Do I really need childbirthing classes?

Question

My husband really wants him and I to go to child birthing classes. I don't feel there is a need. I am also on bed rest until my 34th week. Just trying to figure out if I really need to go or not.

I cant go until I am off bed rest

FYI I will be taking the drugs

Answer 1

You don't "need" them. I am American, living in Austria and I don't speak German, so I can't take a class. I am online every day looking up things about pregnancy, labor, and parenting. I took an online child birthing class, which was very informative. They have them for free. I know I won't get the breathing help for labor, but I get the information I need on how to relax during labor and how to breastfeed, etc. Also, you can go online and watch videos on how to breastfeed and you can see real births. In my opinion, you don't need the classes, but they probably will make you feel more comfortable.

Answer 2

My hospital just offered a childbirth class and a breastfeeding class. I don't recall them being very much...maybe $20 or $30 each. Most hospitals advise you to take the class closest to your due date. I attended the childbirth class and found it not very useful at all. They taught Lamaze at it and when I was in actual labor, I sure didn't remember any of those breathing techniques! The only useful thing I found from the class was the tour of the hospital. It was nice to know where to go when I did go into labor and to see the rooms. I didn't attend the breastfeeding class since I wasn't planning to breastfeed. But if you are, I would definitely recommend taking that one.

Answer 3

I was not able to go to classes because of preterm labor. I read what I could, but did what came naturally. I relaxed, and took it one contraction at a time.

There are private childbirth educators who will come to your home and give classes. Some doula's give instruction as well. This might be a good compromise for you and your husband. I personally don't charge much more than what the hospital would charge and in some cases would do it for less. (so it's something to check into). If this is something you want to look into just google something like Childbirth educator and then add your city's name. You should come up with something.

Hope this helps~

Answer 4

Childbirth education plays a vital role in how positively you later views your birth experience. The more childbirth education women receive, the more positively they view birth. This becomes especially important as research reveals that women recall their birth experiences with amazing clarity, for better or for worse. Education is the best way to ensure that your view of birth becomes a positive one.

Childbirth classes not only benefit mothers, but birth companions as well. Emotional support plays a critical role in the birth process. When mothers receive emotional support in birthing, whether from a trusted birth companion or a professional labor support person such as a doula, they feel more relaxed and in control. The use of labor support persons has been shown to reduce cesarean section rates by as much as 50%.

By completing childbirth education classes, you can ensure that both you and your husband are as prepared as possible so that you have little stress on the big day and are better equipped for your birth.

Since you are on bed rest and the clock is ticking to your due date, a great alternative to consider is online childbirth education, such as the Birthright: Online Child Birth Education program at http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/child-birth-education.html It has 14 lessons, including one just for your support person and it much more affordable than paying someone to come to your home. Also, you can print the lessons for easy reference instead of trying to remember everything your instructor said.

Answer 5

They aren't really necessary. Women have been having babies for thousands of years without childbirth classes. Most of those women though lived close enough to family to have other women help them out and to know what to expect. In this day and age, families no longer all live in the same area and families are small, so many men and women have little or no experience with either childbirth or babies. What they can do is help you to be calmer when the big events because you know what to expect. Although the doctors and nurses know their job just fine, you may have never seen them before, and knowing yourself what to expect, and having a husband, partner, friend, or family member around who also know what to expect, can help ease some of the fear and stress involved. You can do it without the class however. Your body knows what to do. If he want to do it however, and you are more afraid, being on bed rest, that it could to more harm than good, I am sure there are programs just for fathers.

Answer 6

If you don't attend a class, you need to do a lot of reading and practice childbirth techniques at home. I recommend the book, Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way. The book contains the things you need to practice. It is very important to practice and learn to relax during contractions. My husband took a picture of me during a contraction in transition. It looked like I was sleeping. I did not have any kind of medication with my labors.

Answer 7

Yes if it's your first then I would highly recommend the classes. It will give you an insight of what goes on during birth, and your options in case you decide to have painkillers. Also if the birth doesn't go according to plan it's nice to know in advance what will happen if complications should arise. The whole birthing experience should be embraced with joy and not panic, and if you are not prepared or know what to expect you will end up panicking and unable to think calmly.

Answer 8

I think it is wonderful your husband wants to attend. Going to a class may help him feel much more involved and prepared for what is ahead for both of you. I am currently attending Bradley classes and can't recommend them highly enough. It has given my husband, who attended Lamaze classes with his first wife and didn't learn a thing, great confidence and knowledge to help me through labor as well as preparing himself for what to expect before, during and after labor. I feel like I have learned so much and have grown even closer to my husband by spending the time every week focusing together on this wonderful time.

Answer 9

Aside from what the others said, it might be nice to meet some parents (in a group class) going through the same thing as you. That way, once the kid is born and you're so sick of being stuck in the house, he/she will have little playmates to get together with.

Answer 10

I haven't taken them yet (not until the 16th), but there is no real loss there.

1) You will at least learn something you didn't know before you went
2) Your husband will learn coaching skills for when you go into labor so he know what to do othen than just stand there all freaked out :o)
3) You get to get out of the house!

Just have fun with it! I'm sure you will get something out of it!