BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

What classes are you taking before the baby is born? How far along will you be when you take the classes? Will DH take them all with you?

Message edited 8/19/2008 4:41:31 PM.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

We are taking a class right now through our OB (next week -- one evening -- 2 hours) that explains all the tests offered and what to expect at all upcoming appts.

We are also taking a childbirth class (starts in Jan -- 3 weeks, 1 night/wk -- 2 hours) through the hospital.

We found a class offered through a midwife group in town called "teaching husbands to be the best birth coaches ever!" and we really want to take that class too

HTH!!

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

Posted by Lizzy

We are taking a class right now through our OB (next week -- one evening -- 2 hours) that explains all the tests offered and what to expect at all upcoming appts.

We are also taking a childbirth class (starts in Jan -- 3 weeks, 1 night/wk -- 2 hours) through the hospital.

We found a class offered through a midwife group in town called "teaching husbands to be the best birth coaches ever!" and we really want to take that class too

HTH!!

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

I took them at the hospital i was planning on giving birth at. They took us on a tour of the maternity ward to which was great.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

none, i took Lamaze class with my first one and i thought it was a waste but that is mho.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

Nothing. I will be renting DVD's. I refuse to spend the money on these courses. People in 3rd world countries give birth all the time without these expenses courses. I can too! Geesh..the process of.having a baby is suddenly becoming as expensive as planning a wedding b/c they sucker you into thinking you need everything in preparation!!


My body was made to do this...it will figure out how by itself!!

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

We are actually planning on registering for them tonight We're doing a childbirth class with a tour of the hospital, we're doing an infant cpr class and a breastfeeding class all offered by the hospital I'm delivering at!!!!

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

I'm taking a birthing class, BF class and a tour of the
hospital, DH will be attending all of them with me....not sure if he knows that yet

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

We registered for a class offered by a L&D nurse recommened by my doctor. She's at Lenox Hill so our last class will be a tour of the hospital and post partum care. I believe it's also covering childbirth, breastfeeding, etc.

I will do an infant CPR class too.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

We took a breastfeeding class at SBU hospital. we are going to take infant CPR tomorrow (w/ baby belly)

we also watched several dvds... including one on basic infant care, one on helping them sleep through the night, and one on labor.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

My OB's office already scheduled my childbirth classes. They will be once a week for 2 hours for 5 weeks. We start in December. My BF class is also set up for January. That's only for the mommy's though.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

The BFing class happened to be before the childbirth classes. The childbirth prep classes ended 4 weeks before my due date which is next week.

DH came with me to all of them. I am glad we participated. I dont think I would have been focused on the videos and I liked having the opportunity to speak with a live person regardless of whether I use the techniques or not.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

We took a class called the ABC’s of Going Home
with your Baby as well as a Prepared Childbirth class. I also registered for a breastfeeding class, however since I ended up on bed rest earlier than I thought we did not get to attend that class. We also took a tour of the hospital we are delivering at.

DH attended all classes and we found them to be very interesting.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

Through Winthrop DH and I took a baby care class, a breast feeding class and a Lamaze class. I liked baby care. I didn't like the rest. Lamaze was more about anatomy and physiology than managing breathing and stuff. We only did that for 2 sessions and for 10 minutes out of 4 sessions and 2 hours long each time. The last session was a tour of the hospital which was ok. As for breastfeeding - I hated it and walked out. The lady there who was doing the class breastfed her last child until she was 4 1/2 years old. I felt that that lost credibility. WHile Im sure many people do that, my own opinion is that I don't want to and I don't like that. After I heard that she breastfed her child until 4 1/2 I tuned out and we walked out a little while later. I am getting a netflix video on breastfeeding b/c I just want to know the holds and stuff.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

We took every class offered to us w/ DS, but the one I found most useful/informative was the one that went w/ the hospital tour...They really explained what would happen step by step and exactly what to expect...Lamaze we did for the heck of it, to me (JMO) was kind of a joke, the breastfeeding class was not bad either, some good handouts !

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

Posted by pickles16

doing a childbirth class with a tour of the hospital, doing an infant cpr class and a breastfeeding class all offered by the hospital I'm delivering at!!!!

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

We're taking an orientation class that is free. We're also registered for childbirth prep classes, starting Sept.8th. These classes are for 4 weeks (I'll actually be there on my birthday!). This includes a tour of the hospital. Our breastfeeing class is in the beginning of Oct. a few weeks before my due date.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

We took an Early Pregnancy class when I was about 16 weeks. We are starting Lamaze tonight- I am 30 weeks. It is 2 and 1/2 hours long, every Wed. for 5 weeks. I will also take a Breastfeeding class in Sept. which is 2 and 1/2 hours long, on Mondays for 2 weeks- I will be 33 weeks. My hospital also requires that anyone who wishes that their DH/SO/Coach be in the OR if they have a C-section [scheduled or emergency] MUST attend a mandatory C-section class. This class is 2 hours long and free. All of the other classes I am taking we had to pay for. My DH will be attending all classes with me.

ETA: All of these classes are thru Good Samaritan Hospital.

Message edited 8/20/2008 7:07:03 AM.

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

we didn't take a single class. we just did the hospital tour. i did, however, watch the laugh and learn series. it was interesting but completely not necessary.

IMO (and it's MY opinion) they are a complete waste of time and money. i had a vaginal delivery and there was nothing in the videos or a class that could have made it any easier for me. i was already knowledgable on what happens during childbirth and the nurses told me just what to do and when to do it. lamaze would never ever have worked for me. the nurse i had even told me it was useless for most women.

and when it came to taking care of DS--the nurses came to my room whenever i had a question. so i left the hospital feeling very confident even though i had only previously changed one diaper before in my life!

childbirth is a natural process and women have given birth, and continue to give birth, with a lot less information. and when i was in labor i never could have remembered half of what i knew because the pain was so bad--i just tried to get through each contraction with what was comfortable for me (which was closing my eyes tight and lying in a fetal position)...focusing on an object wasn't even possible for me!

so don't feel bad if you don't take one. many people like them, but then there's people like me who find them completely unneccessary. do what's best for you. but you WILL be a great mom whether you take a class or not!

Re: BFing, childbirth, etc. classes?

We began to take them after the Level II. Our hospital offered the classes. DH went to everything with me.