https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 05 May 2026 14:44:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1667990 Fri, 30 May 2014 08:20:30 +0000 Claire.Peonies 1667990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a belated thank-you to everyone for your input! I appreciate every comment on here! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1630455 Tue, 13 May 2014 05:08:09 +0000 illumina 1630455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not helpful. I would try and find a class/group to go to once your LO is here. That was so helpful for us :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1630317 Mon, 12 May 2014 22:30:08 +0000 MrsBeluga 1630317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I both went, as did many other husbands. It was nice because he knew what to expect... And how much he was going to have to help out those first few weeks while all I did was nurse LO nonstop.</p> <p>Our class was at the hospital, and was 50% practical and 50% encouragement from a mom type. The encouragement stuck with me, and in those first few weeks where I was taking it a day at a time, I could hear her in the back of my head.... When my nipples couldn't take it anymore and I wanted to just quit, I could hear her telling me to push through.</p> <p>3.5 months and going, those two hours worth beyond worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1630136 Mon, 12 May 2014 21:01:51 +0000 Applesandbananas 1630136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish DH would've gone to a breast feeding class. That would've prevented 75% of our pp arguments.</p> <p>If nothing else, go so your husband can hear it from a nurse/doctor/LC. My husband had no clue how to support me or what was involved, nor did he have a good understanding of the mechanics and supply/demand. He wanted to give LO bottles and didn't understand that it'd impact my supply. (We supplemented with formula for a few weeks at one point, which just added to his confusion and resentment.)</p> <p>He also didn't understand why I nearly killed him after he ate 3/4 of a batch of lactation cookies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1630104 Mon, 12 May 2014 20:50:14 +0000 Dandelion 1630104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took one when I was expecting D. I also read a lot and was on parenting sites and learned a lot. I think the class was good. Gave me some good pointers about latch and other stuff. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1630095 Mon, 12 May 2014 20:48:31 +0000 Greentea 1630095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Claire.Peonies: dr.jack newman's visual guide to breastfeeding helped me the most and I really recommend it (it is a video) but I also think the in person class is very worthwhile. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1630088 Mon, 12 May 2014 20:45:36 +0000 owlmom 1630088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If the class is free, it's worth going. If your SO and you aren't at the same level of commitment to breastfeeding, it's worth going together. If it costs money and you and your SO are on the same page and your hospital/birthing center/etc has LCs that will work with you right after baby is born, just read up on breastfeeding before hand. Save your money for hiring an LC if you have problems breastfeeding once baby arrives. I went to a 3 hour class and read LLL's The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding cover to cover prior to baby arriving, and I still needed to hire a lactation consultant because my baby and I struggled. It's definitely good to understand the basics and know the problems you may encounter ahead of time, but IMO, no amount of pretending to breastfeed a baby doll in a class with a live instructor is going to prepare you for actually breastfeeding your unique, individual baby with your unique, individual breasts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1630081 Mon, 12 May 2014 20:43:26 +0000 Cole 1630081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went to the hospital one and found it mediocre. Afterwards though I realized a local lactation consultant teaches one at a local baby store and I wish I had done that (and still might) because then you would have a relationship with one you could call later as needed too. So maybe check that option too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1630056 Mon, 12 May 2014 20:33:59 +0000 MamaBehr 1630056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought it was super helpful! My hospital also has a breastfeeding support group, which I've never gone to because you can only bring the baby and I have two other kids, but I know many moms found that helpful too (and made their first mommy friends there!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1630049 Mon, 12 May 2014 20:30:48 +0000 Boheme 1630049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think they're helpful, but I think the most helpful thing is to find an IBCLC in advance who you can call if issues arise </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629994 Mon, 12 May 2014 20:00:43 +0000 PurplePeony 1629994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took a class and didn't find it that helpful in a practical sense. It was all really good information on anatomy and mechanics and such, but we didn't really practice positioning much and that was what I had the most trouble with. Honestly, the most helpful thing for me was having an IBCLC come to our house after we got home from the hospital to help us in our own environment. It didn't seem that hard for me in the hospital, but after my milk came in things went downhill and that's when I really needed help.</p> <p>I'd recommend that if your insurance covers a home visit, you try to get in contact with an LC who takes your insurance in advance, so you can either call and say "please come SOON!" or "doing fine so far, will let you know if things change." My insurance didn't end up covering the LC I saw, which is why I recommend trying to get that piece sorted in advance if you can. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629965 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:47:18 +0000 daniellemybelle 1629965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish my husband &amp; I had taken a class. In the end we decided against it because our childbirth class touched on it, but I was so overwhelmed &amp; had a lot of setbacks that could have been avoided.</p> <p>I also really wish I had not trusted my doula to serve as an unofficial LC, as she said she could/would, and instead had my own IBCLC on call from day one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629963 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:44:35 +0000 MamaMoose 1629963@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read up beforehand but didn't see the real point of taking a breastfeeding class with no baby to practice with. I found the instruction from the LC's in the hospital was enough education for us to figure it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629954 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:42:36 +0000 lemondrop 1629954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Extremely helpful and I am SO GLAD that I took my husband with me! It helped him understand what to look for, how to help, and how hard it can be. I never really felt completely prepared, but it's one of those things I had to do in order to really get it. It was still a challenging first 8 weeks, but it gave us so many resources in order to get the help we needed when we did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629950 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:40:28 +0000 lawbee11 1629950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with @rattles: --I found it helpful but I think DH found it extremely helpful. He would even refer back to the class after LO was born; he'd say, "Remember, the lactation consultant said..." It was pretty cute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629948 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:39:21 +0000 Charm54 1629948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine were not that helpful. Like @danda:, my classes were mostly a sales pitch. I wanted real info which I had to learn on the fly or from my own research. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629947 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:38:34 +0000 regberadaisy 1629947@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took one the first time around. I think it was helpful because i took DH with me. I think it's helpful to have DH there so he can understand how he does play a role in a successful breastfeeding journey. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629945 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:38:08 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1629945@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was so helpful for me! I'm so glad I took the class because I felt more prepared for all the early breastfeeding challenges. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629940 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:35:26 +0000 Ra 1629940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought it was helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629930 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:30:36 +0000 californiadreams 1629930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i went to the class in person and i found it helpful and informative, definitely worth it since i knew nothing about breastfeeding before i went and I didn't know that there was so much to know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629924 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:22:37 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 1629924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Part of our prenatal classes we had a 2 hour web seminar. It helped a lot. I've had no breast feeding issues because I knew a lot about latch and such before hand. You should check out Jack Newman and see if there is online videos that will help. Our seminar was ran by someone that studied with him. His stuff is amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629922 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:22:37 +0000 rattles 1629922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt like it was helpful, but I had also prepared in other ways. Honestly, I think it was most helpful for expectation setting with DH. He knew more what to expect and how to support me. Also, our hospital LCs weren't very good or helpful, so I was glad to have some other resources available for seeking an outside LC. I'm glad we made the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629915 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:18:53 +0000 cyan 1629915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took one and I am so glad that I did. As a first-time mom, I feel like I didn't get nearly enough help in that department after the baby was born. Sure, a lactation consultant dropped by a few times in the hospital, but those 10 minute visits (usually when baby was sleeping and not interested in eating) weren't that helpful. And I think other mothers kind of forget what it is like to not know what you are doing when breastfeeding. Which I totally understand now after 10 months of doing it--it just seems natural at this point.</p> <p>Breastfeeding seems like it SHOULD be a no-brainer, but I learned a few things in the class that I wouldn't have thought to even ask about, but I found immensely helpful after LO's birth. Plus, it gave me some confidence after LO was born. I think it was worth the 3 hours of my time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629891 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:03:02 +0000 Foodnerd81 1629891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not take one before the baby was born, and I don't feel I was missing out on anything. I read a ton about it (largely on here, in blog posts and the boards) plus my hospital had a breastfeeding class every morning on the floor that all moms were encouraged to attend the morning after birth. And I called the lactation consultant at the hospital to my room a bunch of times with all my questions. Oh and my sister successfully breastfed her son and told me a lot about it, plus I watched her doing it when she was first learning, and she answered any questions day or night.</p> <p>I just don't feel like a class before could have prepared me for the reality of it. But, obviously, I prepared in other ways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629888 Mon, 12 May 2014 19:01:13 +0000 danda 1629888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd recommend going in person. In my specific case, I was a little disappointed that the specific class I went to was 50% sales pitch, 50% actual instruction but I still think it was worthwhile. The instructor can help you understand positioning better in-person. Also, the instructor for my class was the same lactation consultant who worked in the hospital/came when my daughter was born, so I liked that I was already familiar with her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-classes#post-1629875 Mon, 12 May 2014 18:55:02 +0000 Claire.Peonies 1629875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did anyone take a breast feeding class? I am debating on going to a class vs taking one online. Our schedules are jam packed until the baby is born. Did the class help? Is it worth the extra time? </p>