https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 18:35:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2784273 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 09:36:44 +0000 Bluebonnet 2784273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found them extremely helpful. Not because the information was groundbreaking (like most pregnant women, I did a lot or reading and research). I found it helpful because it helped DH better understand what to expect and how he could support me during birth, while I’m recovering, and while breastfeeding, and so were on the same page re: babycare. I also liked learning about my hospitals rules in detail (re: visitors, epidural, etc). </p> <p>CPR was also extremely helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2784264 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 08:16:52 +0000 periwinklebee 2784264@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cake2017: That sounds awesome! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2784253 Sun, 05 Nov 2017 06:47:37 +0000 cake2017 2784253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a private course with a nurse at our hospital. It was great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2782332 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 14:34:51 +0000 jhd 2782332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snarkybiochemist: I would just call the hospital and ask. I think we made a relatively last minute appointment for that. They had us fill in some paperwork and got our insurance info and then a nurse showed us one of the rooms etc. We both found it helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2782330 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 14:31:28 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2782330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: No I haven't had a tour and I think that was what I figured I would find most valuable out of the class. I am looking to see if I can get a tour independently of a class </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2782329 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 14:29:32 +0000 jhd 2782329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snarkybiochemist: have you done a hospital tour? We did one and pre-registered. It was helpful for both DH and I to know where we should park, check in, etc. We were able to meet the lactation consultant associated with our peds practice which was helpful too. that stinks your class was canceled again! I didn’t do much reading beforehand so I’m no help there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2782309 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 13:48:07 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2782309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was supposed to take an all day 7 hr class on saturday by it was canceled for the second time and the next date is 3 days before my due date and so I will not be attending anything. Do you all have any suggestions for how I should proceed to try and prepare without a class? I'm planning for an epidural and will talk to my doctor about standard after care practices at the hospital so I know what I might be asking for thats not typical. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2782072 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 22:40:43 +0000 periwinklebee 2782072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Hah hah, I *love* the illustrations too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2782055 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 19:50:35 +0000 LCTBQE 2782055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: just finally catching up and seeing this--aren't the illustrations in that book AWESOME? I thought they were so funny. loved how every single man in it has illustrated male pattern baldness. the other gem I remember was the section on how husbands need to take care of themselves and eat sandwiches during your labor etc. Agh so good. And yes great idea to have an LC's number on hand just in case :) It seems like there are quite a few bees in your city, maybe someone can recommend one to you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2781915 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 11:31:07 +0000 gotkimchi 2781915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend told me it was 2 hours of info crammed into a 8 hour class :silly: I don't do well in situations like that so we didn't go and don't feel like we missed anything </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2781909 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 11:22:04 +0000 looch 2781909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was really helpful for me, I learned that a heplock was required to be placed upon entry, what the process was, what dilation looked like and most importantly, the little trick that tells you baby is coming in less than 2 minutes (when the midwife turns on the heating lamp). We also covered pain management options, which I thought was really helpful and specific to certain rooms so I knew what to request.</p> <p>It was spread over 2 days, so not terribly inconvenient. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2781890 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:40:22 +0000 mrskansas 2781890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't take any birthing classes because I knew that once I was in labor everything would go out the window. My husband also would not have benefited since he worked as a medic so he was already comfortable with that stuff.</p> <p>I contemplated taking a breastfeeding class and ultimately didn't. Keep in mind that while you are in the hospital you will (should) have access to lactation consultants and the lactation clinic after you are discharged. In my opinion, learning about breastfeeding is much more helpful once you have the baby and can immediately apply everything they are teaching you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2781889 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:38:41 +0000 MrsADS 2781889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was moderately helpful - felt like I already knew everything from research. But EXTREMELY HELPFUL for my husband who knew nothing. Totally worth taking for that reason alone. I think it got him focused and "in the game" of what to expect, what he needed to do, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2781887 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:35:04 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2781887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only took the birthing class, and it was a complete waste of time for me. I know that you said you may not be able to get an epidural, and that wasn't ever not an option for me, so that's very different. I was of the mindset that I would get an epidural if I needed one, but I wanted to feel what labor was like.</p> <p>It came fast and furious for me, and I was throwing up from the pain. I have no idea if it was because I can't handle pain like others can, or if it was just too much, but I ended up with an epidural, and then an emergency C-section when I had a fever. Ultimately, the whole birthing class went right out the window. </p> <p>I think an infant care class would have been far better for me as well as a breastfeeding class. I had DS 5 years ago, and I felt like I knew nothing about breastfeeding and had my mom in my ear telling me that I shouldn't breastfeed. So that would have been really helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2781883 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 09:27:04 +0000 periwinklebee 2781883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @bushelandapeck: Thank you - good to know re the classes. I might not be able to have an epidural for medical reasons, but won't know until I show up to L&amp;D, so figure I should prepare for that being completely off the table... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2781849 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 07:23:30 +0000 bushelandapeck 2781849@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I think I found it online just by googling natural childbirth classes. I called a few places and this one seemed to fit our needs best. If you're thinking of trying for med-free, I can't say enough good things about taking a class specific for that. We also hired a doula but she didn't end up being able to attend the birth so it was doubly great that my husband had gone to this class with me. He did a fantastic job helping me the whole time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful/page/2#post-2781844 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 04:50:19 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2781844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>eta:<br /> All in all, I had 1 natural birth class + multi evening hospital class (neither of which DH attended because they were offered during the week) + multi Saturday Hypnos birth class + doula. For someone without little baby experience, and not many pregnant or mom IRL friends I probably should have taken more classes on baby care.</p> <p>@periwinklebee: I used “ natural birth, med-free birth, Baby-wear/ing” to find the natural birth workers in my area. FB can also a be a source to find the med-free birth workers in your area. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781842 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 04:39:39 +0000 lamariniere 2781842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Granted, it was about 7 (!!) years ago, but I did like my hospital birth class. It was taught by a doula and she was very thorough with info for non medicated and medicated births as well as interventions, c-sections, etc. I ended up with an epi with my first so I didn’t really use any of the pain relief and breathing techniques, but I didn’t have time for an epi with my second and was able to remember and use the techniques from the class. I thought it was very worthwhile. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781835 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 22:36:19 +0000 periwinklebee 2781835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all! </p> <p>@bushelandapeck: That's awesome - how did you find the class? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781826 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 19:55:04 +0000 bushelandapeck 2781826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: we didn’t take the hospital class but we did take a natural childbirth class that we both found extremely helpful. I was set on a med-free delivery and I doubt I would’ve been able to do it if I hadn’t gone to this class. I also took a breastfeeding class and read Ina Mays books about childbirth and breastfeeding. I thought they were all great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781825 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 19:45:24 +0000 irene 2781825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was all very vague now, but I remember we took CPR, a basic child birth and baby care class. Each class was 45 minute tops. </p> <p>They are somewhat helpful. CPR is just for peace of mind, which I highly doubt I'd remember what to do if God forbid something happened (DS fainted in a park when he was 2, all I remember was he needed to be laid down on a flat hard surface, and thank God he woke up after I laid him flat on the ground). The child birth class I remember basically they really pushed us to do epidural, which I knew that's what I wanted to do anyway, but it was nice to hear them explain exactly what will happen and how much experience they have in that area. It was also nice to get reconfirmed that we should not go to the hospital unless the contractions were x minutes apart (3? 5? i actually forgot how long, hahaha!) The basic baby care class was, well, basic - changing diapers, taking a bath, which I believe we would have figured it out anyway... it was nice to hear and get confirmed that it is OK to not have a bath every day for a newborn infant and what to expect with the belly button / circumcised privates...etc. </p> <p>I think I'd still survive had I not take these classes. They were extremely basic... I wish that in one of these classes, someone would actually give us an idea of how it would be so much more helpful to put a baby on a schedule, the eat, play, sleep routine; The "hair-dryer" sound that puts them into a calm / sleepy state. All these were tricky to figure out and I learned by frantically finishing the Baby Whisperer book in 2 days. No classes had taught me any of that. Breastfeeding was also very tricky to figure out, and I thought I was prepared (went to talks, watched videos, read books...etc). It was a lactation consultant that DH found AFTER childbirth that saved my life. The nurses from the hospital were pretty much useless (to me).</p> <p>Funny to say, what helped me for child birth was the weekly prenatal yoga classes I went to. They had this pose that we had to do for 1.5 minutes without stopping. They reminded us that when we go into labor, the pain will be severe but will stop by 1.5 minutes, very similar to this annoying pose we had to do. When I was in labor at home for the entire day, that's all I could think about, and it was so helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781823 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 19:20:13 +0000 Anya 2781823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't do a birthing class per se but I took a 1-2 hour "comfort measures for labor" class with a doula that was helpful. </p> <p>The Birth Partner is excellent. </p> <p>For breastfeeding I mostly winged it but i did read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. It is peppered with some anti-formula nonsense though, which is disappointing because it was otherwise a good resource. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781810 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 16:51:16 +0000 Mrs. Cereal 2781810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that the childbirth classes, while not helpful to me, were a part of being a first time parent that was fun and sort of a rite of passage. My husband and I giggled our way through and I never even thought of the class when I was actually in labor.</p> <p>I did take a breastfeeding class that was pretty helpful. DH learned more than I did and remembered more and that was helpful for the first week because he was really good at suggesting changes in position and encouraged me to try different things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781793 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 15:45:52 +0000 birdofafeather 2781793@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did the BFing class through my hospital and it was very informative. Didn't do anything else except the hospital tour which was also helpful. Didn't take any classes the second time around and the hospital I was at then didn't do yours because they were too busy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781755 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 13:32:47 +0000 periwinklebee 2781755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you everyone, this is super helpful! And good to know how useful a private lactation consultant can be as well - just asked a local friend for a recommendation and have her # in my phone now should I end up needing it... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781711 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 11:38:23 +0000 MACSUNSHINE 2781711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a caring for your newborn class a couple which did cover some of the birth, just enough that I felt more at ease. I was someone that I knew I was getting an epidural and I did not have a formal birth plan, other than healthy baby and mama. Also the labor and delivery nurses are amazing and they will help you through it all.</p> <p>I would recommend a class like that, my husband had not spent any time with infants so it was good. They did cover some breastfeeding in that class. I also did a class by myself on breastfeeding and then ended up needing an at home lactation consultation due to engorgement/latching issues on one side. I would recommend the breastfeeding class if it is important to you and also having a lactation consultant on speed dial.</p> <p>I can remember being at the pediatrician's office and saying how my son wouldn't nurse on one side. She immediately said ok, you are calling the consultant and getting right on that. I just weaned my son at almost 21 months and I credit our longevity with investing time early on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781708 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 11:31:33 +0000 bhbee 2781708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsBucky: we also did Bradley and I agree the best thing was what it did for us as a couple. Really normalized everything for dh and made us talk about things a lot and focus on each other.<br /> At the hospital we did the tour and the cpr class, both of which were useful. The main thing I learned at the tour was which elevator goes directly to L&amp;D which was great to know when I came later in a lot of pain! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781705 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 11:27:31 +0000 snowjewelz 2781705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted somewhat. I loved having the hospital tour the first time around. But the actual class of like breathing techniques and all that... Eh. It scared me lol. I think I learned more with my time on HB! And the breastfeeding class I took was a joke. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781700 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 11:08:16 +0000 Adira 2781700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took infant CPR and a "caring for your newborn" class, but no actual birthing class. Zero regrets. I was planning on getting an epidural, so I figured I didn't need a birthing class. I ended up NOT being able to get an epidural, which kind of forced me to just go with the flow. It was a great experience and I'm kind of glad I didn't have any expectations going in to labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-find-hospital-childbirth-classes-useful#post-2781698 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 10:59:08 +0000 krispi 2781698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the classes were a lot more informative for my husband than they were for me, but I'm glad we attended them together. I had done a lot of reading and research ahead of time, but he hadn't, so most of the information was brand new to him. I also appreciated the opportunity to actively practice different birthing techniques (although I was induced and eventually had a c-section, so we didn't get to use many of them). They did talk about inductions and c-sections in the childbirth class also, so that when those things came up we were both familiar with what was happening. We attended the basic childbirth class, a breastfeeding class, and the infant care class. I found all of them helpful. </p>