https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 22:32:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-48004 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:50:01 +0000 CameronsMomma 48004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took prenatal classes, though they weren't offered through our hospital, but through a young mothers center. Other than that, i won't be bothering. I can link you to online prenatal classes with the same information that's free if you'd like. It would be Ontario information though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-47991 Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:33:53 +0000 duetletterpress 47991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we took two classes - one on breastfeeding and one on childbirth. both were completely worth it for us and eased our minds a great deal. prior to the breastfeeding class, i read a really excellent book called "the new mother's guide to breastfeeding" so i felt like the info was redundant. BUT i'm glad we took the class because my husband gained knowledge about it and he became the support system i needed when the breastfeeding times got tough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-47667 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:09:19 +0000 pastemoo 47667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Goldilocks1107: Good luck! Let me know how you like them. I haven't signed up for anything yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-47002 Thu, 05 Jan 2012 10:49:35 +0000 Goldilocks1107 47002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're signed up for 3 of the 4 free classes offered by my hospital and also signed up for a childbirth education class that we have to pay for. I figure, it's nice to know what my hospital prefers so I know if I need to be more explicit in any birth plan I create to ensure my preferences are respected. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-46285 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:27:45 +0000 daniellemybelle 46285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm hoping to do Bradley classes when we do have a baby, but depending on what they cover, we might do a "Baby Care 101" class. DH isn't really into reading books, and so I feel like he'd learn the most that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-46261 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:08:19 +0000 katdevargas 46261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we took breasfeeding, child safety/cpr, &amp; lamaze classes that were offered through the hospital. I would say they were definitely worth it, if for nothing more than what my husband learned. he was so surprised at everything he learned in the bfing class &amp; I think it was really beneficial for both of us to take those classes &amp; discuss them later. I've researched a lot before &amp; since becoming pregnant, &amp; guess that I kind of took it for granted that he would know a lot of the same things that I did, so us being able to take the classes together &amp; be on the same page about what was taught was very beneficial.</p> <p>I'm still up in the air about taking a baby care class. I don't really feel like we need to take one, but then again I don't know what I don't know, so... it may be worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-46209 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:28:39 +0000 L2sweetpea 46209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We took a childbirth series of 5 classes, which was great because it covered all aspects of any kind of delivery (natural, IV, epidural, c section, etc). I was glad too because though I wasn't planning on a c section that's what I had and I'm glad to have been prepared prior. I also took a breastfeeding class which I'm so glad I took because I learned a TON and found breastfeeding a breeze in part to this course. I also took child/infant CPR which was a good refresher. The only class I took that I found more or less a waste of time was the baby care class </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-46154 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:53:06 +0000 mrs. wagon 46154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We took a prepared childbirth class at a parenting center. Expensive, but I liked being educated on everything that was going on. If I were thinking of going natural, I would definitely invest in a natural childbirth course AND a doula. </p> <p>Our hospital offered breastfeeding and baby bathing classes for postpartum, and we signed up for both but ended up going to neither. I kind of regret it, because we had trouble with both (I didn't give RJ a real sponge bath until 1 month! I was terrified! I spot-cleaned him til then!) but I had an amazing nurse who helped me with breastfeeding while I was in my postpartum room. I cried when we left because I wanted her to come home with us. Haha. </p> <p>I so wish I had hired a lactation consultant to come to our home. I was stubborn about it and suffered through on my own. I could have saved myself so much stress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45993 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:04:50 +0000 mamabolt 45993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We will be taking the classes our hospital offers, one on how the hospital manages the L&amp;D process, one on labor therapies, one on infant care, and one on breastfeeding. We definitely aren't relying on them as our only source of info, but I figure since the plan is to give birth at that hospital, the more we know about their process, the better prepared we will be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45937 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:51:05 +0000 pelikila 45937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't take the classes the hospital offered and instead went to a private company and did their class centered on natural childbirth. We also did the newborn care and breastfeeding classes by the same company. We would recommend the classes we took but I don't think our hospital would have been as thorough as the private company was. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45936 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:49:49 +0000 heffalump 45936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My hospital also offers a meet and greett for pediatricians that we went to. We got to meet 5-6 pediatricians and ask all sorts of questions. It was a nice way to narrow down our decision so we didn't have to go to all those offices. I highly recommend it if your hospital does it too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45923 Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:19:31 +0000 mediagirl 45923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm going to take both breastfeeding classes and we're both taking the childbirth and infant CPR classes. I think it's really important since we don't know anything about this whole having a baby thing except what we have read. I think going to classes will be a huge help. Plus, it's so important for everyone to know CPR. I let my certification lag for a while and am glad this gives us an excuse to get it again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45839 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:50:47 +0000 Rubies 45839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The hubs and I took a course that our hospital offered and it was very helpful. We learned a lot, met other couples as nervous as we were, got to share experiences with other moms-to-be and it helped me feel like I had done something to prepare myself. </p> <p>I would definitely recommend that you sign up! It can't hurt, right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45835 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:46:18 +0000 heffalump 45835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took breastfeeding, newborn care, infant CPR, and childbirth. I'm glad I took them all. I'm also someone who likes to be very prepared.</p> <p>Breastfeeding was my favorite. We learned a lot about skin to skin when the baby is born and it was amazing to be able to do that. I think you're so exhausted after you have the baby so it's nice to already know things about breastfeeding. Childbirth talked a lot about natural birth like different positions and medication. I felt like it helped me feel good about my decision because I was well educated on all my options and you never know what is actually going to happen in the delivery room so I wanted to be prepared for anything. I didn't learn a lot from newborn care, but glad I took it otherwise I'd just be wondering what I missed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45816 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:11:45 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 45816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took one at our hospital. While none of it was earth-shattering to me, it helped me feel much better to tour the place, figure out exactly what to do the day of, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45813 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:06:39 +0000 MsMini 45813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't plan on taking any classes, but I am an NICU nurse, and have been taking LC coursework. </p> <p>I have noticed a huge difference between the confidence of parents that do take the classes and those who don't though, so I think if it is your first child, and you haven't had a ton of baby care experience it is worthwhile.</p> <p>They cover a lot in the courses, that they may not have time to cover during your hospital stay (because stays are so short). Most of the time most of the "teaching" you will get, it a handful of pamphlets that you are expected to read post-discharge (unless you end up with an extended stay due to an NICU stay or something). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45800 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:49:45 +0000 chopsuey 45800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't take any classes.. I definitely would have done something if I had my mind set on a natural birth though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45770 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:57:45 +0000 BelugaBean 45770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're going to take classes, we just have to sign up for them. We're going to take a childbirth class (we chose the all weekend class instead of the six week class) and a breastfeeding class (only about a two hour class). I think they said the breastfeeding class isn't necessarily a how-to class on breastfeeding as much as they discuss issues that may arise, pros, cons, etc. I just feel like it'll make us both feel better about the whole thing as well as it gives us an opportunity to go on a tour at the same time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45762 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:45:25 +0000 runsyellowlites 45762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not taking any birthing classes at the hospital just b/c I know that my view on birth is much different and feel I would get more out of reading &amp; practicing at home than I would taking a class there.</p> <p>With DS I worked through the Bradley Method book and felt very prepared for l&amp;d.</p> <p>I do 100% agree with lemondrop in knowing the hospital policies &amp; procedures and primarily your rights as a pt for sure! If I knew then what I know now I'm sure things would have gone VERY different.</p> <p>This time I'm reading all I can on natural birth (currently Ina May's "Guide to Childbirth") &amp; will be looking into hypnobirthing &amp; hypnobabies to help prepare for my natural homebirth. I MAAAAAAAY take a bradley class in February, but I'm not 100% sure it will be available yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45756 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:33:07 +0000 lemondrop 45756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I liked the ones that our hospital offered and thought they were worth while- I can't speak for your hospital though since they are all different. </p> <p>We took an all day childbirth class for $75 and a half-day breastfeeding class for $25 and got two tours and a free carseat check through our hospital. They did say that some insurance companies will reimburse you for these classes too. </p> <p>I'm hoping to go natural labor in the hospital, but wanted to know how the hospital works with policies and procedures, so I know what to expect and can feel more prepared if things don't go as I have planned. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45754 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:32:40 +0000 Mrsbells 45754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we are planning to take a childbirth class in my 3rd trimester. I am taking it more for my husband so he can feel more prepared to be there during what I hope will be a natural labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45753 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:24:14 +0000 DpeachLu 45753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I cant say if they are worth it or not but Husband and I are taking a childbirth prep series (6 classes) and a baby basics class :).</p> <p>I hope they do some good. Hubby was told by a coworker that she recommended taking the classes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-take-any-courses-offered-by-the-hospital#post-45752 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:19:57 +0000 HabesBabe 45752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So my OB gave me a packet of info after my first prenatal visit, and in there is a list of courses the hospital offers (childbirth, breastfeeding, for men only, infant massage). Did any of you pay for these courses and attend? Do you think it was worth it? </p> <p>I'm on the fence because I want a somewhat natural birth (as natural as I can get in a hospital setting), and I've heard that these courses are more of a "this is how we do it at Hospital X" kind of thing. As for breastfeeding, do I need a take a course on that? There will be lactation consultants available after I give birth if I have any issues.</p> <p>This is not a matter of finances for me-- the "package deal" for 4 of the classes is $160 for childbirth, newborn care, for men only, and breastfeeding, something we can afford-- BUT I want to see if it's worth the time commitment.</p> <p>Any personal experiences? </p>