Did you attend any birthing classes? (Spin-off the Bradley method thread)

[cheeksy]

Did you go to any birthing classes?
I don't really have a chance to attend any, perhaps just watch videos and read something online. So curious how many mamas did and or did not and how it impacted the labour process.

[i.<3.cheesysmiles]

I took a birthing class that my hospital offered with DS1, but it was worthless. The books I read were more useful. With my second, I just read books to prepare.

[pants]

I took a birthing class that my hospital offered with DS1, but it was worthless. The books I read were more useful. With my second, I just read books to prepare.

exactly...the hospital classes were worthless for the type of birth I was going for. If I was a planned c or knew I was going to use pain meds then the hospital classes would have been worth it. They spent a great deal on the available interventions.the best thing about the class was the hospital tour and seeing the babies <3

[misfit]

I took Lamaze with my oldest, but it was worthless. Pretty much just a class to tell you what exactly was going to happen in the hospital and the "timeline" of the events. I read part of the Husband Coached Childbirth with my husband just to get him into a more supporting role with my second.

[rachoochoo]

I did not take classes either time. Next time I plan to take Bradley classes because I had a horrible epidural experience this last time and I do not want a medical birth again.

[Jai]

I took a birthing class that my hospital offered with DS1, but it was worthless. The books I read were more useful. With my second, I just read books to prepare.

this

[sunkiss]

I didn't attend any classes, but I bought a DVD that went throught everything and I actually felt quite prepared. Between that and all the knowledge I've picked up on APA and baby shows on TLC, () I can't imagine that there's much more I could have learned in a class. With my second, I didn't do anything to prepare. Both deliveries went as well as I could've expected!

[EvaElizabeth]

I did not take any classes with my first 2 and I dont plan on it with this baby.

[macksmom]

With my first pregnancy I took a "childbirth" class - it really was just an overview about what the process is. It was at the hospital. It was not to help during labor although we did a few positioning and breathing exercises. Basically useless.

I voted no and also that I read books. This time around I am more focused on wanting a med-free birth (or pain med free induction). I read Ina May's book and now a Bradley book. I am asking DH to read the Bradley book too. That is all I am planning. The rest is up to me lol....

[Smplyme89]

I didn't. The Midwife I am looking into for the next one does her own birthing classes, one of which focuses on spousal support. We will be taking that one. DH tried his best to be helpful while I was in labor, but honestly he was clueless.

[BrandiB]

No classes with either child.

[LittleBlackBug]

I did the Hypnobabies Hoke study course.

[caligirl07]

I did the hospital one the first time also, it was a waste, I think it was lamaze based.... but completely useless! The 2nd time I just read a ton because the 'useful' classes seem to have a huge time requirement and between a baby sitter for our 1st and dh's schedule it just wasn't doable.

[KC's wifey]

I voted other. We watched a video. I don't think it really changed much for me during labor. I dealt with the pain how I felt I needed to when I was in the moment. It actually surprised me that I went so quiet and didn't want my husband touching me or giving me rubs or anything, other than to hold my hand (not like how I imagined I would be). But I had an epidural both times, so I didn't feel the super painful part, although it still hurt!

The video was beneficial in that it taught me, and especially my husband, the different stages of labor, etc. I think the educational aspect of it was especially helpful for my husband, who of course does not spend hours and hours online obsessing about it. lol I think it helped him get emotionally and mentally prepared, and THAT was helpful for me.

[moosh34]

First time we took a Saturday class and it was pretty much worthless. The second time we took a Hypnobirthing Mongan Method class and while I didn't find the info to be new, the practice and visiting the hospital where I would deliver on a weekly basis were good for me. Dh really benefited from the hypnobirthing class though and that was important. I was able to have the birth experience that I wanted the second time around and it cost less than the epidural.

[preciousnd98]

We went on a hospital tour but no birthing class. The only ones offered at our hospital were on days we couldn't go or else an hour each Tuesday or something for 6 weeks - which we couldn't commit to. Overall the actual birth went okay. My complications came after Olivia was already delivered so a birthing class wouldn't have helped me be any more prepared for that.

[Bridget]

No, nothing. I got what to expect when you're expecting from the hospital when I got my bfp with Savana and I flipped to the part about labor so I would know when it was starting!

[dunegirl]

No classes either. I did hypnobabies at home...it didn't work for me. So after I got the epi, the nurse told me what to do and how to do it.

[Flynn08]

We took a class, my boys were both head down most of my pg and my OB's thought we had a very good shot at vag del. Didn't happen. The birthing info was not so interesting but the class also included a mini-tour and car seat inspection so that part was useful. There's a LC in our multiples group who is starting her own prep class that will actually cover helpful info- I think she will get a lot of expecting MoM's.

[tanyachap]

DS1 - hospital class that was surprisingly informative and had a lot of handouts about breathing exercises and Bradley type as well as other ways to birth naturally. Th instructor was someone with 4 children, whom she all birthed naturally. Ds1 was CS without labor due to cord complications and extreme heart decels

DS2 - no classes, just books and some DVDs, but it was a home birth (after u/s confirmed that he was in good health and no cord problems), my MW had assistant that acted as a doula and they were both very helpful.

[ibisgirldc]

Just my hospital class on what to expect. And the baby care class. I didn't do bradley or hypnobabies or anything like that...

[glwygrl]

No classes here for either pregnancy- and, to be honest, although I read a lot of baby stuff, I never read up on labor/delivery.

It's not surprising for me to read that most pp feel like classes didn't help. Here is a quote from my midwife during labor #1: "with your next push, I want you to push the baby's head under your bone and then up to the ceiling." That certainly can't be taught in advance. I'm not even sure it can be done- although I did end up managing to have an unmedicated and complication-free delivery.

One benefit I could see coming from classes is learning techniques to cope w/ the pain. I found this pretty instinctual, but I honestly had no fears about labor (maybe because I opted to keep myself in the dark about it(!)). For women who are seriously anxious about labor, I could see how it would help to be taught some techniques in advance.

Another benefit would be, as a pp mentioned, to be able to recognize the stages of labor (although you could certainly learn these from a book). W/ dd#1, I ultimately broke down and asked for an epi- but, due to my aforementioned ignorance, I was completely surprised to learn it was too late (I was already in transition). I wasn't too happy about that when I was pushing (I felt like my midwife and my mom (a nurse) purposely didn't mention that the epi window was closing) but, in hindsight, I suppose I'm glad both my deliveries were drug-free.

[tyvek]

With #1 I signed up but ended up on bed rest and delivered early with a previa via c section. After that I was cursed with the c section for any other babies. So no need to go to a class.

[anonsouthernbell]

We did the Bradley Method when I was pregnant w/my first.

[learningasigo]

I did & DH & I learned a lot. I also enjoyed the camaraderie with the other couples.

Even though I ended up with an emergency c/s, the breathing & coping techniques were very helpful (I don't think I could have gotten good enough information out of a book). DH never would have watched a video or read a book -- by going to class with me he learned a LOT of ways to help & comfort me. Even during my c/s he was able to talk me thru things, encourage me, etc.

I wish they would have covered more info on c-sections, but that's the only thing I felt it lacked.
P.S. My class was also put on by a hospital

[lovely]

Yes with my first which was an induction. No with my second and it was a natural birth at a birth center. My midwife did great coaching me through the pushing.

[Hippychick]

I did with my ODD and took the 2 older girls when I was pregnant with dd3 for a sibling class so they knew what to expect that I had not thought of (dd1 was not even 2 yet when I had dd2 but they were 6 and 8 when dd 3 was born so I wanted them more prepared)

[hotpinkmomma0811]

I took a class at a church for childbirth with Sophia. I wish I had known about it with Cody. My epidural experience with her was horrifying. I attempted to breathe through the rest and I was focusing until I felt like I had to pee and the cath hurt so the nurse pressured me into getting my epidural redone.

[iMom]

No, I actually was quite terrified of the whole idea of the birth experience, and I never wanted to go to those classes. I told DH that I just wanted to handle it as I imagined it not using lamaze or anything like that. I'm glad I made that decision because honestly I did not want to be "prepared" for it in a way. I think as I thought more about it, it scared me. But I'm also one that sometimes that over educates myself about a topic but at the same time I hate reading directions.

I also had learned how to focus and control my thoughts through yoga... Yoga got me through several experiences in life so this was not much different for me.

[Mynar]

I did not take any classes. Went to the hospital tour and did some reading about natural childbirth but that was about it. I don't think it really made a difference for me either way - I didn't feel underprepared or anything.