Birthing Classes Worth It?

I just had my baby and my husband and I decided not to take the class because it kind of freaked us out and we knew there would be videos. Read a book like what to expect when you're expecting, and then expect ANYTHING. No matter what you plan it'll go the way the Lord wants and different than what anyone else told you.

I attended classes with my husband when I was pregnant with my first. The earlier classes were closed so we started attending a class close to my due date. I ended up delivering before I finished my class... I found that it was helpful for me because we were so young. I probably wouldn't go to a class now that I'm older...LOL Good luck and congratulations!

I'd look for a prenatal yoga class. the physical stretching will prepare you for birth and the breathing will be better then the breathing you will learn in a birthing class.

Congratulations!

I think taking the class is so important--first of all, you get information handed to you that you could certainly find elsewhere, but who has the time to read all those books and websites? The childbirth educator makes it her or his job to know and be available to answer questions and expand on ideas, to be a resource. Secondly, you meet other couples in the same stage of life as you--you can make friends for life there. Thirdly, you learn a lot from hands-on experience, and your class will probably teach you some important stuff that way. Fourth, you and your partner have a designated time set aside to spend learning about what's going to happen, and I doubt you'd find two hours a week to sit down and focus like that otherwise (but maybe you would!).

If you're interested in a natural birth, I would recommend steering away from most of the hospital programs. They tend to focus on epidurals and what can go wrong, but it's better to focus on what you want so you're more likely to get it. Look into Birthing From Within, The Bradley Method, and HypnoBabies. Hypnosis is a fantastic and amazing help with childbirth--I used it for my easy 5-hour labor, and now I teach a hypnosis for birth class in Albuquerque called Practical Hypnosis for Birth, which isn't available where you are. We have couples having two, three, five and six hour births, loving the experience, having it be empowering and connecting for them as a couple. HypnoBabies is a great program, too, and probably is available in AZ somewhere close to you. Lamaze is okay, but over-controlling your breathing can lead to hyperventilation and loopiness, so I think you'd want to look into other stuff. Make sure the one you pick has less to do with what can go wrong, and more to do with what can go right--your body was meant to do this. The uterus is not broken, and birth isn't a disease. Find a class that suits your values,and you'll be likely to find other couples that share your values, too.

Best of luck to you on your exciting journey!

My answer is YES! I recommend reading books on birth, breastfeeding, and parenting AND taking classes on all of them, too! :)

I recommend the Bradley method for childbirth. It worked much better for me than the hospital class. Although, the hospital class is informative on what goes on in the hospital.

Congratulations and good luck!

Yes, yes, yes. I was a first time parent back in October last year and had no clue what to do with a baby. I took the regular birthing class through Contemporary Care for Women (my OB dr.) then took everything I possibly could through Banner Desert. I did the breastfeeding class, basic baby care, and car seat class. All were very helpful and I am so glad that I did.

Yes, absolutely. It's always good to know the options if anything goes wrong, and it's educational and helps you to help the process instead of working against it. When I had my first baby, I did not have any classes and found myself holding my breath through the contractions. Later, when I took classes while pregnant with another child, I found out that holding your breath is bad for the baby and works against your body while trying to push the baby out. Good luck!

I agree with many of the women that the classes are definitely worth it. I read everything I could get my hands on, but it was great to also get to talk to other parents who were going through the same thing. We took the hospital class (Banner Desert) and they gave a great overview of different scenarios and also hints to help up with check-in and with feeling as comfortable in the hospital as possible. They showed us and let us handle a lot of equipment (forceps, vacuums, epidural lines), which for me was strangely comforting. I felt more at ease with the thought of delivery. I also would recommend taking a breastfeeding class if you are planning on doing so. They covered so many aspects of feeding and baby care in general. They also gave us additional information to take home that was well-organized and easy to refer back to if I had questions down the road (also phone numbers of who to call if I needed help.) Additionally, Banner Desert had a short class they had you take on caring for your newborn before you left the hospital. All of these classes stressed the fact that every mom and child is different, but provided many helpful strategies to assist you in different situations. Congratulations and good luck! Everything will fall into place!

Yes, I thought they were worth it. You may get some of the same info, but it helps to be in a class with others going through the same thing you are - comparing notes, stories, etc and you'll also have a class leader who will answer your questions.

Birthing classes are very, very much worth it! Not only are they a ton of fun, but they will give you the knowledge that you need to avoid the sometimes-harmful interventions that can come with a standard hospital birth. And really, they're so much fun! There are some GREAT classes offered at Nurturing Hearts Birth Services in Mesa - 8 weeks long and taught by some amazing ladies (and a great price, too!). Bradley classes are also terrific, and so are Hypnobabies. The Arizona Birth Network also offers free monthly meetings that discuss birth-related topics that are very helpful to parents. Feel free to shoot any questions my way if you have any - and congratulations!!

P.S. I agree with another commenter - one of the best things you can do to get a great birth experience is to hire a doula. Seriously. Doulas will really help you out, and they can also help your hubbie to have a great birth experience with you by protecting your space and giving him suggestions as to how to help you. Let me know if you need recommendations!

"Congratulations K." having a Baby is an Awesome and Beautiful Gift!! Appreciate it as such because there are so many who are not able to or it did not come easy.

I was the latter so when I got pregnant I appreciated it as such!! Especially with your first you do not know what to expect so by all means take a class get prepared for this Gift you are about to deliver. Most women can be anxious or fearful especially with the first because it is somewhat the unknown. You can read, talk to people, and see others, but your experience is your OWN! So the more knowledge the Better!! The more you educate yourself and experience the less Fear and Anxiety!
Yes, you can read books but it can never prepare you like a class. My husband and I took a Bradley Class (the Bradley Method) and met some awesome friends (still friends today) learns some awesome things that I would have never learned through the hospital. I also loved that it really involves the husbands and informs them like no other class. My husband in a lot of ways was extremely fearful about it and this class relaxed and informed him to ultimately be the Best Coach!

Know what you want first. If you want to be informed, and be as much in charge of your child's birth and have your baby naturally (with no drugs or only as necessary), have your husband and you bond even more over your baby and be held more accountable as parents then I highly recommend the Bradley Method. If none of that really matters to you then by all means take the class at the hospital. They will take control and you will deliver your baby.

I was told that the Lamaze they do at the hospital is one very small portion of the entire Lamaze Teaching. The Hospitals take one portion (which is the relax & breathing exercises) throw out the rest and implement for the rest of the class Hospital Procedures. Because they are banking on you giving them total control. Well, if you are not very informed then you should.

Now, don't get me wrong we took 3 classes at the hospital with our first. One was just a Hospital Procedure class where we also could Pre-Register (highly recommend to speed things along when in labor) and see what the rooms were like plus I could start to see what I could request and change also. Our Breastfeeding Class was the Absolute Best!! Had I not taken that class I think I would of given up. Because for some it is not as Natural as for others! But I am happy to say because of the Lactation Nurse that taught that class I was able to have support the entire year I nursed both of mine! It was also Awesome that she requires the husbands to go to. They need to know the support that you need because believe me they need to know exactly what it involves.

I had a dear friend who could not nurse her first two. She did not have the support and because it does take some proper instruction and determination she got frustrated and gave up. Well, I encouraged her and her husband to commit to the class (there were 2 or 3 classes). They loved it and she went on to nurse the 3rd and 4th child!! They saved lots of money and were extremely Grateful!!

Lastly, the other class I took was already mentioned. Preparing to bring Baby Home or something like that. Where they show you how to swaddle baby and bathe him or her. I had bathed newborns before (babysitting) and of course, dolls! But I still learned a lot I was not aware of!!

Happy Healthy Delivery!
A.

It was definitely worth it especially for my husband who didn't have a clue. We took our classes at Banner Good Samaritan but I think any hospital based program would be good. You'll never regret attending the classes but you may if you don't. I also recommend getting CPR trained for infants or updated in your CPR training if it has been more than 2 years.

K.

Birthing classes are worth it if you know what you are buying. It might pay off as a great ( or better) birth experience. But a doula helping you out in the hospital might be just as good or better.
Are you worried about parenting skills? or the birth itself. Or Both. Classes and books address these things separately.
What kind of birth experience are you hoping for? Unmedicated? Non-hospital based birthing classes and books on this topic will prepare you for the common obstacles to natural birth in American hospitals. Most hospital based classes will of course prep you for the stuff they do in the hospital so that you will be a more compliant patient.
You can probably tell what kind of class I took. I gave birth at home for extra peace of mind. But each to their own! Good luck.

Yes, it's very worth it! We took the classes before my first, and then the information was in my head for my future deliveries. It is good to actually practice breathing some before delivery. Although you never know how it will go, at least if the nurse tells you that you can't push and must breathe through contractions you will know how to do that. (I was told that on two of my babies.) Yes, much of the information can be found in books, but that's nothing like having a human being who can answer any questions you may have.

Yes, they are worth it. Lots of good information. If you are considering breast-feeding, I would also recommend taking a breast feeding class as well. Lots of good info on that too.

I would really suggest taking one. Not necessarily a hospital class, because a lot of that CAN be found in books, as far as the physiology of what's going to happen. But a small, personal class where you can really communicate with the teacher and other parents would be great. The more informed you are going into your birth, the better your outcomes will be, esp. if you want a natural birth.

Ask around to find a good class that will meet your needs. If you want one that covers baby care, make sure the class covers that. The one I went to had minimal baby care stuff, but a friend's class covered a lot of baby care - which gave us both helpful info. I thought tall classes were the same - and they are not. I wish I had attended my friend's class instead of the one I went to. I learned important and helpful things that I would not have learned from a book, but there was a lot I wish had been covered that wasn't. If you do some research and find a class that meets your needs - it's worth it.

I say yes to any class you can get whether it be at the hospital or not. Even if you can find the info in books, hands on classes make the information easier to understand.

Good Luck and congrats!

Hello and Congratulations!
I second what Sarah already wrote. What was also nice about the classes is that other parents were asking questions that I had not thought about yet. I delivered at Banner Thunderbird, and the classes there were great and pretty inexpensive, too. They also included a tour of the delivery and recovery area as well as the maternal ward for afterwards, which helped to clear some of the unknown. They also showed where the cafetria was etc. Stuff one could find out then, too, but who wants to do that befuddled and sleep-deprived.
I would take the class again if I had to do it over.

All the best!
D.

I do teach Bradley classes, so of course I'm biased. But I found this a thought-provoking question, to think about really why classes would be better.

After thinking about it, if you're taking the right kind of class for you, it'd be worth it. One advantage of the "right" type of class is a smaller class where you are comfortable asking as many questions as you need. You can spend a lot of time trying to find the answer to a question that the teacher can tell you right away and then she can tell you the best place to find more information. I'd imagine most teachers are eager to answer questions anytime, even after the birth, if you have baby questions. (That same point applies to a doula, if you hire one.) Also, in finding the "right" class, you have to figure out what exactly you're looking for in a class so that you're not wasting your time and money. A lot of other people have explained that well.

The other reason why classes would be better is that it's more than learning information that you could learn in a book. (Well, that's more likely with an independent non-hospital class.) When I teach, my priority is the relaxation/labor practice we do. (If we're short on time, that's most important.) Practicing gets your husband comfortable with that role, so that when the birth comes, he's going to be a big help. On the topic of husbands, a lot of women find that their husbands will not actually read the books, and classes is how they actually learn about birth/babies. Many birthing classes cover pregnancy exercises (like Kegel, squat) and nutrition. Personally, I have a hard time finding motivation to keep up with that if I'm trying it on my own. But in a class, having someone check up on what I'm doing does motivates me.

Oh, one last thing. A lot of couples find taking a class together (especially a smaller, more personal class) strengthens their relationship. It's something that they are working together on. Many classes have communication exercises so that couples can understand each other better.

Hope this helps!

I can't imagine what I would have done without my birthing class! I learned so much about myself, my husband and what to expect. A lot depends on who you go to so do some research and make sure your birthing coach has the same philosophy as you. Recommendations from friends are also a great help. Birthing classes helped me give birth to my son 4 months ago without drugs and he was sunny side up! I highly recommend taking a class.

Birthday classes are very much worth it! It is a great thing for dads because it lets them be part of your pregrancy. And though you can get some of the information online or in a book the class, with all the other new couples, is a wonderful experience and helpful.

I say yes. I did know alot for my first baby because I was present at three births before I had mine. I think it really helped my husband know more of what to do for me. It also taught me about the perineal stretch. With that I did not have an episiotomy with either one of my children. I know not all classes teach this but I am glad my teacher did.

Either take the class or have a doula or both. It is nice when you get to share the experience with others because they may have different questions you wouldnt think of to find in a book.

The class my husband and I attended was great. Yes, a lot of it was the same things I read in books or online but it was nice to have an RN there to clarify things and answer questions. She also allowed us to look at some equipment (like the epidural equipment, sensors used, etc) and I found that very helpfully.
Breathing techniques were taught and we got to practice that a lot.
We also got to tour the labor and delivery ward, showed my husband where to park and what entrance to use so we wouldn't have to go too far to get checked in. Those tours are normally free. Check with your hospital to find out about that.

All in all, it was very educational and it made us more comfortable about delivering our first child.

Check with your insurance to see if they cover the cost of classes. A lot of them will now.

Congrats and best wishes to you!

Personlly I think I is worth it. When we were expecting our first child, I read books and researched online, but it did not prepare me for the actual labor/contracting experience. It can really help to be able to talk to other parents, compare & share stories, have someone there you can actually ask questions. When I when into labor, I was induced so after they gave me the inducing drugs, I didn't realize I was actually contracting and going through labor. The nurses I think kind of assume that you understand what's going on to a point. But I pretty much had no idea what was going on until they told me to start pushing. It was so much easier during my second pregnancy just because I had that much more knowlegde and experience.

I personally find them to be extremely helpful, especially for first time parents. It depends on what your birth philosophy is though, for the type of class. If you just want general birth information, hospital policies and plan on drugs, one at your local hospital works just fine....I've honestly never found them that informative but my philosophy on birth is different then the mainstream. If you really want to try without drugs or are seriously thinking about it, then something like Bradley Method classes or Lamaze, Hypnobirthing or Hypnobabies or other natural birthing classes would be good.

I think it depends on where you go. Our birth class was really cool. We got to watch a video of a delivery so that was super educational. There was no way a book could demonstrate that as effectively!! They also covered newborn care, which is very helpful for someone with no experience. We actually had realistic dolls to diaper, clothe and bathe. They were heavy like a baby and floppy in the body so that you felt movement when you were working with it.

Something to remember is that you will not have a textbook labor or delivery so all that reading will go out the window. With the classes you actually get into various positions that can be helpful during labor. It was better to experiment with these while not actually in pain!! Most of it was comical. I always thought it was cruel to make women who were 8 months pregnant get on the floor!

Anyway...I guess I am saying that you can get things out of classes that you can't get out of a book. But find one that covers more than just breathing during contractions!

I never went to birthing classes. I am 21 years old now and I have a 1 year old son. I was extremely nervous about giving birth to my son. But I knew the parenting and taking care of him was something that would come naturally. No one will ever be able to give you enough advice to make you ready to be a parent. The advice that you should be listening to is your parents, your friends, and select books by well known and well liked authors. But as far as the classes for giving birth, I know everyone has their own experience, but I personally had the best experience without any classes. I did have a few complications that made the doctors want me to not give birth without pain medication. Waiting for the pushing to begin was no problem, wether you go to classes or not, you kind of do whatever feels best for you or what you already know will calm you down. You will probably be so in the moment that you wont even remember half of the things you learned from the classes. I know not everyone is as lucky as I am but when it came time to push, my son was out in 4 minutes flat. I was alone in the room (besides doctors and nurses), and obviously you wont be, so that will make things a little easier too. It wont even matter what kind of classes you do, or dont take, the second your child is out, you just know that you could've done it no matter what. Child birth is the most amazing experience in the world, and nothing will matter after that besides your child. Your classes can only prepare you for how it might happen, but wether you take classes or not, you will get through it, and you will be the happiest new mommy in the world.

Absolutely. The biggest hurdle in birth is fear - of pain, of the unknown, of change. If you truly understand what is happening during the birthing process, know the different stages and how to recognize them, recognize pain with a purpose as opposed to pain as a signal of injury, and how to listen to your body, you will be in a great mental and thus physical space for a healthy, less stressful experience. I highly recommend The Bradley Method - even if you only read the book and watch the video, but classes are invaluable. Remember the more you know ahead of time the less you have to fear; the more relaxed you are mentally and physically, the easier it will be.

If you are planning on having a drug free labor and delivery, I would urge you to look into a class like Lamaze or Bradley. If you are certain that you want to have pain medication, I would still plan on reading up about breathing techniques because chances are you won't be able to get an epidural right away.
As far as childbirth education classes go, the ones where they simply educate you on what happens during labor, I do not think they are necessary. You have plenty of time to read up about the stages of labor and delivery and what to expect during that time. And honestly that is all they teach in these classes.
I am also due in April with my sixth child and have taken childbirth classes a few times. I have also had five successful drug free vaginal deliveries. So it is possible to do it without the classes. They can be quite costly, so it is good that you are considering all of your options.
I would be happy to talk with you about everything I have learned in my past deliveries if you would like to send me a message.
Good luck!