Childbirth Classes?

[odouglass]

I am debating on whether or not to take them. This is our first child but I've followed my sister through her 5 pregnancies .....

My husband doesn't think it is necessary but I think it would be vital.

Thoughts?

 

[vickyandchick]

I'm planning on going but where I live it's only one class for 2 hours or 2 classes over an hour, plus I keep forgetting to book them I've heard people say they're not that helpful but I figured it won't do any harm

 

[N27murray]

This is my first and dh and I have been talking about taking a class. I think it can only do good and I might be thanking myself for taking it come labour

 

[ParisJeTadore]

I think the classes can be great or just ok depending on who is teaching but I highly recommend going.

I was a little apprehensive at first but I am so glad we went for my previous pregnancy. I had a male and female nurse and they were kind, funny, approachable and kept it light hearted (doesn't mean they skirted serious issues) so as not to scare us pregnant ladies! I really enjoyed myself and I look back on it with joy. It prepared me in many ways and I too think it is vital before the "big day".

One thing that stuck with me was an incident one of our instructors saw. He said a lady came to the hospital in labour deciding she was just going to "wing it" and he said it made for a horrible experience. She was scared, unsure, and didn't know what was happening to her body. He said it takes a couple days of your time but can make a much better birthing experience if you stay informed.

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Ive never been any form of classes i was clueless when i got pregnant at 17, i think all you need is the internet and places like this

I think everyone looks at these differently x

 

[Rickles]

We did NCT - it was great to meet other couples but in no way prepared us for what happens once the baby was actually here...

In fact we did a ridiculous amount of visualisation which was totally useless for me. I wish we'd done more of a parent craft course and learned about nappy changing, giving baby baths, first aid, when to see the doctor etc.

I wasn't anxious about the birth - which went terribly despite all the prep. But I had serious anxiety about having a newborn!!!

So I guess I would check the contents and see whether it will tick your boxes (we all need different support) xx

 

[bumpbear]

I think following your sisters pregnancies is very different to having your own (I'm one of 4 girls and have oodles of nephews and nieces).

I found the classes a bit dull but helpful. They covered everything from very natural approaches to very medicated ones and were unbiased in laying out the pros and cons so I felt able to make various choices whilst in labour. Eg I took an Epi in the end (had planned on a natural labour- ha!) but asked the doctor to lay off pitocin unless absolutely necessary. They would have given it to me earlier if I hadn't objected and in the end I didn't need it. I also didn't freak out when my daughter had to go to special care after my Epi as it gave me a fever and they had to test her for infections. They told me this was a possibility in birthing class and I hadn't known because my sisters all had natural births.

 

[emicakess]

I think you can never be too prepared. Im taking them one a week all this month abd they are 3 hours a class. I am SO happy OH and I are taking them, we are learning so much and I already feel so much more confident about labor and delivery. So does he. I think he is feeling even more relieved about all off this than me lol. Its totally up to you but you might learn new things , and it might end up being very beneficial to you

 

[Tigerlily01]

I'm taking one, but I think it's a personal choice. If you have the time and money though, it can't hurt.

 

[Whip]

We're not doing it. Neither are we making a birth plan. For us, we feel it'll happen how it's meant to and knowing how 'textbook' births go will stress me out and make me compare my birth to what 'should' be happening.

As a pp said, it's a personal choice, no right or wrong thing to do xxx

 

[EmzyJA]

I'm not, I went to one when pregnant with my last and I found it boring. I knew pretty much everything anyways that they were talking about. Plus as I've been through it before I'm guessing I have an idea of what's going to happen. I'd go if it was my first though just out of curiosity.

 

[Pixiedust22]

I'm going, I want all the information I can get and it's free here anyway.

 

[odouglass]

Thank you so much for your insight. I agree that following my sister's pregnancies and births is different than actually experiencing it myself. I do not plan to make a birth plan because my spinal fusion could cause some complications or last minute decisions that I don't want to be disappointed if that were to happen. The classes range from $85-$100/couple here so I am hoping to determine if it is worth it, I am thinking it is just to see what insight they can offer.

 

[BigAl]

I did find it helpful to attend, but it does depend what they cover. It was useful to know exactly when to go into hospital, what to expect while there. We did do nappy changing, bit of first aid, how to know when baby is hungry. But I will say nothing prepares you for the reality, but it did stop me freaking out.

My only concern with the internet is working out, what is quality information, what is just biased nonsense.

Being fully informed about the benefits and downsides to each type of pain relief is crucial, and best coming from a credited source imo.

 

[zigee]

I say if you can afford it and it'll make you feel more relaxed/prepared it's worth it. My husband and I did several and Id be lieing if I said I didnt walk away with a tidbit or two. By the last class though, we werent finding the info as useful ( could have been the presenter) and decided to leave early.

 

[krissie328]

I took one and would highly recommend it. I learned a lot and I believe it will help when the time comes. We also learned about pain relief options available at our hospital as well as tour the maternity ward so it helped calm a few more nerves.

 

[StarBrites]

We signed up for birthing and breastfeeding classes at the hospital I'll be delivering at. This is our first and I'm pretty clueless and think it would be a nice experience anyways. Plus it gives us something to do together They also offer a caring for a newborn class and infant safety & CPR. We're not sure about those ones yet. I'd like to do the newborn one but we will see!

 

[wookie130]

I took childbirth and breastfeeding classes. I enjoyed both of them, but wished I would have jumped right to the newborn care class, as I ended up having a c-section, and not having a milk supply...so, really I couldn't put any of the things I learned to use from the first two classes.

I found it enjoyable, however. It's a good way to start becoming mentally prepared for the labor and delivery. I'd recommend it.