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I would've been fine! I mainly took it b/c the hospital tour was bundled with the birthing class.

I would take it. I thought it was totally worth it. And if you can take another class on breathing and other techniques during active labor, I'd highly recommend that, too.

I didn't take one!

My plan was always to go with the flow and get an epidural, so I figured I didn't really need a class.

Well... I wasn't able to get an epidural! My mom was all "You should've taken a class so you would know how to manage the pain without one," but I kind of figure not knowing what to expect and not knowing what I was doing actually worked in my favor. Since I had no expectations, I just went with the flow. I listened to my body and the midwives and it all worked out.

That said, I was really lucky and had an easy labor and delivery. There were no complications (besides my platelets, which we knew about ahead of time), so it was fine that I didn't know anything about anything. The biggest decision I had to make was whether to have them break my water or wait it out, and I just did whatever my midwife suggested (wait it out). I guess I technically decided whether to have an episiotomy or not, but it was pretty much like Midwife: "I need to do an episiotomy." Me: "Okay."

I didn't take the class and don't regret it. I read through 'what to expect' and watched a few videos online about childbirth. We did set up a tour of the hospital on our own so knew where we'd be and where to check in.

I didn't take one, and don't regret it at all. I felt like I already pretty much knew the basics, and my doctor told me that if I was planning on getting an epidural (which I was), then it wasn't really necessary.

@agold: our HMO offered a six week class and my husband and I were like ehhhhh. We ordered a Lamaze DVD used off Amazon and watched a session every few nights at home in our PJs and with snacks, and if we had questions we just Googled on our laptops. I ended up with an emergency Csection so it didn't matter anyway!

I didn't take a class and have no regrets. I did some research, and felt knowledgable and able to advocate for myself. My plan was to go with the flow, not stress about how I wanted to give birth, and trust that my body would know what to do.

I ended up with a med-free very fast--7 hours start to finish--labor, and didn't even use most of the pain coping tactics I planned to use.

We took an all day class and I thought it was really helpful, especially for DH. And even if you get an epidural, there can be a lot of labor before you get to that point. I really liked learning about the specific hospital's procedures, and I liked the tour a lot. We'd even taken a tour months prior to decide if we wanted to use that hospital. But the tour with the class was much more detailed.

ETA: And this is from someone who ended up with a c-section.

We didn't take any classes either! I read a lot and we hired a doula for the birth of our first son. This time around we don't plan on taking a class or hiring a doula. Ishould book a tour since I'm delivering at a different hospital!

I didn't take a class. I did sign up for a hospital tour that was a couple hours long and covered when to come to the hospital and what supplies are needed for post-partum care. It was definitely not essential and I'm glad I didn't spend more time on it than that. I should note that I knew I was going to ask for an epidural almost immediately so I wasn't looking to manage the pain....

I skipped it inadvertently since LO came early, and it was 100% fine. I'm glad I didn't waste a weekend and lots of money. I quickly figured out how to give birth

@agold: Hospital tour... probably not, at least it wouldn't have been for me. It was probably 15-20 minutes, they showed us where I would deliver, the recovery room, where the nurses/dr's would be watching my stats, a quick view of the NICU. I guess if you already know that, and know where to check in, you should be fine.

I didn't. Dh didn't want to and I didn't want to go on my own. I did read several books though (The birth partner, one by dr Bradley, and Ina may's book) and had the natural delivery I wanted so it worked for me.

I didn't take one and didn't feel i needed it. I had a great and easy delivery. If I was planning to go med free I probably would have done something to prepare, but it wouldn't have been the hospital birth class.

I didn't take the tour either and it was fine. I didn't plan on taking it this time either (different hospital) but I had to go to L&D last week (texted my coworker to ask where it was when I was driving there lol) and got a mini tour.

I skipped it, I was fine. I think most are probably a waste of money unless you go hardcore and do hypnobirthing or bradley method because you are set on a drug-free birth. If it's just a hospital class, pass. There is plenty of reliable information online about the labor process. I did go to the free hospital tour, I would recommend just so you know where to go and their policies.

FTM, skipped and we were totally fine. Unless you know nothing about babies and childbirth (clearly that wouldn't be you if you are on this site), and don't know anyone who has had a child then you'll be fine. -That's my opinion anyway! Like pp have said, take a class if it is for a specific birthing method you are set on, although know that it could potentially be useless depending on how labour progresses. My husband and I read the book "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin at our midwife's recommendation. That coupled with my own knowledge, parent, friend, and sibling knowledge was enough for my own labour.

I went to a long Saturday one and felt it was a waste of time. DH liked getting some info though.

My mom kept telling me to look up breathing exercises but I didn't. I was fine (as fine as you can be) without them and managed a natural birth with only IV meds.

We skipped it. I took prenatal yoga which I loved because it taught me a little bit about pain management techniques. But overall, I was fine between reading birth stories on here, hearing about labor from friends, and having an awesome nurse who guided me through it.

I vote skip it but take a tour or pester your doctor/midwife with all of your questions. I feel like the most helpful things I learned were weird hospital specific things but your friends should be able to clue you in (like my hospital is stupidly slow with non urgent medication orders so bring your own ibuprofen and stool softener so you don't have to wait.)

I did a hypnobabies home study course which focused on pain management, it wasn't cheap but I loved it. The Bradley book might be a good option or the hypnobirthing book if you want to look into options on your own.