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My situation was a bit different because I gave birth abroad, but I met some great moms that were giving birth around the same time as me and they became a great support system.

I found it helpful because it was midwife led. We had two sessions, where we practiced birthing positions and such. She also had these "rings" that were the centimeters dilated. That was eye opening!

I personally didn't, but we also had a unique situation.

Our class was scheduled for 4 meetings, but the instructor had a scheduling conflict so someone from a nearby hospital taught the class. She was scheduled to teach another class overlapping ours, so instead of meeting for 4 classes that were an two hours long, we met for 3 classes that were 2.5 hours long. So, a lot of information was crammed into the classes AND the instructor wasn't familiar with the policies at the hospital we'd be delivering at.

The hospital tour and policies, etc, was a different class that we had to register for, and wasn't included in the childbirth class.. It was just kind of annoying to have questions about the hospital, and the instructor not being able to answer them definitively.

I also went into the class knowing I wanted an epidural, and the instructor was VERY natural birth oriented. I purposefully signed up for the Childbirth Prep class instead of the Lamaze class, so I was really irritated that the class didn't fit the description.

Overall, I'm glad I took the class. I think I would have regretted it if I hadn't, but I also didn't learn anything that I hadn't already read in a book or had been told by my OB. And, mid-way through the classes I found out Chloe was still breech and a c-section was scheduled... so the natural laboring techniques I learned didn't even apply to me. Had I known ahead of time, I would have signed up for the c-section classes my hospital offers instead.

The best part about the class was learning different positions for pain management. It was also useful learning about the stages of labor and how to identify them, when to go to the hospital, what's 'normal' for how labor starts, etc.

I am getting ready to finish a seven-week birth class, and I feel very prepared and at ease. Our instructor is extremely knowledgeable about the birth practices at all the area hospitals, and I'm glad that I decided to go with one that wasn't affiliated with any one hospital. Like @JoJoGirl, the best parts are learning about how to cope with labor pain, learning about the different stages and how to identify them, and the different ways that labor can start. She's also very much about getting our partners on board and being involved in the labor. I feel like we will be able to be better advocates for ourselves and our child with this class.

I liked it because it allowed me to know what was normal and to ask lots of questions.

I took a class and attended a few 'workshops' before giving birth. To be honest, I didn't find them very helpful. I had pre-eclampsia and was induced at 40w. My labor was nothing like anything they described. I never felt contractions in my abdomen. I was told I was having back labor but there was nothing consistent about the contractions, it felt like I was being electrocuted through the spine, no pattern or rhythm at all. I was never told anything about this in my birth classes.
My recovery was nothing at all like I had learned in the classes, and because of that I felt very isolated and depressed.

We had a one day course and I had already known I would deliver via c section but learning about the stages of labor and signs to look for were helpful. If I had any signs of labor I was supposed to go straight to the hospital so it was good info. The breathing and birthing part I didn't need but I don't regret taking the class.

I have given birth and did not take a class - no regrets at all.
However, I have watched a live birth (my sister giving birth to my nephew), and spent a lot of time reading boards (like HB), so I knew what to expect (more importantly, to not EXPECT anything!)

We take our class next weekend and I'm curious to see if I find value in spending 8 hours in one day dedicated to this. But I haven't read much up on the birthing process itself, and DH knows nothing, so I'm gonna suck it up and go.

I gave a birth and took the class, however I didn't really think it helped that much, although it did get me in the right mindset.

I wish we were able to take a class No classes fit into our schedule (my husband works nights and up until very recently his days off were not set,... even now, they're only a little more predictible.) So unfortunately we didn't have a choice, I could probably have gone alone but didn't feel comfortable.

I never took a birthing class, had a great labor, and had no regrets. I did research a TON online, read countless birth stories, and watched a lot of birth videos though.

We took a one day childbirth class and toured the facility. I thought it was helpful and answered a lot of my questions. DH said he liked that he got some idea of his role during labor.

we took Bradley before our LO was born and while it is a big commitment, we loved it. part of that is probably finding a good instructor since you devote so much time. we had a long drive (for us, since we live in the city and had to drive to the suburbs) and we found that really useful too - it was time we devoted just to thinking about the process of birth and becoming a parent. we had so many great conversations in the car! I love information and wanted a natural birth so it was a good fit. I think the whole thing would have been so much more scary without that class - we felt totally prepared and although we didn't have to do it, I think we would have been calmer if something had gone wrong.

We took our hospital's online version of childbirth class. I liked it much more than going in. We went at our own pace and it was nice to be able to focus on what you needed/wanted to know. We got a book with all the info from it and could also get a hospital tour, but we never made it to the tour because we delivered early. I just really didn't want or have the time to go for a long class there and I didn't really want to sit through it with a bunch of strangers. Much nicer to be in PJs and joke around with my hubby through it

We took a class and honestly DH and I bought that it was a waste of time. The lady was great but it was more about what to do when in laboring at home, and my water broke, so the doctor had my come straight to the hospital.

@bhbee: I met one of the ladies who gave birth in the awkward Bradley videos and couldn't help but giggle!

It was more helpful for my husband than me. I found they spent half the class pushing breathing techniques...something you would only need if you were going for a natural birth. The teacher was a doula.

We did the short version and just took a 4 hour class at the hospital. I'm actually a physician and have seen/participated in many births and I still found it useful. Mostly we attended for my husband, who does not work in medicine and I wanted him to get a better idea what to expect.

I didn't learn anything I didn't know, but DH found it very informative, and I don't regret taking them.