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Yep! We did just fine even with surprises and complications.

I just plan on doing a free one online.

Could you take them at a different hospital? Ours offers the class to people that aren't delivering there, but I think it costs a little more (maybe $10-20 more).

We took the 1 day hospital class and it was such a waist! She spent so much time having us get to know the other parents and no time on birthing techniques. DH was really dissapponted in the way the class was run and felt we should have just skipped them (and the $$ to take it). I was hoping for a natural birth so I really wanted to get as much out of the class as possible and that just wasn't happening...I would like to take a class on the Bradley method this time around but I know DH will not go for it based on our experience with the birthing class last time.

@grizz: Yep! I figure that way I can go through it at my own pace and just show DH the parts that I think would pertain to him.

A lot of pediatric offices offer them in an effort to generate more patients so maybe try that route? We found one in our area that offered a free full-day class and while they did try to encourage the class to sign up with one of their doctors, there was no real pressure and we simply said no and that was it! I would not have paid to attend a class otherwise and would have just watched a video.

We skipped. I dont think it would have helped me much LOL I just went with what our doctor and nurses said and after 4 hours I had to get a csection

I'm skipping ours. It's much too long of a class and it's several hours on the weekends. I'm so exhausted after working all week, that's the last place i want to spend my time and I know my husband feels the same way, having been very busy at work all week. I have a feeling I will still manage to get the baby out.

I think we are skipping classes too. I know a lot of people who skipped them, and were glad they did.

We were going to take classes, but since we learned we need to have a c-section, I'm happy to skip! We are taking newborn care and breastfeeding classes instead.

We took a 6 week course at the hospital, and I feel like they were kind of a waste of time. I already had researched on my own most everything that was brought up in class, and then in the end it didn't matter too much because I ended up with a c-section. I do agree that it's a good place to meet other moms, but if I had to do it again, I think we would probably opt to skip and just do a hospital tour.

I didn't. Even our nurse practitioner said there's no point because all they do is scare you!

If you are informed, you are informed, period. I think you can easily educate yourself and if you have questions, call the maternity ward and ask to speak to a L&D nurse!

Oh, I only took the hospital course (it was a 2-day weekend deal) and that was only so that I could get the tour of the hospital & get a feel for their procedures. I think you'll be fine without the outside person course!

I took the hospital course. It was 5 meetings, 2 hours each. (Lamaze) The main thing that helped me was knowing what is going to happen and when to go to the hospital (although even that turned out to be tricky since I had back labor and my contractions never got regular!) Is there any other hospital in your area where you could be added to a course? I've also heard of videos..

I went to one class because it was required if you went with the midwives at my hospital. They didn't talk about anything I didn't already know from my own research.