https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 18 Aug 2026 23:37:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1969737 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 18:15:23 +0000 PawPrints 1969737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Updating my answer - we were selected to receive a free spot in a Bradley method class (via our local Buy Nothing group) so we're doing that instead of the 6-week hospital course. We had our first class last night. It's a 12-week course, 2.5 hours per class, with homework and exercises. Intense! I'm not 100% sold on every aspect of the Bradley method, but I'm excited about a free class to prepare, learn some techniques, and get more confident for birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1969671 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 17:40:43 +0000 LuLu Mom 1969671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>WE took one before LO1 at the hospital, pretty pointless as I knew most of the information and was planning on an epidural all along. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1969559 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 16:13:17 +0000 LindsayInNY 1969559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. J: Ahh, good to know!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966862 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 06:05:20 +0000 Mrs. J 1966862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: yes! Three days of labor, (2 at home), but absolutely no drugs. They did break my water to try and help me, but baby boy had ideas of his own. I would definitely go natural again! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966740 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 23:06:56 +0000 littlejoy 1966740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I would have taken a breastfeeding class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966739 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 23:06:29 +0000 littlejoy 1966739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Torchwood: There are some places that will offer one class that's several hours long. My friends did it and loved that route. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966737 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 23:05:43 +0000 littlejoy 1966737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did. We were planning an unmedicated home birth, so the classes were important to me. I already had a pretty good understanding of birth and labor as I've photographed tons of births, but I really loved the extra bonding time and time for reflection. </p> <p>That said, we likely will not take a class the 2nd time around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966708 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 22:36:39 +0000 Torchwood 1966708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. J: Good to know! I'd love to find one that is only 8. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966707 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 22:35:47 +0000 LindsayInNY 1966707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. J: Oh wow. The ones I've found are 3 hour sessions or so on a weekend. Definitely not for 8 or 12 weeks though! Did you end up having a natural birth? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966694 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 22:18:44 +0000 Mrs. J 1966694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LindsayInNY: @Torchwood: We loved our Bradley class! We actually found one that did it in 8 weeks instead of 12. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966514 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 19:42:47 +0000 namaste 1966514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All of the classes offered at our hospital filled up really quickly :/ so no lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966383 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 17:39:00 +0000 Happygal 1966383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We tried to sign up for the 6 week hospital class, but they filled up months in advance.</p> <p>We're doing a serious crash course led by a yoga instructor and a doula/midwife-in-training in town. One hour of being shown what a contraction is like and how to work together to get through it.</p> <p>We're also signed up for a 2 hour infant care class. I honestly don't expect to learn anything new, but it's more for bonding with my husband. We may take an infant CPR course as well. Lots of classes here and there we can piece together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966288 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 16:43:54 +0000 Mommy Finger 1966288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took the general birthing class, infant cpr, and the breastfeeding class. I liked the CPR and the breastfeeding classes but the regular one was a waste of time. The only thing I got out of it was a tour of the hospital/rooms. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966172 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 15:42:03 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 1966172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: We took a bunch of classes (newborn care, BF, infant CPR, labor). After the labor class my husband correctly concluded that having the info is helpful, but labor is going to go the way it's going to go so is it really necessary? Hard to say. I will say that we prepared to labor at home for a while before heading to the hospital (on the recommendation of our labor class teacher), and I ended up with a high leak in my water, 30 hours of contracting, and a c-section. There was a video on c-sections in our class, and my husband said had he not seen that he'd have felt far more lost than he already did so he was glad he saw it. Was it worth 10 hours of class? Hard to say, but for us I think it was ultimately. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1966066 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 15:06:29 +0000 Ajsmommy 1966066@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't take any classes. I had a friend who took them all and said they weren't worth the time so we opted out of them. Everything went just fine and we never missed not having a class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1965960 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:34:38 +0000 ineebee 1965960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll be taking one through my hospital. I have no idea what "method" they'll be teaching us, but I want DH and me to be as prepared as possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964439 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 11:57:55 +0000 Chocoholic 1964439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't do one for DS, and that worked out great for us as we didn't really have the time. With that being said, we never planned for a med-free birth where I think it would be very helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964422 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 11:29:44 +0000 PawPrints 1964422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're doing a 6-evening course on L&amp;D, newborn care, and breastfeeding through our birth center. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964347 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 10:07:48 +0000 LindsayInNY 1964347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I want to take a Bradley method class but the instructors I've reached out to haven't responded... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964293 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 09:02:37 +0000 charmed 1964293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're taking an "expectant parent" course through our hospital -it covers breastfeeding, labor/delivery, and newborn care, plus a hospital tour.</p> <p>I think it's been good for DH, but honestly I haven't learned anything new. Although it has been nice to hear the hospital's views/policies (the teacher is an L&amp;D nurse at the hospital) and know what to expect from them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964284 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 08:51:58 +0000 matador84 1964284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't take one with either child. Didn't really have the spare time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964274 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 08:40:37 +0000 catomd00 1964274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't take one. No regrets. But I always planned on an epidural. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964237 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 06:20:19 +0000 MapleMoose 1964237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>During my first pregnancy DH and I attended two day-long classes: breastfeeding and an overall baby/infant care class. I thought both were great and the LC/nurses were very informative. They gave us some excellent tips and tricks. Plus it eased our worries about the "what now??" when baby arrived. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964236 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 06:19:22 +0000 Snowdrop 1964236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've been taking them, I have found it really useful but most of all I think it is good for DH. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964233 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 06:02:14 +0000 snowjewelz 1964233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took it thru my hospital; it's a birthing class/newborn care/hospital tour rolled into one long day! Plus they throw in a separate BF class for free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964232 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 05:12:01 +0000 lamariniere 1964232@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took one and thought it was useful, knowledge is power. But everything basically flew out the window when the actual contractions started. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964210 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 01:59:34 +0000 turquoisemama 1964210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll be taking one through my hospital. I want to know everything I can before the big day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964201 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 01:10:51 +0000 mfa_lady 1964201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a one-day Bradley class. Lots of great info! I've heard the Bradley book is great, too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964198 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 01:01:44 +0000 sapphire 1964198@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DH and I are signed up for the birthing and newborn care classes that our hospital offers. We also plan to do the HypnoBabies course at home. I think being prepared helps reduce stress for both partners both before labor and during! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/birth-class#post-1964191 Sun, 30 Nov 2014 00:43:48 +0000 Iced Tea 1964191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took birth classes at a birthing center because I wanted to know more about ways to cope drug-free. Even if I had already known, though, I would have attended a class just for my husband's benefit. He was pretty clueless about birth, and I don't need him freaking out when I need him. </p> <p>I have also read some books on the topic, but I think I remember the class material better. </p>