In other controversial news…
…we’re not taking a childbirth class.
(An oldie but goodie. I love this photo! Inspired by Mrs. Fix-It)
But, it’s really not for some super controversial reason. The truth is, all of the available classes through our hospital are being held on dates that don’t work for us. There is an online option available, but Abby delivered within our same healthcare system and took the online class…she mentioned it was not worth it, at all. In her words: “Totally 5th grade health class again.” I trust her judgment, so we’ve just decided to opt out of a childbirth class altogether!
Instead, we’re reading a few books to brush up on labor and relaxation techniques (mainly, this book), and we’re discussing everything that could go down as we think of it. Things like labor techniques, epidurals, what happens if I have a c-section, what our ground rules are for visitors, etc. are all being discussed by the two of us as we think of them. It’s been really great, actually, fostering a lot of good conversations between the two of us. The most important thing for me was that B felt comfortable and ready for this experience. The reason I say that is because I myself feel totally comfortable—I’ve read A LOT of stuff over the course of this pregnancy and feel like I am as well-versed in childbirth as I can be without having experienced it (because, come on…no one knows much about childbirth until they actually go through it. I think maybe the exception to that rule is an OB/GYN or midwife, you know?). I’ve also watched a few videos of various types of birth (thanks, Babycenter), so I feel like I’ve gathered on my own most of the information I would glean from a childbirth class. I’m not trying to sound like a know-it-all, because I definitely don’t know it all. What I am saying though is that I’m not sure what else I would really learn in a childbirth class that I haven’t read about or watched already. I’m not looking to use a specific technique, like Bradley or Hypnobirthing, and in our healthcare system, childbirth classes aren’t tied with baby care so we wouldn’t learn anything new there, either. I’ve brushed up on labor coping strategies like music, the birth ball, shower/jacuzzi tub, etc. So I’m not sure what else I would really pick up!
It seems like all the books recommend you take a childbirth class so that DAD especially feels comfortable, so I really wanted to make sure that B feels alright going into it (which, he does. I think part of that has to do with our fantastic relationship with our OB). It seems like most childbirth classes end up fostering a lot of discussion between partners about how they think their birth experience will go, and as I said, we’ve been doing that on our own all along. We feel good about our decision and are glad we’ve freed up more of our pre-baby time for things other than day-long childbirth classes.
I have a more in-depth post about birth plans coming up, but I want to discuss a few more things with my doctor at my appointment this afternoon before I get into that. So look for that coming soon!
Did you take a childbirth class? Did you find it beneficial? I’ve heard both sides…some people loved their classes and some people didn’t find them helpful at all. What are your experiences?
Random side note: I feel like all I ever blog about lately is pregnancy and getting ready for baby. I totally said I wouldn’t do that, but there is really nothing else prevalent going on in our lives right now, so I feel like that’s all I want to write about. I’m really sorry if that’s annoying, and I promise, if I have stuff to post that does not involve all things baby, I WILL post them!
We’re not taking one either, but we’re taking a couples yoga class that helps show positions to better use during labor and some of them involve your partner. I wouldn’t really call it a “birthing” class though. We thought about taking a regular class, but when I read up on them, I already know most of that stuff since I work in healthcare and even my doctor didn’t really seem to think it would be that valuable to us.
We’re taking a cloth diapering class and my husband is taking CPR/First Aid for Infants (I’m already certified through work)…that’s it. I *might* take a free breastfeeding class next month since a few of my knocked up friends are also going.
I am considering a breastfeeding class as well, and I’d like to take Infant CPR (Brad is certified through his work!).
Glad to know we’re not the only ones skipping out, haha.
We went to a 6 hour class (with a lunch break thank god!) at our local hospital and like you said, I think it was most beneficial for my husband. I knew a lot of the information already from blogs/babycenter/hellobee but one thing that I personally liked was getting to see the rooms where we’d deliver, the operating room if we had a c-section(which I did) and hold the epidural equipment… etc. Being hands on made it feel more real to me.
I do think I would have made the same labor/delivery decisions if I hadn’t taken the class – as they were in my mind and had been talked over with my husband – but I liked mine
((Also, as a side note, don’t apologize for posting baby stuff!!! I felt like I had to as well but shoot — that’s our life now! ))
Love you, love your blog, no matter what you write!!! END RANT haha
We are going on our hospital tour today! So I’ll get that part of a childbirth class, no problem.
I did Bradley for both of my deliveries and had beautiful experiences. You have to make the best decision for your family and it sounds like you have. I’m loving all of your pregrnancy posts. The nursery is adorable!
Thanks Heidi! I have a lot of friends who used Bradley and loved it. Glad to hear you had such a great experience too!
We took a class. It was a 2 day “intensive” class at our hospital. It was awkward and uncomfortable for me because I am not a touchy-feely person. The instructor was a doula who didn’t want to talk to us about medicated child birth and had us try all of the awkward and uncomfortable positions you see in books from the 1980′s.
I wish we had spent the money on a breastfeeding class instead. I really felt like a breastfeeding class before the baby comes was a bad idea. After I had her, though I wished I had taken it. We have yet to take our CPR class, but will before we start solids.
Back to the birth class – I used 0 knowledge from it, other than knowing why not to push before I was 10cm dilated, while I was in labor. I breathed my way. I held onto a bed and stood completely still through contractions. I got the epidural and then labored on my back. I did everything “wrong” if you ask the woman who taught our class. My baby came out successfully, though.
I feel really similar to you, and we aren’t planning on taking a childbirth class either (our monthly appointments are basically a class with our midwives anyway). I would like to take an infant CPR class, but beyond that both B and I are comfortable with researching and talking through things ourselves.
Classes?? What are those?? LOL. I didn’t take a birthing class either, Amy. I also didn’t take a breastfeeding class. In fact, we didn’t even go on a hospital tour!! Ha ha. I guess I didn’t have any close friends that had kids when I had Morgan, so I had no one to ask about stuff and, lets be honest, NO CLUE what the heck I was doing.
And I only really read one or two books (week by week pregnancy and what to expect).
With all that said, it worked out amazingly. I didn’t make a birth plan either (gasp), but Matt and I did have discussions before about what we did/didn’t want to do; our “ideals” and the “what ifs” and all that jazz. The labor and delivery nurses were AMAZING at Meriter. When I told them what I wanted as my labor progressed, they walked me through everything and told me the pros/cons. When I had questions, they answered honestly, which was awesome, and I actually changed my mind on a few things I thought I was deadset on before going in, just because when you are in the moment, it sometimes does just feel better to go a different route or change it. (In my opinion, this is why birth plans are kind of silly).
I knew I wanted to try to breastfeed, but my Mom didn’t breastfeed me, I had no close friends who had kids and nursed as an example, I didn’t take a class, and I was a first time Mom… so all things considered, I should have failed. The only instruction I had was the nurse who literally stuck Morgan on my boob about 5 minutes after she was born, and the lactation consultant to came to visit the day we went home. And guess what?? I nursed Morgan for 9 months (when she weaned herself), and Sam 2 years later for almost a full year. So don’t be discouraged. I won’t pretend nursing isn’t tough… and I did almost quit with Morgan, but YOU CAN do it!!!
Anyways, I love reading your blog and am enjoying following your journey. It seems you have a great support system already, (and I am by no means any kind of parenting icon or expert!!), but I would like to offer my support if you have any questions about anything, (or are just feeling hormonal and want to cry and vent to someone who won’t judge you for wanting to flush your baby down the toilet at 3 a.m.) LOL.
Miss you much and take care!! XOXO
Thanks, lady! I love comments like these. Thank you for sharing your experiences too, and I will definitely keep you in mind if I need some support! XOXO
This post reminded me – if you still want the book, I can get it for you! Just let me know. I completely forgot. My apologies!
I think that you’ll be great – it’s not as if when you check in to the hospital they ask you if you’ve taken a birthing class and if your answer is “no” then they leave you to your own devices.
I think that you’ve done a ton of research and if B is okay with everything you’ll be just fine. And, FWIW, I didn’t have a 3-page, single-spaced birth plan, either – we had general preferences, but when J couldn’t cut the cord b/c of meconium, we just had to roll with it. I think it’s less pressure on the parents that way, and less chance of a “OMG, my perfect birth plan didn’t happen!” if things don’t work out 100% the way you had hoped. Just my two cents!
Thanks, Abby! I’ll let you know if I still need the book or not. And I can’t wait to write my post about birth plans because my OB told me some crazy stories yesterday, haha.
Good for you! And I seriously don’t understand all of the “controversial” topics across pregnancy. Outside of “drinking alcohol,” I don’t think there’s a single issue that I’d be hard-pressed to push on anyone else, just because I decide for or against it!
We are taking a 1 day course and a 2 hour BF course and have recently contemplated adding in an infant CPR class; but c’mon, our moms, and millions of moms before us went without these classes; I don’t think it’s controversial and I think you are more than capable of figuring out your own through books and lessons and etc. as a substitute to classes!
Yes, do take the CPR class, god forbid you’ll never have to use it, but it’s one of those better safe than sorry things.
We took a Saturday morning class, other than doing an excercise where you squeeze an ice cube in your hand for a minute while your partner and you focus away from the pain, there wasn’t much else learned that I hadn’t learned through the awesome blog community you got me turned on to. It was okay and I think we have our “name sign” in G’s baby box, other than that it wasn’t anything life changing or something not already written in the blogs.
Seriously, you’ll rock at birthing your baby!