https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:03:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-787688 Thu, 16 May 2013 16:22:24 +0000 dolphin 787688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We took a class and honestly, I wanted to take it for DH's sake. I already did a ton of reading online and watched plenty of videos. I felt I was pretty prepared but I wanted to be sure DH was too. Of course, he said he'll just read up on it online but I didn't trust that he would spend enough time on it. So I signed us up for the class and I'm so glad we did. Yes, most of the stuff you learn in class you will probably already know, but it gave me a peace of mind knowing that DH is just as prepared as me. He learned massage techniques in class and he actually used them on me when I was in labor and it really helped! And if anything, I thought it was a nice bonding experience for us to share as soon to be parents. We both thought the class was worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-787604 Thu, 16 May 2013 16:07:21 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 787604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're signed up for a class, because the one we're taking is co-taught by a midwife, a doula and a lactation consultant. We're also aiming for a med-free birth, so I think the pain/coping strategies will be beneficial. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-787599 Thu, 16 May 2013 16:06:30 +0000 Pepper 787599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I debated about this for awhile, but we're not going to do any classes. I'm over informed anyway - through info on the internet and books... I feel like I'd go to a class and would have heard/read a lot of the information before. I am also planning on getting an epidural, so I'm not as concerned about pain management.</p> <p>I'd be more interested in a breastfeeding class (because I'm clueless), but I'm not sure if we will have the time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-787573 Thu, 16 May 2013 16:02:30 +0000 Vegmama 787573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a birth photographer, so I've seen a lot of births in person ... however, I think we'll still take a birthing class (I'm sure there's always something else to learn). We're hoping for a natural birth, so I'll want the class to learn some coping mechanisms, and I think my hubby would benefit since he's never seen a live birth, and doesn't know much about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-787011 Thu, 16 May 2013 14:31:32 +0000 mrsmate 787011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took a class and I thought it was helpful for mostly pain management. I think it was due to this class that I was able to labor at home for almost 24hrs (I arrived at triage at 7cm). But I knew all along that I was going to have an epidural and wasn't going to do a birth plan. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786903 Thu, 16 May 2013 14:17:20 +0000 JessKas 786903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not taking one, but I have read "Ina May's guide to childbirth", and I'm working through the hypnobabies home study course. My husband read most of "The Birth Partner" so he would have some background/knowledge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786570 Thu, 16 May 2013 13:34:08 +0000 swurlygurl 786570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't take one, and I don't regret it. I did see my sister give birth though, so I felt like that gave me a good grasp on how awful it can be, and to not have a pretty image in my head of how it would turn out, haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786433 Thu, 16 May 2013 13:05:51 +0000 Ra 786433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took the same online class as @blackbird. It was free and was plenty informative. Everyone I know told me not to waste the time and money on a childbirth class, particularly because I don't plan on going natural.</p> <p>That said, I'm really happy I took the breastfeeding class. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786418 Thu, 16 May 2013 13:02:48 +0000 Boheme 786418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We skipped our hospital class. I looked over the agenda and it was all very generic stuff that we already knew or could learn easily on our own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786162 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:53:58 +0000 Lozza 786162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm really glad I did ours, and both DH and I had done some reading first, so it's not like we were going into it blind- we were both already familiar with pretty much all the steps and terminology and such. Ours was specific to our hospital and taught by a current L&amp;D nurse, so she was really able to speak to what the policies, services, etc. were at our hospital and that was nice. It was good to be able to ask questions, nice that she'd bring props so you could see what the vacuum or forceps looked like, and it was also nice to make sure that DH and I were on the same page when it came to knowledge because, while I gave him some books to read, I didn't know exactly which sections he'd read or actually remembered.<br /> We're delivering at the same hospital again 2.5 years later, and I don't think we'll do another class, but I definitely recommend doing it with your first kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786075 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:29:58 +0000 babynumber1 786075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kinda hated ours. I was sitting in an uncomfortable chair after a long days work. We had to rush to get there, and we didn't learn much. </p> <p>The only take away that really worked was when they taught you how to bathe a baby, and that you need to use the scrubby brush on their scalp to avoid cradle cap. We did that and she never got cradle cap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786065 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:28:26 +0000 blackbird 786065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took this free class: <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/childbirth-class" rel="nofollow">http://www.babycenter.com/childbirth-class</a></p> <p>it was plenty for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786055 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:26:06 +0000 Smurfette 786055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think that anything in our L&amp;D class helped during labor. I am also glad we didn't do a hospital tour, totally not needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786045 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:23:35 +0000 Chillybear 786045@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: anything you can recommend that i might find on netflix? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786041 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:23:02 +0000 sea_bass 786041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: I wasn't interested in doing childbirth classes. I just don't see the point. No one I know said they learnt anything they didn't already know from books/internet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786038 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:22:23 +0000 Mrsbells 786038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: its not bad to have a plan. Its the same as life in general you can have a plan but then have a plan B as well and go with the flow.<br /> You can also read up on it or watch documentaries with your Husband. That is what we did, we both read the bradley books and watched videos </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786024 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:18:46 +0000 Weagle 786024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't take one, and we don't regret it. We hired a doula and planned on winging it from there. I didn't take any breast feeding classes either. We did do a hospital tour. I liked it, but the other parents on the tour were SO serious. DH and I couldn't stop laughing and making ridiculous jokes, so they were all shooting daggers with their eyes at us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786013 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:17:07 +0000 JerricaBenton 786013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@knittylady: Haha, yes - and I, of course, had told my husband all this stuff and he felt so superior during the classes. He kept nudging me like, 'listen to these dummies!' </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-786005 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:14:46 +0000 knittylady 786005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JerricaBenton: I agree on that last bit! We went to a class and left after an the first HOUR AND A HALF was spent talking about what to pack in your hospital bag.</p> <p>I think I don't realize sometimes the leg up being addicted HB has given me! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785939 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:03:59 +0000 JerricaBenton 785939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I liked the class we took, in that it explained what would happen/policies at our particular hospital. Otherwise it ended up being silly because I had all these visions of a birthplan and ended up with an induction/c-section, not that you can anticipate that. We took a breastfeeding course and an early infant care class and they were pretty informative. I did notice that the general population is not all that informed/educated on childbirth/care/breastfeeding so a lot of time was eaten up by some truly dumb questions. One side-effect of HB is that you assume people know a lot more than they do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785928 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:02:10 +0000 butterbean 785928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: we took a childbirthing class and in the end (after baby arrived), we agreed the class wasn't practical.</p> <p>just like you, we didn't really have a plan other than that we wanted a healthy and safe (vaginal) delivery and i was completely open to an epidural. we took the class because we thought it would be helpful but once i started going into labor and the pain started to get unbearable, i asked for the epidural :) and everything we had learned in our childbirthing class went out the door because when i got the epidural, i was pretty much glued to my bed</p> <p>if i could go back in time, i wouldn't have taken the class</p> <p>babycenter had some good videos/articles...hope this helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785925 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:01:15 +0000 avivoca 785925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'm signing up for a natural childbirth class, a breastfeeding class, and possibly the accelerated childbirth class offered by the hospital. Neither of us has much experience with newborns, and I've never spent much time in the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785917 Thu, 16 May 2013 11:00:03 +0000 Chillybear 785917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i do know one person that took the class at my office that said it wasnt a big deal and they watched a couple of birthing videos from the early 80s that she found hilarious. </p> <p>From what i gathered the nurses are a mixture of leave you alone to work through the pain of contractions and coaching you through as you progress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785912 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:59:32 +0000 Alivoo01 785912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're taking one, and went to Part 1 last night. The first half was boring, but the second half when she was talking about labor, the process, and we watched videos was informative. It also helped hubby have a better understanding of it all also since it gave partners tips on how to help out the mommy during labor to help her get through contractions and/or discomfort.</p> <p>Ours is provided for free by the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785907 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:58:34 +0000 .twist. 785907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think we'll be taking a class either. My husband has 2 kids already and has done the newborn/hospital thing before. I have a lot of experience with children and infants and have read online about all my concerns to death. </p> <p>I have heard from a few friends that the only thing they got out of the classes were new friends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785901 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:58:01 +0000 Foodnerd81 785901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: Funny-- I'm on the fence about the BFing classes, but adamant that we go to the childbirth class! Our hospital does has LCs who come around, though, and they have a class every morning for the new moms in the hospital. I'm still leaning towards doing it before, though, again, in part so DH can be involved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785892 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:56:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 785892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't taken ours yet, but I am signed up for it. For me, it's a comfort thing-- I probably could learn almost as much from books or videos, but I feel better if someone at my hospital tells me about it. Plus, I know DH wouldn't really prepare unless he has to sit in on the class. While I know things may not go according to plan, I like knowing what to expect. It's just my personality, I need someone to tell me things! </p> <p>I am also hoping to go without pain meds if I can so that's also a factor for me. But if you are comfortable with not doing it and it won't cause you more anxiety then go for it. So much is going to be dependent on your labor nurses, from what I hear. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785889 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:55:59 +0000 Espion 785889@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're planning on winging it (heh), but my sister did say that the breastfeeding workshops were worth it. Especially if you don't have a LC who can see you post-partum. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785879 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:54:22 +0000 Chillybear 785879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I should add that I plan on doing the $25 Breastfeeding workshop with the offices preferred lactation consultant </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/to-do-or-not-to-do-child-birthing-classes#post-785868 Thu, 16 May 2013 10:52:32 +0000 Bookish 785868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: We don't think we will be doing a class either. From what I can tell, it's only helpful (our class, at least) if you have a very specific, planned kind of birth. Like you, I don't want to go in with a plan, and I figure I can read books/watch videos. So I hope people post some good ones! Also, ours is 90$ and I have diapers to buy sooooo. Nope! </p>