I'm due with my first in November and trying to figure out if birthing classes are worth it. Scheduling with my and my DHs jobs is somewhat difficult, so I'm wondering if anyone was able to have a med free birth (on purpose) without taking a class. I would have my husband watch some YouTube videos and we have already discussed the interventions we would like to have or avoid with me and our LO. Thanks!
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You definitely could. I suggest reading The Birth Partner together. I took a short birth class but it wasn't specific to med-free birth.
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Are you planning on having the baby at a hospital?
I had an unmedicated birth at home, and we took a class. I will say: the class was just for a little extra time together. I felt like I knew enough about birth (after witnessing many), and watching lots of births on YouTube. I read several books about attempting a med free birth, and I felt prepared. I didn't really *learn* anything from the class, so I'd say it's not a must.
What I do think is important would be discussing your plans with your caregiver, and ensure that they'll support your desire to go med-free.
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I probably could have, but I felt better having taken the class. Scheduling was difficult for us, but it just meant that I finished up the class at 39 weeks pregnant (and went into labor exactly a week later). I just felt better prepared knowing what I would be offered at the hospital and seeing what the operating room would look like if I ended up needing a c-section.
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I didn't plan on having a med-free birth, but ended up not being able to get an epidural. I didn't know any of the techniques for pain management and just struggled through it, but it was fine. I don't regret not taking a class.
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I haven't had a baby yet, but my birth center mandates that you take a birthing class before they'll allow you to deliver there. I'm sure you don't personally *need* to, but my midwives obviously think it's valuable.
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I picked no class but I *did* take the standard hospital class but *not* a class designed for ppl who want a med-free birth (like hypo babies).
I also read and researched a lot and got my hubby on board. I just winged my own "curriculum" and tried to relax and visualize during my showers.. Also hubby and I would practice relaxing and breathing together..
I think all that helped me have a positive outlook on labor and helped me to relax during labor.
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Does your SO completely support you in a med free birth? I know my DH would to a point but I don't think he really believes in it, so I think if he saw me in a lot of pain, he might suggest pain meds during labor.
For this reason, I'm having a doula so she can be my support person. I'm not against pain meds but I would like to try having med free. I am having twins so I do have to be open to the possibility of anything happening. Having a doula in the room could help me get through the final pushes.
Oh, I did take a class and we practiced breathing exercises. Some of it will help but like I said, I think I need a doula in the room with me.
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we didn't take a class due to having trouble scheduling it. We mostly just did research online and asked others we knew who had a med-free birth for tips. even just doing this I was able to have a med free birth.
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I did take a class, but, I don't think it was tremendously helpful in getting the birth I wanted. The information about stages of labor, typical progression, etc is stuff you can get from a book. The coping techniques were nothing I wasn't already familiar with from dealing with migraines and endometriosis pain.
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I did a class as well as a hypnobabies home course and still ended up with an epidural. FWIW, I am planning to just get the epidural next time. I didn't end up with the dreaded cascade of interventions and was happy with the birth. If I really wanted to try for a med-free birth next time, I'd probably get a doula.
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I took a class that was geared towards med free, but I don't feel like it helped that much really. Most of t I knew from my own research anyway. What did help the most was an awesome team that was supportive of bed free births. I delivered with a midwife practice at a birthing center in a hospital, and I think a majority of women who deliver with them try for med free so they were super helpful. I don't know that I would have been able to do it in a hospital that was less enthusiastic about med free. Could you hire a doula? I hear that would help more than classes.
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Thanks everyone! To answer some of your questions: my husband is super supportive but I am a little worried about how he will react when he sees me in pain. We have a midwife and are delivering in a hospital based birthing center with tubs, showers, birthing bars and balls and very supportive staff. I think I will get the birthing partner and read it with my DH.
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@peaches1038: in that case- I think you can do it!
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I took a childbirth class through the hospital, but had to be induced, so they got me on meds as soon as I got to the hospital. I don't think I would've been able to handle the pain, anyway.
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I read the Mongan Method (hypnobirthing, with visualization) and I knew that wouldn't work for me, I can't picture myself floating in a colored cloud.
I took the hospital class, which was midwife led, and I found it very helpful. Not so much for pain management, they assured us that they would help through labor with positions and moving (and they did), but to set expectations on what to expect when I actually arrived at the hospital.
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We decided on Hypnobabies and opted to take a 6 week course instead of doing the home study bc I knew there was no way DH would be as committed to studying if we weren't forced to sit in class together. He learned SO MUCH which was crucial since he will play such a major role. I probably didn't need it as much for myself bc I had already done so much research, but it was a great experience for us as a couple. My due date was yesterday so hoping it all pays off soon!
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Honestly, if you want a med-free birth, a doula is going to be worth the money more than a class. You won't remember what you learned in class when you're in active labor. A doula will be there in person to walk you through it.
ETA: I also delivered with a midwife in a hospital with birthing balls, tubs, etc. Midwives are NOT the same as doulas - they have other patients in labor so are in and out, just like an OB would be. A doula does not leave your side for a minute and is there to support your husband too. A midwife's primary goal is the health of the baby; the doula's primary goal is your comfort. I loved having both - they complemented each other wonderfully. Even though after 17 hrs of med-free labor and a cervix that was slammed shut at 1cm dilated I did need interventions, I know my team would NOT have recommended it if it wasn't essential.
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I totally disagree that a doula is worth more than a class. If you feel like having a different support person than your partner would be useful, great. I really did not feel that way, and I'm glad I didn't have one around. I even told my husband to take a nap while I labored because I was so in my own head. I took a hypnobirthing class before my first, and then had a long terrible induction anyway. With my second, I was able to use many of the coping tricks I'd learned in that class to help me successfully go natural.
If you think a class would help, go for it. Otherwise, read a book, google around for 'labor coping strategies', or something like that. My midwives were very helpful with these, too. And at some point all of the coping tricks basically go out the window and you just need to focus on remaining calm and getting through that moment, anyway.
Another thing that really matters is getting your partner onboard with what you want. My husband knew how very much I wanted a natural birth, and how much I had hated the epidural the first time. The second time, when things got real, I was really looking for him to give me 'permission' to get that epidural. I wanted him to tell me to just go for it - and he didn't. He reminded me how much this mattered to me, how far I'd already come, how strong I was, etc. If I had absolutely needed it, he would have absolutely supported me, but he was wonderful about keeping me focused on the bigger picture.
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We took a class and had a med-free birth. I didn't really learn anything new, but DH learned a ton and felt much more prepared afterwards.
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@sarac: This is exactly what I needed to hear! This has been my thinking all along and I'm glad to see that it worked for you. Thank you!
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Scheduling our class was tricky due to my DH's schedule, but we figured out a way to make it (mostly) work and I'm glad we did. If you are interested in a Hypnobirthing-type class and just have a conflict on one or two of the dates, you could talk to the instructor and see if there's another class you could join for a make-up session or something! I also attended one session without DH and just took notes to fill him in afterward -- it was fine. I disagree that you don't remember what you learned when you're in labor, I found some (not all) of the techniques absolutely crucial.
That said, if we hadn't been able to make it work, I'd have gotten a formal self-study course like Hypnobabies. I think we probably could have gotten 90% of what we got from the physical class from the DVDs, I was just worried we wouldn't be diligent enough to stick to it. For me, I'm pretty sure googling and YouTube videos wouldn't have been enough.
And our doula was close to useless. She gave me a back massage/pressure for about 15 minutes during transition that was helpful, but aside from that she just took a few photos. I had a fast labor and she arrived at the hospital just about the time I was entering transition, so it wasn't TOTALLY her fault...but it was NOT money well spent. I'm undecided whether we'd hire a doula again if we have a second child.
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We did a one day in home lesson but it didn't include any labor if techniques, just resources and some logistics. My most important thing was having a doula to help and a partner who wanted to help and had knowledge about the birth process. I read a ton but had a very quick and uneventful labor and delivery. BUT the fact that my partner was on board when my water broke, I had no contractions and insisted on a 2 mile walk to breakfast to get things going, invaluable. A doula who had the words to say while DH rubbed my back, invaluable.
All things going, you had no idea what you're going to feel, what your body is going to do, how your partner will react in labor. I have friends whose partners were clueless about stages of labor, what to expect, how to support them, so they didn't have a chance to succeed. I have friends who were totally prepared but their labors were crazy and even though they did everything "right" they still needed a csection. So do what feels right for you!!
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It totally depends on your labor, but I was able to have a successful med free birth in a hospital with no doula, no class, no book, no method. But, it was my second birth so I kind of knew what to expect (but first birth was pitocin induction due to pre-eclampsia). Also, my second labor was only 6 hours long. I think length of labor plays a huge role!
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@peaches1038: of course you could! The classes freaked me out more so you may be doing yourself a favor
you should inform yourself on scenarios if things don't go as planned so you don't panic if it doesn't go like you are planning. Good luck
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Thanks everyone! My friend gave me a DVD called The Best Birth and it goes through the stages of labor, talks about coping strategies, possible interventions and c-sections, so I think watching that with my husband will help him feel more prepared. I also ordered the Birth Partner and we will read that together as well. I'll be sure to report back in November! Thanks for all your thoughts and advice!
you should inform yourself on scenarios if things don't go as planned so you don't panic if it doesn't go like you are planning. Good luck
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