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how important is taking a childbirth class?
So, i am a first time mom and im wondering what your experiences have been/what you think about a childbirth class. did you actually use what you learned? did it help you? was it fun? or is it awkward and uncomfortable and your instincts take over anyway? just curious on if i should spend the money for the class or if i should just 'wing it" lol
as a side note...what classes have you taken your first time around that you thought were helpful?
im not interested in like a newborn care class...ive been a nanny for the last 4 years and feel very confident in that area. but like BF or a new dads class? what do you think?
as a side note...what classes have you taken your first time around that you thought were helpful?
im not interested in like a newborn care class...ive been a nanny for the last 4 years and feel very confident in that area. but like BF or a new dads class? what do you think?
It helped my husband more than it helped me. He was able to relax and not freak out that something was wrong with every new phase or symptom of labor
I'm not taking a class as of now, maybe in the next month? But I'm not sure since I hardly have time and my husband deeefinitely doesn't have the time to go with me. I've heard from a lot of ladies that take a class and forget about everything they learned when the time comes to give birth. I mean, you can breathe right?? As long as you do what the midwife/doc suggests you to do, then you'll be fine.
BTW if I do take a class it'll be of how to take care of a newborn cause I know ZERO lol
BTW if I do take a class it'll be of how to take care of a newborn cause I know ZERO lol
well i was talking to DF last night and i think we're gonna take one...for the heck of it if not for the information. i figure its my first baby so if theres a time ever to take one...its now.
it may be awkward and uncomfortable and i may forget all the information in the heat of the moment but maybe we'll come away from the class a little braver and with some extra laughs and new friends!
thank you all for your opinions...u really helped me to make up my mind. i'll letchya all know how we like it!
it may be awkward and uncomfortable and i may forget all the information in the heat of the moment but maybe we'll come away from the class a little braver and with some extra laughs and new friends!
thank you all for your opinions...u really helped me to make up my mind. i'll letchya all know how we like it!
no hard feelings, i understand what you mean...i was thinking of watching some videos but i also dont wanna scare the crud outta myself lol!
lucky you got to experience such a great class! that really sounds awesome! i wish i knew someone in our area who has taken the class im looking at so i could get some feed back from them!
I am high risk also and can not see a midwife. However they can explain childbirth and your body better then any OB I have come accross. That is really all I was saying. Of the best way to get the real info you will need , but like I said you will not know really till you are in that situation. It is an experience like non other:)
I guess my thoughts spilled to much out! But I will say that every class is different and only certian ones work for certian people. It all has to do with like you said having an open mind going in not expecting to much so you do not feel like it was a bad experience. Our hopes can crush that very fast when they don't have to. Being truly informed is the best way for that to not happen wether you ahve a medicated or drug free birth. That is why watching videos of all of them and reading books of different types of births will help that.
"Limonda" like I said my thoughts spilled out to much and my intention was just to offer her the best ideas for her to feel comfortable and be able to enjoy her birth which she is looking forward to! No heated debate intended!!
I guess my thoughts spilled to much out! But I will say that every class is different and only certian ones work for certian people. It all has to do with like you said having an open mind going in not expecting to much so you do not feel like it was a bad experience. Our hopes can crush that very fast when they don't have to. Being truly informed is the best way for that to not happen wether you ahve a medicated or drug free birth. That is why watching videos of all of them and reading books of different types of births will help that.
"Limonda" like I said my thoughts spilled out to much and my intention was just to offer her the best ideas for her to feel comfortable and be able to enjoy her birth which she is looking forward to! No heated debate intended!!
I have to type this one handed while holding Lily, so I apologize if it sounds blunt. I didn't take a class and had a successful, drug-free birth. I wouldn't have done it any differently.
I didn't take one and I did just fine. I think the best thing a woman can do is to listen to her own body and act accordingly. While they can be informative, I never felt the need to take the classes, but it is solely up to you and what you are comfortable with. :)
I took a chilbirth class and found it very helpful for both of us. Our "course" was broken down into 7 classes, over a 2 month span, and it was great. One week was totally about breastfeeding, and one class was a "Daddy Boot Camp" where the Mom's & Dad's split for that class and a local family would come in with their newborn and let the Dad's hold the baby and change the baby's diaper if they wanted to. It was amazing, and I would do it again. =) Good luck.
Going into it all with an open mind is best - I think you hit the nail right on the head.
To be honest, I'm getting tired of the old "natural vs. medicated" debate on here. Like the H1N1 threads, these discussions get very heated on here. Like you, I just want for both my baby and I to get through labour and delivery just fine - this time, induced or not, if I need an epidural again, I'll take it. Mind you, I won't go in requesting one, I'll see how it goes first.
To be honest, I'm getting tired of the old "natural vs. medicated" debate on here. Like the H1N1 threads, these discussions get very heated on here. Like you, I just want for both my baby and I to get through labour and delivery just fine - this time, induced or not, if I need an epidural again, I'll take it. Mind you, I won't go in requesting one, I'll see how it goes first.
I didnt even take a single class, and when i delievered i did really well. I didnt even tear. Its really up to you, if you feel that taking a class will do you better and make you feel good about when it finally happens then i say go for it. But like me with this new pregnancy im not gonna take classes either, i didnt the first time never tore i dont wanna tear this time either....lol. So its really more up to you then anything!
im a high risk patient and i see a high risk team of OB's (i have a medical condition that wont allow me to see a midwife or a regular ob) ...i havent decided if i want to go all natural or not yet. i just want my baby to get here safely and for me to make it through it safely...my plan is to avoid a c section at all costs but other than that if i need an epidural i need an epidural. i have no idea what to expect so im gonna go into it with an open mind.
thank you for the information though : )
thank you for the information though : )
ahh I've been wondering the same thing except my midwifes offer only a few classes and you can take them just on a sat all day or like four nights. I kinda wanna take atleast one just for the experience and bonding time with my bf. But they can be pricey...
I recomend watching videos on you tube about child birth froma midwives point of view and home births, hospital births etc... Also the book by Ina May Gaskin Birthing from within I think it is called.
I took the bradley method classes with my first and let me tell you after him I had three girls and by far those classes were not helpful! They only tell you what the dr's want to do and how the hospital polocies are. I hear hypnobirthing is great for some. Your best bet is to higher a Doula to teach you about the pain and positions for what type of pain you are having. Also to teach your DH or BF what exactlly to do, which is tailored to you personally. I ahve given birth two x with a natural birth and they were my best! My first they gave me too much epidurual and I could not feel to push so they had to let it waer off ( it took almsot an hour) then he broke my tail bone coming out becasue of how the have you lay in the bed. Those beds are not condusive to real child birth!!!!!!!!!!
Not to scare you at all but if they give you an epidural to early it will slow labor down and they do not wait and will lie to you that it has to happen for the babies health and give you pitocin which is harmful to you and the baby. It gives a higher risk for a c-section! Relaxing and learning to relax your own way is the best. Nothing really can prepare you for your first birth though. You really have to know hwo your body works and give in to the labor and then rise it out the first time. It is a good experience no matter what once you are holding that baby in your arms:) But you really just need to know how your body works and what the baby does during child birth and waht the hospital proceedures are and what your dr's proceedures are. Believe me if it si tiem for the dr to go home the nurses and him will say they need to do this etc..... or the baby will be in distress and they will not pur you first! They are surgeons now midwives! Well most of them. I hope you ahve a good one who loves natuarl labors!
I took the bradley method classes with my first and let me tell you after him I had three girls and by far those classes were not helpful! They only tell you what the dr's want to do and how the hospital polocies are. I hear hypnobirthing is great for some. Your best bet is to higher a Doula to teach you about the pain and positions for what type of pain you are having. Also to teach your DH or BF what exactlly to do, which is tailored to you personally. I ahve given birth two x with a natural birth and they were my best! My first they gave me too much epidurual and I could not feel to push so they had to let it waer off ( it took almsot an hour) then he broke my tail bone coming out becasue of how the have you lay in the bed. Those beds are not condusive to real child birth!!!!!!!!!!
Not to scare you at all but if they give you an epidural to early it will slow labor down and they do not wait and will lie to you that it has to happen for the babies health and give you pitocin which is harmful to you and the baby. It gives a higher risk for a c-section! Relaxing and learning to relax your own way is the best. Nothing really can prepare you for your first birth though. You really have to know hwo your body works and give in to the labor and then rise it out the first time. It is a good experience no matter what once you are holding that baby in your arms:) But you really just need to know how your body works and what the baby does during child birth and waht the hospital proceedures are and what your dr's proceedures are. Believe me if it si tiem for the dr to go home the nurses and him will say they need to do this etc..... or the baby will be in distress and they will not pur you first! They are surgeons now midwives! Well most of them. I hope you ahve a good one who loves natuarl labors!
hahaha.....well at my hospital we can schedual a tour of labor and delivery whenever we want so i wouldnt have to take the class to get a tour...this class is for breathing and meditation techniques as well as information i guess. but we have to schedule our tour seperatly i do know that. im delivering at swedish medical center in seattle and they offer about 20 different classes related to childbirth or newborn care..im trying to sort through the neccisary and no so neccisary ones as they do cost money. theres like a welcome baby package that gives u a little bit of everything but its like an 8 week thing...sounds intense lol! and i think it costs like 250!
LOL, I voted enjoyed the class but forgot it all in the moment. Every labor you experience is different. I am grateful I did do it since I got a great tour of the maternity unit. Will I ever take another one? Nope... I can manage just fine with the maternal instincts that come over you in labor... Or like my Dh said my animal instincts as I literally growled during contractions. He was afraid I was going to bite him..
on my experience i have 4 mind you with my 1st i took the class didn't use one thing i leaned in the class 2nd child did fine without it 3rd child husband(ex) insisted i take it again so i did and again didn't use anything and 4th did great without the class(he was born 2 weeks ago) so i would say its not necessary but this is just my experience each woman react differently to it all i think your body just takes over and knows what to do i mean woman have been doing childbirth and labor for centuries without help but its what you want and no one else's good luck
While taking a class would definately be very beneficial I never did. I managed 5 deliveries without one. The only reason I didn't was because of childcare or work schedules.
thank you, that was very helpful! we did just move to the area and dont have many friends here yet...not any with kids either so it might be nice to meet someone.
I'd recommend taking a class as they do provide some valuable information. The bottom line, though, is that every labour and delivery is different, so you just have to glean what you can from the information they give you about what MAY happen, and go from there.
I ended up being induced and having back labour because of how DS was laying. I tried the breathing I'd learned in class, but it didn't really help - the contractions were pretty strong and hard once things really got going.
We met another couple in our class with whom we still hang out today, so in that sense it was worthwhile as well.
I ended up being induced and having back labour because of how DS was laying. I tried the breathing I'd learned in class, but it didn't really help - the contractions were pretty strong and hard once things really got going.
We met another couple in our class with whom we still hang out today, so in that sense it was worthwhile as well.
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