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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.

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.

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.

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!

I thought it was helpful!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!)

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.

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.

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.

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.

3.5 months and going, those two hours worth beyond worth it.