https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Apr 2026 18:33:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-baby-does-swim-classes#post-2456508 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:57:29 +0000 BeachMama 2456508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been doing back to back sessions since last summer for my 3.5 year old. Im afraid if we stop for a while she'll lose some skills and I really want her to know how to swim before we stop. We live in Southern California. We don't have a pool but my parents have a hot tub and we go to the beach in the summers, so I want her to be comfortable and safe in the water. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-baby-does-swim-classes#post-2456501 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:55:45 +0000 erinbaderin 2456501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been to two different sessions but not back to back. Ours is the same way - you sign up for an 8 week program, and then you can sign up for the next 8 week program. Usually it's winter/fall (so you'd sign up for Sept-Nov and Jan-Mar at the same time) and then spring/summer. We did Sept-Nov this year but then decided to skip Jan-Mar because we wanted a break, to try something else, and sometimes in the winter session the water is really cold. We'll probably sign up for the April - June session. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-baby-does-swim-classes#post-2456495 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:53:06 +0000 CakeLady 2456495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have done two swim lesson sessions, but not back to back. Usually after one session we decide that we don't want the commitment since our weekend schedules are a bit hectic. For the last few weeks we've just been going to open swim time which our Y offers on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-baby-does-swim-classes#post-2456487 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:50:37 +0000 MamaBehr 2456487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our swim classes are through a swim school, it is year round. We don't sign up for a session, it is ongoing. We have to give them thirty days notice when we want to stop. I like year round because they don't lose any skills then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-baby-does-swim-classes#post-2456480 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:48:29 +0000 Chillybear 2456480@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do swim through the Y and maybe our program isnt as popular but we dont really have an issue getting into the same time slot each session. We've been doing the 9:30 class on saturday for almost a year now... we skipped one of the summer sessions (too many weekend trips planned) and the session over the christmas holidays (again to many plans on saturdays to make it worth while). My LO is 2 1/2 and this is her only activity </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-baby-does-swim-classes#post-2456468 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 10:43:17 +0000 raspberries 2456468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>...do you sign up for back-to-back programs?</p> <p>For instance, at my YMCA, you sign up for an 8 week program for $66 and try to get into the time slot you want - if you want to continue after that, you have to sign up for another 8 weeks for another $66 and hope you signed up early enough to get in the same slot.</p> <p>I'm curious if people do swim classes all year round, or only for winter months, or do one session on and one session off, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2255212 Wed, 05 Aug 2015 09:15:42 +0000 Worrywart 2255212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@smith: Are you delivering at Prentice? The best class to take is "Great Expectations." They give you a tour of the hospital, you learn all about checking in, they show you some birthing videos. It was a great class to take. We had my daughter in July '12 and we took the class in May. Two others that Northwestern offer that are good to take are Infant CPR and Breastfeeding. I agree with many of the above comments that classes should be taken 2-3 months prior to delivery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2255186 Wed, 05 Aug 2015 08:54:55 +0000 krispi 2255186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did them all early in the third trimester, around 30-ish weeks. The next childbirth class wasn't for another 2 months, and I thought that was cutting it too close. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2255185 Wed, 05 Aug 2015 08:49:57 +0000 snowjewelz 2255185@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was due early Dec and went mid-Oct. I couldn't have registered too early since they only post the schedule like 2-3 months out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2255180 Wed, 05 Aug 2015 08:48:11 +0000 pinkarmadillo 2255180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We only did a breastfeeding class and I was 29 weeks along. Everyone else in the class was 33+ weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2255113 Wed, 05 Aug 2015 08:15:23 +0000 Greentea 2255113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@smith: Yup! I took all of mine by 20 weeks! I didn't want to wait, thinking I would be busy with extra OB appointments later in pregnancy. I also took Bradley when I was not even 20 weeks- I had to because of the way the schedule worked out with offerings.</p> <p>Before 20 weeks I did Breastfeeding, Caring for Newborn, and Bradley (but that took 3 months). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2255099 Wed, 05 Aug 2015 07:58:49 +0000 Alivoo01 2255099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went during 25+ weeks. Since the classes are kind of long, the OB wanted me to get them done ASAP so that I'm not uncomfortable sitting there for an extended amount of time. But also late enough I didn't forget the material.</p> <p>We attended the birth, breastfeeding, and CPR classes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2255022 Wed, 05 Aug 2015 04:46:06 +0000 buttermilk 2255022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We took a 6 week Hypnobabies course starting at 30 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2254976 Tue, 04 Aug 2015 22:24:50 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2254976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't remember how many weeks we were, but I was definitely in my third trimester before we took any classes. We took a breast-feeding class thru the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2254968 Tue, 04 Aug 2015 22:17:20 +0000 jhd 2254968@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went to an infant CPR class and a birth class. We did both when I was in my 3rd tri. The peds office we chose also did a class for new parents hosted by their LC and that was by far the best one we attended. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2254966 Tue, 04 Aug 2015 22:15:36 +0000 BSB 2254966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had our 'expecting multiples' class, when I was 24 weeks. Funny is everyone in my class (2 other couples) had due dates all within 5 days of each other. I guess we all knew that if we waited for the next class (a month later) that it might be cutting it too close. We had notes (print outs) from our class to refresh our memory. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2254965 Tue, 04 Aug 2015 22:14:24 +0000 travellingbee 2254965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started them at around 30ish weeks. 20 weeks seems early... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2254959 Tue, 04 Aug 2015 21:52:18 +0000 raspberries 2254959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We took them from about 25-28 weeks, but we were definitely the farthest away from our site dates... it seems like most people wait until at least 32 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2254906 Tue, 04 Aug 2015 20:41:45 +0000 babycanuck 2254906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I signed up around 18-20 weeks but my hospital restricts when you can take them (32-38 weeks only), so we are doing a baby care class at 35 weeks and a hospital tour following it. Not taking a L&amp;D class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-sign-up-for-hospital-classes#post-2254876 Tue, 04 Aug 2015 20:05:21 +0000 smith 2254876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm 17ish weeks, and my doctor just told me to start checkin' out my hospital's baby classes (a "What to Expect"-type class, one about breastfeeding, an infant CPR class, and a general baby care course). Each has a fee, but DH and I know nothing about any of those things, so we're planning to check a few out.</p> <p>Did you take classes? And if so, when? I read somewhere that 20ish weeks would be an OK time, but then did you forget all that stuff when it came time to, you know, actually have a kid? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-it-possible-to-have-a-successful-natural-hospital-birth-wo-attending-classes#post-2200599 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 18:49:01 +0000 MoonMoon 2200599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's awesome, especially with pitocin contractions! Congrats, mama. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-it-possible-to-have-a-successful-natural-hospital-birth-wo-attending-classes#post-2200574 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 17:32:27 +0000 Zbug 2200574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ms. pug: yay!! Congrats, mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-it-possible-to-have-a-successful-natural-hospital-birth-wo-attending-classes#post-2200571 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 17:27:59 +0000 Mrs. J 2200571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ms. pug: congrats!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-it-possible-to-have-a-successful-natural-hospital-birth-wo-attending-classes#post-2200422 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 14:08:00 +0000 ms. pug 2200422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just an update: I did it! Woohoo! I delivered DS in March with no pain meds. It wasn't complately "natural" since I had to be induced with pitocin since my water was broken for so long (suuuper painful contractions!) but i was very happy with how everything went without any classes or real prep. I did do a lot of yoga prior and it helped with breathing and focus. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-it-possible-to-have-a-successful-natural-hospital-birth-wo-attending-classes#post-2199354 Thu, 04 Jun 2015 16:46:02 +0000 Anya 2199354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read The Birth Partner and took a basic birth class that wasn't specific to being led-free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-it-possible-to-have-a-successful-natural-hospital-birth-wo-attending-classes#post-1968517 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 22:28:45 +0000 ohapostrophe 1968517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it twice (if you want to be technical... the second time I did hire a doula but she didn't make it to the birth in time)! The hypnobabies home course is awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-it-possible-to-have-a-successful-natural-hospital-birth-wo-attending-classes#post-1947713 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 14:09:11 +0000 cait 1947713@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an uncomplicated, med-free birth without attending any classes! I would suggest The Birth Partner, too! And Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth. It's important to do your research, make a birth 'wish' list, and be very open with your doctor or midwife about what you're hoping for and making sure they are supportive of that. Also, if you have any interest in a doula, I'd say go for it! If money is an issue, there are many who work on a sliding scale, or in exchange for experience to help them with their certification process. Best of luck to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-it-possible-to-have-a-successful-natural-hospital-birth-wo-attending-classes#post-1941595 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 15:59:10 +0000 Zbug 1941595@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@namaste: I actually just googled natural birth mantras and positive birth mantras. I read a bunch and write down the ones that appealed to me :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-it-possible-to-have-a-successful-natural-hospital-birth-wo-attending-classes#post-1940214 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 21:35:11 +0000 MamaChin 1940214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had an unplanned med free birth so I was not prepared at all. I was so so scared but your body just knows what to do. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-it-possible-to-have-a-successful-natural-hospital-birth-wo-attending-classes#post-1940210 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 21:30:07 +0000 birdofafeather 1940210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think classes are a must (we had someone come to us for a day because my DH was in school long distance during the last 4 months of my pregnancy) but I read a lot about what to expect at each level/transition, listened to hypnobirthing tracks to try to mentally prepare. But I did have a doula and she was integral! Is there a reason you don't want a doula? With my husband and family out of town, I wanted to know for certain that someone would be with me! Best money we spent! </p>