Question for those who have attended childbirth classes

[superme80]

My birthing class was fun. Our nurse was also a duola, so she helped a lot. She did inform us exactly what an epidural did and what could go wrong on all scenarios. It was helpful, because I did end up with an unplanned c-section. We did learn some awesome massage techniques for labor and the normal pregnancy aches and pains. You might want to stick it out for one more week, but if you look for another class it is totally understandable.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm a childbirth class drop out. I thought the first class was such a waste of time that DH & I decided our time was better spent having dinner and a movie instead of continuing with it. I'm a reader and there wasn't anything presented I hadn't already come across on my own, and the class was taught by a VERY pro-epidural RN so it was just a really bad fit for my goal of natural childbirth (which I managed 3 times without classes).

I'm with Magpie, though. I didn't think labor pains were that bad, except the pitocin induction with my 3rd that had even needle-phobic me thinking about an epidural until the doctor told me it was too late for that anyway (max dose pitocin + tied to the bed for IV antibiotics for GBS + transition = pure evil!). My labors were short - 5 hours with my first, 2ish with the second and third - and the first 2/3s of the experience was more uncomfortable than painful.

 

[Mrs.Toad]

In our childbirth class, the instructor warned us not to laugh too hard at one part of the video. A husband singing to his wife while she showered during her labor. What song was it? She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain

It's been many years for me, but I do think I remember the first class being more lecture-oriented and the rest more hands-on practice. And we did have a wonderful instructor who told us not to go into labor with any preconceived notions. You might want an unmedicated birth, but find you need pain relief and there's nothing wrong with using it. Or you might intend to get an epidural, but find you don't need one. Either way is OK.

Good luck!

 

[DisneyBelle99]

My favorite job was as a Lamaze teacher! I have taught at hospitals, MD offices, my house, and the client's houses. I always used my experience and most importantly, my sense of humor. I knew some people were dragged there, so I tried to make the best of it.

If the class doesn't get any better, see if someone at your Doctor's office can recommend some place else. Or, see if there is a local Childbirth Education group like Lamaze (used to be called ASPO), or something along those lines. The breathing and relaxation exercises will help you whether you need to go to the medications or not. Good luck!

 

[mamacatnv]

All I remember is having to sit on the floor - who the heck thinks its a good idea for a bunch of very pregnant women to sit on the floor.
It was technically a Lamaze class but our instructor while pro Lamaze was also a L&D nurse who was realistic.

DH and I attended all the offered classes when we had DS - 21 years ago, wow, I'm old.

We didn't attend a single one 10 years later when we had DD.
I did take DS to a sibling class that was a bit of a joke, he was almost 10 and the other sib's were all toddlers. The class showed the movie the Miracle of Life or something along those lines complete with a live birth. This was not something I had expected or prepared him for. I will never forget watching DS's eyes get big as saucers! The toddlers were clueless but he was 10! It was sooo funny, poor kid, I think he was traumatized for a long time after that

 

[Nette]

In our childbirth class, the instructor warned us not to laugh too hard at one part of the video. A husband singing to his wife while she showered during her labor. What song was it? She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain

It's been many years for me, but I do think I remember the first class being more lecture-oriented and the rest more hands-on practice. And we did have a wonderful instructor who told us not to go into labor with any preconceived notions. You might want an unmedicated birth, but find you need pain relief and there's nothing wrong with using it. Or you might intend to get an epidural, but find you don't need one. Either way is OK.

Good luck!

LMAO... we saw that video too.

Our childbirth class (8+ years ago) was led by a midwife and a doula and was all about natural childbirth. Lots of fear tactics about painkillers and episiotomies. It didn't matter to me, because I had decided before the class that I was going to try to go without drugs. There was also tons and tons of info on how to diaper a baby, bathe a baby, blah blah blah... Lots of info on breastfeeding too. And of course the breathing exercises. It was all worthless.

In the end, I ended up having a 5-minute birthing crash course from my mother. She basically told me "Keep your eyes open and focus on something, if you close your eyes it makes you concentrate on the pain more." She also recommended breathing as normally as possible for as long as possible.

(I also got the crash course on nursing the baby from my mother)

You can also count me in as one who didn't think labor was all that bad -- UNTIL I got to transition and was stuck there for FOUR HOURS and I hadn't dilated at all. Yep, got a c-section after 17 hours of drug free labor.

The one thing those instructors should have taught was how to keep the husband from being annoying as hell. DH (bless his heart) kept saying "Relax your face. Relax your face." By about hour 6 I let him have it. To this day whenever I'm particularly tense he says "Relax your face." and we both crack up.

 

[Magpie]

I think the thought of getting an epidural - aka a big ol' needle in my spine! - scared me lots more than the thought of labor pains.

There was a woman living across the hall from us who had one and she was left with permanent back pain. I got to see her hobbling around with her baby in one hand, and the other hand pressed against her lower back. So that pretty much did it for me - I would have walked over hot coals before I'd get an epidural.

Irrational, probably... but I'm glad I didn't need one anyway! I had myself a home birth, both times.

Oh... and I knew I was in transition when I barfed - so I told everyone that's what was happening. The look on my husband's face was priceless! (Bet he regretted giving me that wine!)

 

[allyphoe]

I'm a childbirth class drop out. I thought the first class was such a waste of time that DH & I decided our time was better spent having dinner and a movie instead of continuing with it. I'm a reader and there wasn't anything presented I hadn't already come across on my own

Same here!

DD's labor was annoying until it got going, and intense thereafter, but I wouldn't say it hurt. At one point, I was yelling with each contraction, and DP said to me "Does it really hurt that much?" and I said (between contractions) "It doesn't hurt at all" and went right back to yelling.

 

[Becky2005]

Oh come on now, you know that breathing helped with labor pains. Shoot breathing the right way and you barely felt it. YEAH, RIGHT.

Sorry, I took the class with my first and decided Lamaze at least was not for me after she was born. I did have a bright pink hat as focal point (because I'm blind without my glasses, so in case those had to come off). I'm not sure that hat even made it out of the bag but I will tell you one thing that NO ONE ever told me, ever so I like to tell first time moms!

As much as they talk about LONG labors -- it is entirely possible to have a fast labor with your first even if the nurses DON'T believe you that you need to start pushing (and they need to RUN to call the doctor again so they can get there in time to catch the baby -- literally!) I honestly thought there was something seriously wrong because I had my first in 3 hours. I thought it was going TOO fast and I had never ever read much less heard of it going quickly. Never once did they mention that to me in class, it was all just how to focus & get through the pain & things you can do such as walking, showers, etc... (which I had no time to do any of that stuff! It was pretty much -- I'm having a baby -- oh look, here's the baby!)

We did not bother with the class again the 2nd time around, we just joked DH would drop me off, he would go to a drive-through for dinner & when he got back the baby would already be born.

By the 4th one I finally had it figured out that IF you get a consistant pain even if it's 15-20 minutes apart, GO to the hospital and it doesn't matter if they look at you like you are insane since they aren't 5 minutes apart or whatever (never could get a good timing on my contractions on any one of my kids!) -- I just told them "I have big babies & I have them fast"..that worked.

Now, prenatal aquatics I got a whole lot more out of & there was more socializing there.

 

[kirstenb1]

The movies in teh classes freaked me out. I knew labor and delivery would be intense, messy and painful, but watching all the different people was too graphic for me. I would have been so happy to have skipped the whole deal, and just watched the stork fly overhead with our precious little bundle!

 

[laurafergie]

My DH was off doing Marine Corps type things at the end of the pregnancies and births of the older kids. So when DD11 came along, I made him attend Lamaze Classes with me. Frankly, I could have taught the class myself - but DH up to that point thought babies came from the "baby fairy" and he needed a dose of reality.

I think it is good thing for the husband or SO, you may be reading a ton and think it is waste of time, but the SO may not. If you hate the instructor though, you have time to switch.

 

[deegack]

I took the childbirth classes when I was pregnant with my first. Six weeks for like 2 hours a week. DH and I thought it was a huge waste of time. I had done a LOT of reading, and there wasn't really anything discussed that I hadn't already read about.

I've done tons of reading and research, so all of that information just seemed like a waste of time to me. If I have to go over the signs of pre-eclampsia again, I'll scream. I just wish more time was spent on things that are hard to learn from a book. I think I've read the pregnancy book I have at least 5 times cover-to-cover in the last few months!

It also didn't help that a few of the things the nurse said were pretty opposite what my midwife had told me. Nothing major, just stuff about kick-counts and fetal monitoring.

Maybe I just need to find a class with a different philosophy or something like that.

Bolding is mine -
I wish they had gone over that more. Although I already was pre-eclampic when I took the class, I only knew about the high blood pressure, protein in urine and swelling, no one told me that what I thought was bad heart burn was actually my liver shutting down. And if you have a hard time urinating, its your kidneys shutting down. So I actually ended up being rushed from the high risk OB to the L&D floor for an emergency C-section. I have several friends who also ended up with pre-e, one after she delivered, and very few knew until they went to the doctor one day.

I read about 5 books on pregnancy and child birth - every thing from What to Expect, to Pregnancy Week by Week to the Mayo Clinic guide, but none of them addressed what I experienced so I just thought it was normal pregnancy stuff.

 

[simba20]

There are other "birthing methods" and philosphies which hold classes. I know here in my area, there's a weekly alternative/entertainment paper which in the back lists all of the goings on, events, and free classes, or classes in the area.

Lookign back I found the hospital class to be a waste. I wasn;t getting any more information that what I was reading. However, I did like getting the hospital floor tour and knowing what would be going on after I delivered. Which was helpful considering my birth resulted in a c-section (after trying pushing for a few hours). However, I did not like hospital policy on what they do with mom and baby after a c-section (DD was taken to the nursery) and the mother is put in ISOLATED recovery. My husband could not come back to see me. Babies also HAVE to go to the nursery after mom gets to see the baby and there is no bonding time. I wanted to breastfeed, but because I was in ISOLATED recovery and DD was taken away to the nursery there wasn;t a chance to even try or be with DD after birth. In fact she was born at 1:08 a.m. and I did not get to see her, have her in my hospital room until 7 a.m. I really did not like hospital policy on that. I am planning on finding out if I can get that changed for my next brirth or else browse other hospitals.

And while I did have lots of reading in my background, I may look into another method or type of class for next time around.

 

[justhat]

My water broke at home with my 2nd and luckily he was fine, no prolapsed cord. BUT, my 3rd, when I was in labor in the hospital and they came in to break my water, they felt her holding her umbilical cord over hear head. If my son had been in that position, or my water broke at home with her, it would likely have been a bad outcome. I am fortunate in that my husband is an anesthesiologist and has been present for many an emergency c-section due to a prolapsed cord, so hopefully he would have been able to prevent a disaster. But he wasn't home when I was laboring with my son, so I would have been on my own and known nothing.

So while it might seem boring and might be stuff you already know, just listen again and hope you never need to use the info.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

I'm pregnant with my first baby, so my DH and I signed up for childbirth classes held at the local hospital. It's a 6 week course that meets once a week, but it is not anything like what I imagined it would be. Our first class was last week, and it was basically a 1 hour long lecture on what could go wrong followed by the obligatory birth video and 5 minutes of "relaxation techniques". It seemed a like a big waste of time to me, and my husband had trouble sleeping after it because of all of the worst-case scenarios discussed. (Did the nurse really have to spend 15 minutes talking about what to do if the umbillical cord starts to come out while I'm at home?) The nurse teaching the class didn't even have us introduce ourselves or ask when our due dates are.

So, if you have attended a childbirth class, what was yours like? Are they all of focused on worst-case scenarios and fetal monitors and C-sections? Did you have an opportunity to talk with the other parents-to-be?

Would you prefer to not know what to do if that happens? Part of being a parent and giving birth is being realistic about the possibilities and trying to prepare yourself as much as possible.

 

[PatsGirl]

DH and I attended all the offered classes when we had DS - 21 years ago, wow, I'm old.

We didn't attend a single one 10 years later when we had DD.

Mamacatnv ~ I always try to find a way to remember other DISers by something I can relate to and I'm just now realizing (3000+ posts later) that we have kids about the same age, boy then girl. My son will be 21 in a few weeks and we attended the Lamaze classes and like you, stayed away for DD's birth.

To OP, I didn't feel I learned anything from the Lamaze classes and wondered if I might have had an easier time without worrying about all the breathing and relaxing crap. I was in labor more than 35 hours including the 3 1/2 hours of pushing, so much for relaxing. I was given an epidural against my wishes (but with my ex's permission). It was a fustercluck at its best.

With DD I refused to revisit that same hospital and instead had a midwife at a birthing center much further away. Even though I had placenta previa, the birth itself was pretty easy (well, everything is relative isn't it) and quick (13 hours and 20 minutes pushing).

 

[mamacatnv]

Mamacatnv ~ I always try to find a way to remember other DISers by something I can relate to and I'm just now realizing (3000+ posts later) that we have kids about the same age, boy then girl. My son will be 21 in a few weeks and we attended the Lamaze classes and like you, stayed away for DD's birth.

LOL and my boys are huge and I mean huge Pats Fans which is how I always recognize you! DS turned 21 this past weekend (thank goodness), yay we made it without an MIP! DH is from New England (Salem, NH) as was/is my family but I was raised in California. My Dad was born and raised in East Walpole, MA. the other arm of the family was in Farmington, Connecticut.

We are also Red Sox and Celtic fans - well they are, the California in me will always go with the 49ers and the Giants
We boast the only Larry Bird Christmas Ornament in the entire state, I am sure of it!


Back to the subject - the "techniques" didn't do me much good but I like knowing what is going on around me so the knowledge we gained at the various classes was invaluable. I also liked the hospital tour etc, I like to be familiar with my surroundings and I wanted to know all the policies.

When I had DS we were educated on the process but really had no idea what we were going to want. When we had DD we knew exactly what we wanted, what we expected and were older/smarter and confident enough to ask for it.
I had DS in 22 hours with 4 hours of non medicated pushing - He was almost 11 lbs
I had DD in 48 horrifying/painfull unmedicated MINUTES.
(yes, start to finish, 48 minutes) she was almost 9 lbs

 

[hulagirl87]

I really liked our classes. I looked forward to going to them each week. It made me feel reassured and I knew that we were getting closer to giving birth

I remember talking about the scary stuff and yes, it freaked me out but I knew that it was good to talk about it. I would rather hear about it then be taken completely by surprise. We had a class where they passed around a lot of the things that they would use in the labor and delivery room. I liked that class a lot. We did have the class with the breathing. The thing I remember most about that class was the mom to be passing gas next to me and DH and I going into fits of giggles yeah, we still talk about that. immature I know, but so funny at the time. the room was completely silent and the girl's husband was trying so hard not to laugh! poor girl!

But I liked the tour of the floor where we would be giving birth, seeing the nursery and the babies, and knowing that we would be there ourselves in such a short time.

I can't believe that we were there a year ago. LO is almost a year old where is the time going!

OP congrats to you. Try to enjoy the classes. They really are useful.

 

[MrsPete]

It's been 17 years and I don't remember all the details, but the childbirth class we took was worthwhile. My husband and I enjoyed doing it together every week, then going out to dinner afterward.

It lasted about six weeks. One week we toured the hospital, which was very informative and comforting. I don't remember if we saw any videos. They did talk about the worst-case type stuff, but MOST of the discussions were about normal things that were likely to occur -- and my first labor was exactly "textbook".

Having had the class did help me. When I went into labor, I knew that what was happening was normal, and it was reassuring. I think it was even more valuable for my husband, who hadn't read a single word ahead of time and wouldn't have known anything except that it was important to drive me to the hospital fast.

Later, I took a second-time childbirth class, which was held in conjunction with a new-sibling class. It wasn't nearly so helpful (though I think my older daughter got something out of her part of it). The one thing I remember clearly was that the instructor said a typical second-time labor is HALF the length of a first labor. My second labor (start to finish) was 16 minutes, so that wasn't true for me!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

The one thing I remember clearly was that the instructor said a typical second-time labor is HALF the length of a first labor. My second labor (start to finish) was 16 minutes, so that wasn't true for me!

That's just not even fair!

I chose not to go to the childbirth class at all. I read a lot, my doctor had really covered all those "worst-case scenarios" in my regular appointments, and I just really did not want to get freaked out by hearing it all again and I knew it was better for me NOT to watch the video. Plus the scheduling was just crazy for us as a couple--DH was traveling a lot and I was trying to get everything at work ready for me to be gone three months.

When I got to the hospital to actually deliver, the nurse spent a few minutes talking about breathing, and I was set!