I am booked for a breastfeeding class in June (at 34 weeks pregnant). My sister just delivered at the hospital I will be delivering at, and she said that they provided her with a breastfeeding class in the nursery while she stayed during recovery. I'm pasting the details of the class I signed up for. Do you think it's worth taking, or should I just do the free session after labor in nursery? Also, I wonder if husbands will go? It says "for women and their partners"...
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This class will provide you with all of the information you need to get off to a good start with breastfeeding:
• how you make milk
• how to know if your baby is hungry,
• positioning of your baby for feeding,
• how to know if your baby is getting enough, and
• supports and resources.
It is intended for women and their partners who are considering breastfeeding as well as those who have decided to do so. It is recommended that this class be taken approximately four weeks before your due date.
Each participant will receive a packet of handouts on the presented material for future reference.
This course meets one time for two and one-half hours.
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I didn't take a BF class and pretty much learned hands on. The nursed and LC made their rounds and helped while I was in the hospital. Our hospital also offers a weekly drop in BF support group.
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Subscribing because I'm really interested too. I don't know what my hospital offers after the birth, but I know so much can be determined in the first few days so it makes me nervous. I'm also a crazy researcher so I could prob just read a book...
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I did and I think it's really beneficial to have that knowledge beforehand. My husband was reluctant to go as well bc he thought he would be the only dad there. There was only one mom without a dad there! I think the success of your breastfeeding lies largely on the support of your husband so he should definitely go!
Your insurance should cover some if not all of the cost?
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I took one at the hospital, but not in the nursery. They went over types of holds. I think that was the most I retained from it. I learned more trial by fire and the LC at our peds office who was insanely helpful. Our hospital is very pro breastfeeding, but the nurses just seemed to do vital checks and weren't super helpful to new parents on breastfeeding, etc. I think next time, it'll be easier since we know to feed future LO every two hours or on demand and to pump in the hospital to encourage supply. I really wish they would have been more helpful there.
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We went to a class beforehand and it was helpful. There are so many things to remember and new info that I wanted to be as prepared as possible. My husband went and it was so helpful - partners are a huge part of the successful BF relationship, I think.
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GO! You don't know how your labor and delivery will go and it's possible that you won't really feel up to attending a class in the hospital, or that you'll be too distracted to absorb much of the information. Also make sure that DH goes with you. It will help him to understand what is going on with feeding, and you will most likely need his help and definitely need his support along the way.
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I took a class before the baby was born & my husband came. It was helpful. We knew a lot of the information because we are readers (and because he is a pediatrician), but it was helpful to spend an evening focused on the topic. I think it was important for us to really solidify our commitment to breastfeeding. I also think it helped my husband feel more included in the process.
Our hospital didn't offer any classes, but we did also visit with a lactation consultant. I really, really wanted breastfeeding to go well, so I tried to get all the info I could
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I was going to take the class but decided it wasn't worth the $50 before LO was even here to practice with. I decided I would prefer to learn on the job and if I had issues, spend the money on a lactation consult instead. I ended up doing fine with just the guidance of the nurses and the LC while I was in recovery at the hospital.
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I would take the class. I think it's a great idea to be as prepared as possible and know what to expect beforehand, assuming that you're super set on BFing. I had 0 problems breastfeeding and it might be partially due to anatomy or luck, but I think taking the class helped me to be confident and know what I was doing from the start.
The first nurse who tried to show me how wasn't very good at it but another one came to assist and was helpful. The hospital LC stopped by my room after delivery but I was showering at the time, so I didn't get to visit with her until the following day...just saying that you never know what factors will be in play at crunch time! And you'll be so tired and having tons of information thrown at you.
If you do take the class, I would bring your husband. Just about everyone at mine was with either a husband or mom...that way if you forget something, maybe he'll remember. And he might notice something that you don't (latching, positioning, etc.)
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I think it's a good idea to take the class. You'll be so overwhelmed after the baby comes, it would be nice to do it when your mind is more clear. Plus you don't know if you'll be up for it physically after you give birth. I had a bad tear so I didn't even want to stand up to pee let alone go all the way to another room and sit on an uncomfortable chair.
My DH came with me to the class. He was one of two husbands there. But I'm glad he was there because I have a bad memory, and especially having to remember that stuff in the heat of the moment when your baby is screaming because they're hungry but won't latch right..... it's just nice having him be more knowledgeable on the subject so he can help. Plus he actually really enjoyed the class.
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I would take the class. I did take a class actually. And I would have an LC's number on hand too. (The second one is probably more important IMO.)
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I took the breastfeeding class offered at my hospital, and quite honestly I didn't feel like it helped that much. Once you have given birth, the nurses at the hospital help you through breastfeeding. There are also lactation consultants that visit to see your progress and provide help. I learned more from the nurses and lactation consultant than from the class I took prior.
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I don't know. We had a class as part of our childbirth class on breast feeding, and I do not think it was very helpful. My hospital in particular really emphasizes "lay back" nursing (are you kidding me? Kudos to anyone who could master this, I thought it was the hardest thing I've ever tried to do) and so the class and the LC at the hospital kept trying to have me do that and wouldn't really show me how to nurse any other way.
That being said, if you know NOTHING about BFing, I think some information is helpful so that you are aware of your body, how it works, etc. I do think you can get that information on the Internet though...
I would personally save my money and spend it on private LC after baby is here. Each baby is so different, you never know what issues you will have (and you probably will have "something"- most moms seem to, it's rare that your baby pops out of the womb, latches perfectly and you have smooth sailing from there on out!) so LC after the fact, even after you've been home for a little while, is extremely beneficial. -
I didnt take a breastfeeding class and I did pretty ok. I find that a lot of it is really hands on and you have to learn it when the baby is actually there in your arms
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I took a breastfeeding class prior to giving birth, and honestly, I didn't get a ton out of it that I hadn't already read. I still had a really difficult time BFing in the beginning because my LO had a hard time latching. If the class is free, I would attend. If it's not free, I'd save the money and put it toward a lactation consultant if you're having a hard time once LO arrives. In my mind, the $35 I spent on my breastfeeding class was pretty much a waste of money, and the $100 I spent on a home visit with a LC once LO arrived is the main reason I successfully BFed.
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I took the class at the hospital with my DD. For me I'm hands on and theory would be hard for me to picture since i never breastfed.
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The breastfeeding class I took beforehand was such a waste of time. I feel like my 3 hours would have been much better spent reading and printing stuff out from kellymom.com.
After birth, the hospital class was amazing. there is something about having actual babies in the room that makes it so much easier. I took the class 12 hours after delivering by c-section and was fine to sit in a chair and learn how to breastfeed. The nurses also showed me how and what to do before the class.
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Knowledge is power - take the class!
Seriously though, if breastfeeding is important to you then I would definitely take the class, the more you learn now the better equipped you'll be once baby arrives.
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I think it's a good idea if it's your first baby.
My co-worker took it for her first but had trouble with BF with her first and her doc recommended her taking it again for her second baby, she said it was really useful and she was a lot more successful BF with her second baby.
I took the class at the hospital for my first baby. I was really glad I did. Even though I was not successful over all BFing my baby it was better than going in blind. I will probably take it again when I am having my second from hearing my co-worker's story and I hope I'm more successful with the next one.
Good luck!
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I say you should take it! Never hurts to be informed!
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I took one that looks similar and was really glad I did. The nurses in the hospital weren't much help and the LC wasn't there 24/7. My husband didn't go to the class with me, but I wish he had. There were a few other dads there.
I say do it!
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I read the LLL book, and got help in the nicu from a lactation consultant. If you feel like you'd learn better from a class than from a book or a website or asking questions here, do it. Just get some knowledge, some how. In whatever form works best for you.
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I took the class (DH came too) and I read a book about BF before giving birth. I was able to EBF for a year (while being a WOHM). I really think I was successful because I was so prepared.
The class was beneficial for me, but it was REALLY beneficial for DH to hear about how he could be a supportive partner. It also helped him to understand the mechanics of BFing - supply and demand, etc, so we were able to be on the same page.
As others have mentioned, LCs aren't at the hospital 24-7 and if you deliver on a weekend, you might not be able to see a LC until Monday.
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i went to a class (my mom came with because DH had school) and it was good for physiology and mechanics of BFing. i felt like i had some tools in my belt so when LO arrived and she latched right away, i knew it was correct. we also had LCs at our hospital that checked in to help. i read a lot on HB and watched videos. the class was only $25.
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thanks everyone for your feedback!
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My breastfeeding class was one of my favorite things we did! I learned so much and so did DH. I think it REALLY played a big part in our BF success. I felt very confident in what I was doing and was thankful everyday for what I learned there. Seriously.
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