatric intensive care, so I didn't feel the need to take any classes r/t infant/child health and safety last time, nor I will with this one. I do, however, review the infant CPR guidelines periodically just to be sure. My son had an anaphylactoid reaction to medication last week (in the hospital), and I PANICKED. There were 2 nurses and a doctor in the room, but it was amazing to me that I truly couldn't remember CPR when my own child started having trouble

 

[mkksmom]

I took a childbirth class with my daughter, and didn't really use much of it. It was a basic overview of everything. I had to leave when they started talking about the epidural... I'm so squeamish.

I used some concepts from The Birth Book... stayed upright, used movement and counter-pressure to help, rocked on the ball and gave birth using the squatting bar. I also used some yoga for relaxation. I kind of did my own thing... viewed pain as sensation and imagined it flowing out of my body and into the mattress when I napped between the earlier contractions at home. I labored over night at home and just wrote down the times when I was contracting.

I used to be CPR certified for infants and children, so I'll review that before but I doubt I will take the class.

 

[Dmitrizmom]

not taking any classes specifically for this pg...

I do need to recert for first aid/cpr for th professional.

 

[dosergirl]

so i am looking into either a natural childbirth class or a hypnobirthing class, as both are offered at our education center.

sigh

i have no idea how to decide.

 

[kismetbaby]

I am thinking I'll take a hypnobirthing class. . .I met the teacher who is also a doula and really liked her. Its just a four class series. . .honestly it's as much about my DH as me though. I feel pretty comfortable being self-educated and also just listening to my body when the time comes. I want to know as much as possible, but I feel like the class aspect is more of a way to involve my hubby, yk? I have already attended two births and know a fair amount about the physical process. . .at some point no one can tell you anything else, you just have to do it. Its different for everyone and from birth to birth.

But I do feel like my DH will feel left out, or will wander around the house not knowing what to do if we don't have a class. And I feel that personally, the hypnobirthing will be best. . .I'd like him to have an idea of how to help me relax mostly. We plan to have a doula also, so I'd like to have one of her jobs to be to remind my DH of things he can do for me during the birth. I'd really like for us to feel like a team for this, even though I am afraid that I will get closed away in my own little world--I often do this when overwhelmed or in pain.

I thought about Bradley for awhile, but feel like I can get most of it from reading the books. And its such a big time commitment. I'd love to find a preg support group/mommies group, but don't feel the need for lots of structured classes. There are free classes at the hospital near us, but I am down on that hospital in general (its approach to labor and delivery is very conservative) and would feel skeptical of anything they told me.