Childbirth Classes...

[SkippyNXC]

So I know i posted in my journal about the hypnobirthing class and having to pick b/w too early or possibly too late...

Looks like that's the theme of all of the classes i want to take...

So i'm just wondering what other ladies opinions are...

"Prepared Childbirth" (overview of L&D, pain management, basic newborn care, etc.) : I can take in Feb. @ 27 weeks or April at 34 weeks

Breastfeeding- @ 35 weeks or 31 weeks...

Newborn Care (i'm not sure if i wanna take this one yet but i'm thinking about it)- @ 30 weeks or 36 weeks...

My concerns about taking classes too late are obviously if i go into labor early, i'll miss them... not a HUGE deal but i'd let to get to em...

and obviously if i take em to early, it may be a waste and i'll forget stuff...

so been there done that mamas, what would/did u do?

[lize566]

I took all the classes in April and May (if I remember correctly) and was due June 14. I took one a week for 8 weeks, so I started at 30 weeks and ended the week before I had him. But I took EVERY class available.

I took notes, and they had handouts, and I felt prepared going into the hospital, even with the subjects I had classes on at 30 weeks. It surprising at how much I remembered when it came time for stuff to happen, like when they highly recommended I got the epi, even though I wasn't in pain and had wanted to try it without, so I didn't pay close attention to that class, I still remembered the important stuff.

Do you have to pay for these classes?

[firespirit]

So I'm taking things early because I have to work around my school schedule.

I think you'd be fine waiting until the later classes as far as timing goes, however, you might be more tired. It's really starting to hit me now that LO seems to be all up in my lungs instead of sticking out and it's really uncomfortable to sit for longer periods of time.

On the other hand, I don't think you really have to worry too much about forgetting stuff. For breastfeeding, you can always ask for a refresher, for childbirth prep, you can practice up until then to keep the pain management stuff fresh and for newborn care all that will probably go out the window anyway (hahahahahaha).

Our newborn care class isn't for another 3 weeks, so I'll be at 35 weeks. Mostly, I signed up for that so I'm comfortable with DS watching her, so he gets some practice in. Plus I never took NBC with DS and even in the childbirth class I did learn some things I didn't know about newborns. Like reading the cues of when they need to take a break for just a bit, so they don't get overstimulated.

[lize566]

On the other hand, I don't think you really have to worry too much about forgetting stuff. For breastfeeding, you can always ask for a refresher, for childbirth prep, you can practice up until then to keep the pain management stuff fresh and for newborn care all that will probably go out the window anyway (hahahahahaha).



I agree! And I meant to add that you will most likely have access to a lactation consultant, so if you end up not being able to take the BF class or forget stuff, you will have someone there you can ask.

[firespirit]

I agree! And I meant to add that you will most likely have access to a lactation consultant, so if you end up not being able to take the BF class or forget stuff, you will have someone there you can ask.

Yeah I just nocticed I forgot to expand on what I meant by "refresher". Ask for an LC to come to your room.

[KMS]

I was in the same position as you and I chose to take them on the earlier side. I just knew that I would be too paranoid about going into early labor and missing them that it was much better for my sanity. I'm glad that I did because I had a lot of time to feel mentally prepared. So, you see, this all boiled down to my mental stability! ;)

[SkippyNXC]

I did forget to mention, the childbirth prep is a weekend course... so its two like 8-ish hour days...

it was that or 6 weeks and i'm not able to do them b/c of my school schedule...

I'm thinking maybe i'll do that one a lil later and do the quickie BF class earlier... idk 34 weeks i feel like i'll be big n uncomfy and 27 weeks will just be too early... stupid schedule LOL

[saltyveruca]

We took the newborn care class the night before I was sent to the hospital. Didn't know that's how it was going to work out. :boggle:

The newborn care class was pretty useless. Nothing we didn't know already/common sense.

The CPR/safety class was useful, but to be honest, I'd probably have to look at a card or Google to remember in that particular moment of panic. But before Finn starts solids, I will be sure to refresh the choking section!

The breastfeeding class was free through a family store. Useless. Nothing I learned actually helped me. For the most part, it was just a big fat warning about how the hospital would screw up breastfeeding for you (which it did, and we had no control over). But we figured things out with the help of my doctor and Doctor Internet and magically made breastfeeding work.

Prepared childbirth turned out to be useless for me-I was in barely in labor at all before I got sent to the OR. But, if things had worked out like we thought they would, I know there would have been a lot of value in it. It was especially useful to take it at the hospital where we delivered.

I would recommend taking them all pretty early. Definitely think about when you've scheduled your baby shower(s) and other stuff so you're not getting overwhelmed with baby activities. I think we started around 30 weeks depending on availability. Prepared Childbirth was about 34 and that was perfect timing for us.

[Goin2thechapel]

From my experience:

Breastfeeding class was a total waste of time and money. I learned more after having Amelia with the LC's in the hospital. Plus my course was 75.00!!

Newborn care was one that we missed since I was induced the week I was supposed to attend.

I would definitely go to the childbirth class. (It's like a right of passage...Everyone has to do it. LOL) Plus you might meet other mommies that you click with :)

As for scheduling them, I would schedule them when you feel comfortable to do it. From experience, they pair all of us mommies for childbirth class that were due at the same time (kinda cool)
All the other classes there were tons of people at totally different stages of pregnancy.

[KMS]

I forgot to comment on the actual classes...

I felt like the breastfeeding class was very helpful even though I ended up pumping. It did help in the beginning and helped give me the knowledge to defend myself and Paisley when the nurses were trying to shove formula our way.

I found the infant care class pointless, but Chad hadn't even held a baby before so it was helpful for him. It gave him a little bit of confidence when Paisley got here.

The birthing classes were invaluable. My natural birth did not go as planned, but I was able to keep my cool until things went beyond mine or my midwife's control. I thought that there was no way that I would need the information on c-sections, but I was glad that I had that knowledge when that happened.

[uptowngirl]

If you are doing Hypnobirthing I think doing it earlier would be great, that way you'll have time to practice, and be more comfortable with getting yourself relaxed for when you do go into labor. There are CDs that you can get to practice your techniques at home with. Those classes (for me anyway) were less like school classes where there were facts that you need to remember and more like music lessons where you learn what to practice at home.

Breastfeeding you'd be okay doing later since it's one of those classes that seems to really depend on the instructor and your particular nursing situation whether it's helpful or not. It was helpful for Patrick to learn how to support me (he's a champ about making sure I have a full water bottle at all times because of that class! Haha!) but I found that the LCs that showed me how to latch an actual living, wiggling, hungry baby were more helpful.

I took the hospital birthing class way early so that I'd have time to do the Birthing from Within (natural pain management) classes closer to my due date and that worked out great for me. It gave me the confidence that my chosen hospital would be able to work with my birth preferences, and the tour was very helpful on a practical level.

Baby care was helpful for Patrick since he'd never swaddled, changed a diaper, etc but I didn't learn much other that DH looks cute holding a swaddled dolly. :lafhard:

[SkippyNXC]

Thanks Sarah, that was helpful!

The newborn care class is only $25 bucks and breastfeeding is only $10 so even if i get little out of them the cost isn't overwhelming...

However, the childbirth prep is $145!!!! ugh!

[Goin2thechapel]

Thanks Sarah, that was helpful!

The newborn care class is only $25 bucks and breastfeeding is only $10 so even if i get little out of them the cost isn't overwhelming...

However, the childbirth prep is $145!!!! ugh!
Oh, If that's all the classes cost then I would totally do them!!!

Our Childbirth was 150.00 too and as much as it sucks to pay, you should really do it. I bet you'll like it alot!

[SkippyNXC]

Oh I'm definitely doing the childbirth prep class... I don't think I'll tell DH how much it costs tho b/c he's already annoyed i want him to go b/c he already knows a lot of what they'll teach re: labor, meds, etc.

[mj512]

That stinks that it is $145 :( Ours is something like $50 for the childbirth class (all day on a Saturday 9-5) and $70 if you combine it with the breastfeeding and the infant care.

They haven't contacted me back yet about the classes but I think I'll do the childbirth class whenever, I'm really interested in getting the tour. I will probably wait until I'm sometime around 34 weeks to do the breastfeeding class.

[SkippyNXC]

yeah i want the tour too! i could do one before the class for free but that seems silly...

DH has had a tour of L&D and says its "very nice" so i'll just take his word for it...

[britTANNY]

I would do childbirth prep for sure... All of the classes for us were included in a big session 2 days a week for 3-5 hours for a month... and it was free if you planned on delivering at that hospital.

I did learn some scary/interesting things like what to do if for some reason the cord slips ahead of the baby and if you have your baby in the car (we lived 2 blocks away so wasnt much of an issue lol) also the part about cpr and choking is good... lexi choked on gunk left over from birth and it freaked me out so bad, but i remembered what i leaned and used it...

All the videos we watched in those classes were available for me to watch on different channels before and after labor and while we stayed at the hospital... (Maybe the hospital you are going to be at has helpful videos?)

Lexi was due May 21st so i went to classes in April, and i was 100% confindent she wouldnt come that early...

i think the lactation lady was very helpful, but for me bf hurt SOOOO bad i would cry everytime i fed her... the nipple sheild really helped me even though no one told me about it till 2 weeks later!

I would take notes from all the classes and reveiw them every now and again

Oh and at our hospital they wont let anyone in the c section room unless they fill out a form and watch a video of a c section and they allow you one person to go with you

Sorry this is so long i spaced it out to make it easier to skim lol

[saltyveruca]

FYI: I ignored the c-section part because it was too scary and I knew that:

1) By that point, it's totally out of my hands anyway, what am I going to do to help?
2) If I knew what was happening I would freak out, so it was better not to have any knowledge or pictures in my mind!

I had a c-section, and my strategy worked out fine. ;)

But I will say that even though I didn't practice any happy visualization beforehand, I really did "go to my happy place" to keep my sanity during the surgery. It was really interesting to find out what that place was!