What birth class should we take?
October 14, 2010 12:04 PM Subscribe
Help me pick a birthing class. I've read this question and it has some useful advice, however a lot of the answers seem to focus on "whether or not classes are useful", and not "which classes to take." We'll be at a Birth Center, which requires some type of class, but the choice of which is up to us.
So far I've heard recommended The Bradley Method, Hypnobirthing, and Lamaze. I would like specific advice from women and coaches who have attended any of these (or other classes). Did you find the class useful? Was it worth the fees? Was it worth the time commitment? Is there another option I should know about?
My concerns about the Bradley class is that it takes 12 weeks; but maybe that's better? I just don't know. My SO and I are both a little uncomfortable with roll-playing situations, but would suck it up if there are other aspects that balance it out. The lamaze site I found didn't have a lot of information about the classes themselves and what the schedule is like. Hypnobirthing seems... well, woo woo. Maybe it's not?
I'm just into the second trimester, so we have a little bit of time to figure this out, but are eager to get started.
We are going for a natural birth with a midwife and my SO in a very active roll. We have a ton of books and other great resources already, and feel very prepared (or at least set up to be prepared) so I'm really not looking for general birth advice this time (that'll be a future AskMe, I'm sure).
tl:dr If you took a birth class, what one did you take and was it worth it?
So far I've heard recommended The Bradley Method, Hypnobirthing, and Lamaze. I would like specific advice from women and coaches who have attended any of these (or other classes). Did you find the class useful? Was it worth the fees? Was it worth the time commitment? Is there another option I should know about?
My concerns about the Bradley class is that it takes 12 weeks; but maybe that's better? I just don't know. My SO and I are both a little uncomfortable with roll-playing situations, but would suck it up if there are other aspects that balance it out. The lamaze site I found didn't have a lot of information about the classes themselves and what the schedule is like. Hypnobirthing seems... well, woo woo. Maybe it's not?
I'm just into the second trimester, so we have a little bit of time to figure this out, but are eager to get started.
We are going for a natural birth with a midwife and my SO in a very active roll. We have a ton of books and other great resources already, and feel very prepared (or at least set up to be prepared) so I'm really not looking for general birth advice this time (that'll be a future AskMe, I'm sure).
tl:dr If you took a birth class, what one did you take and was it worth it?
I did Hypnobabies, which is pretty much a variant on the idea of Hypnobirthing - I did the homestudy course. My reasoning was that I had read approximately one million books on how birth works, and what I really needed were actual skills to deal with the process, not more explanations about how fear shuts down contractions. I did not find it particularly woo-woo, but I am also a person who would rather meditate and visualize than practice panting with my husband, so YMMV.
Hypnobabies does not involve the birth partner that heavily (imo) - I know that women who've used it and liked it for their births do have their partners give them relaxation cues. But it's really something you could do by yourself, with as much or as little involvement of the birth partner as you're comfortable with.
Hypnobabies felt like a pretty big time commitment to me. In retrospect, I would have started sooner - there's a lot of practicing of the scripts. But I do think you can learn real skills to help yourself cope with the process of birth - or really any physical process. What you are really learning to is is selectively quiet your mind and direct your attention, which is probably a good thing to know how to do in general.
Good luck finding the right class for you!
posted by thehmsbeagle at 12:16 PM on October 14, 2010
Hypnobabies does not involve the birth partner that heavily (imo) - I know that women who've used it and liked it for their births do have their partners give them relaxation cues. But it's really something you could do by yourself, with as much or as little involvement of the birth partner as you're comfortable with.
Hypnobabies felt like a pretty big time commitment to me. In retrospect, I would have started sooner - there's a lot of practicing of the scripts. But I do think you can learn real skills to help yourself cope with the process of birth - or really any physical process. What you are really learning to is is selectively quiet your mind and direct your attention, which is probably a good thing to know how to do in general.
Good luck finding the right class for you!
posted by thehmsbeagle at 12:16 PM on October 14, 2010
We did Bradley with a midwife and it worked out well for us. The classes were held at another couple's home. Pretty low-key, no one hassled us for wanting to deliver at home (but this was over 20 years ago, not sure what it's like now).
posted by tommasz at 12:28 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by tommasz at 12:28 PM on October 14, 2010
We loved hypnobirthing: did it for the first and will for this. The cost was $400, which seems a bit like sticker shock until you realize what the drugs cost. :) It definitely worked great for me, and I still use the relaxation learned to go to sleep. And I only whined a little bit. :)
posted by tigerjade at 12:31 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by tigerjade at 12:31 PM on October 14, 2010
Well, you're not going to find many people who've done all three, so it may be hard to get much of a comparative study. And of course different things work for different people.
Maybe it would help if you wrote down what you want from your labor, and what you fear about labor, and see if you can get a better idea of what you need that way.
Labor classes and techniques are about managing potential fear and pain, essentially. It's hard to know what works for you if you've never been through labor before, and from what I've heard from other women, just picking a technique and using it is more important than which one you pick.
It also depends on where you're giving birth; home, birth center, hospital? Is your midwife a hospital midwife or standalone practitioner, and how conservative is she about alternative types of labor management, such as refusing interventions, using tubs and showers, eating and drinking, movement, and making noise? Will you have to fight off people pushing Pitocin on you, or will you be allowed to labor quietly? These things will have far more effect on how you handle labor then what technique you use.
If you haven't considered a doula, you might; having someone there who can direct you and your partner (so you don't have to) can remove some stress about trying to remember techniques.
posted by emjaybee at 12:47 PM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
Maybe it would help if you wrote down what you want from your labor, and what you fear about labor, and see if you can get a better idea of what you need that way.
Labor classes and techniques are about managing potential fear and pain, essentially. It's hard to know what works for you if you've never been through labor before, and from what I've heard from other women, just picking a technique and using it is more important than which one you pick.
It also depends on where you're giving birth; home, birth center, hospital? Is your midwife a hospital midwife or standalone practitioner, and how conservative is she about alternative types of labor management, such as refusing interventions, using tubs and showers, eating and drinking, movement, and making noise? Will you have to fight off people pushing Pitocin on you, or will you be allowed to labor quietly? These things will have far more effect on how you handle labor then what technique you use.
If you haven't considered a doula, you might; having someone there who can direct you and your partner (so you don't have to) can remove some stress about trying to remember techniques.
posted by emjaybee at 12:47 PM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm a huge proponent of Hypnobirthing. It's the only class we took to prepare for my home delivery.
I found it invaluable. It gave me a mountain of confidence.
Plan ahead, give yourself a few weeks after the course to practice the breathing till it's completely second nature to you. I only had a couple of weeks and it was fine.
And, like tigerjade, I found the techniques useful in other situations too. It's really a life-skill great for both women and men.
posted by Dragonness at 12:53 PM on October 14, 2010
I found it invaluable. It gave me a mountain of confidence.
Plan ahead, give yourself a few weeks after the course to practice the breathing till it's completely second nature to you. I only had a couple of weeks and it was fine.
And, like tigerjade, I found the techniques useful in other situations too. It's really a life-skill great for both women and men.
posted by Dragonness at 12:53 PM on October 14, 2010
We did Lamaze, but it turned out to be pretty useless once they discovered the baby's head wasn't going to fit through my pelvis. I had an emergency c-section and wished I had done that in the first place.
posted by moosedogtoo at 1:12 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by moosedogtoo at 1:12 PM on October 14, 2010
I did the hospital birth classes for my first baby (and they were actually quite valuable), and I'm doing hypnobirthing for this one. Catch me in a couple weeks to ask me how it turned out; I'm in prodromal labor right now, so chances are good that I'll know!
posted by KathrynT at 1:22 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by KathrynT at 1:22 PM on October 14, 2010
Did Bradley, and it was years ago, but from looking at their web site, their goal is still the same: an unmedicated vaginal birth. In the class, a lot of energy and instruction was aimed towards fending off medical procedures that would surely be foisted upon you by uncaring doctors eager to get to their golf game. I did end up with a c-section and wasn't invited to the class reunion (where people show off their babies!). This might have been an oversight, but still, it was consonant with the overall vibe. The women who made it without drugs, episiotomies and the like were the successful ones to be commended; others, not so much.
posted by Wordwoman at 1:47 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by Wordwoman at 1:47 PM on October 14, 2010
I did a sort of generic birth class and it was good. We mothers-to-be represented a variety of birth plans (hospital with epidural, birth center with no drugs, etc) and everyone's desires were validated. I think this was an important part of the class, actually, because you never know what might happen. The no-drug person might end up needing a c-section after all. The epidural-wanter might get there too late and not be able to get one. The fact is, once labor starts to happen, you just don't know how it's going to work out and if your plans and training will come to fruition. So, I'd say go with what sounds best to you (something where your SO will be involved); you should get some useful info out of whatever class you take, and remember that anything can happen.
posted by kirst27 at 2:47 PM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by kirst27 at 2:47 PM on October 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
We took a 12-week eclectic class aimed at natural-birthers. I had read a lot of books, so the class didn't present much new for me. It was really valuable in providing a bunch of like-minded friends with similar due dates, as well as jumping-off discussion points for me and my husband (he hadn't read the books) on the car ride home. The main thing useful for labor that I got out of the class was when we all tried out various laboring positions, late in our pregnancies. I had the diagrams at home, but going through them all physically was really useful for sorting out which ones were comfortable for the woman and the partner. The other good point was that it was affiliated with my birth center, so the recommendations and procedures were accurate.
I also got the Hypnobabies home kit and hated it with the passion of a thousand firey hells.
I came up with my own meditation and had a calm natural labor (during which I did feel pain, but coped just fine). C-section at the end of it all, so I was glad to have read The Big Book of Birth to know what to expect and manage my choices.
posted by xo at 5:44 PM on October 14, 2010
I also got the Hypnobabies home kit and hated it with the passion of a thousand firey hells.
I came up with my own meditation and had a calm natural labor (during which I did feel pain, but coped just fine). C-section at the end of it all, so I was glad to have read The Big Book of Birth to know what to expect and manage my choices.
posted by xo at 5:44 PM on October 14, 2010
I did a Bradley class during my pregnancy, about 8 years ago. It was held at the instructor's house. The information was good, the atmosphere was supportive, but I don't think it was that helpful.
The Bradley method really expects the father (or other coach) to be the primary labor support, and my husband was not good in this role. He's a great husband, friend and father, but he just struggled being labor support.
I tried for a "natural" birth, but did opt for the epidural after 19 hours. In our class, there were some folks who avoided drugs and some who went for the epidural (in this very non-scientific sample, the women who had shorter labors [8-10 hours] got through without drugs, and the women with longer labors [mine was about 24 hours] got the epidural). We were all invited back to the reunion.
I think the class was beneficial (particularly for my husband, who didn't read any birthing books). I particularly liked our class's focus on diet (120 grams of protein a day!).
posted by jeoc at 6:13 PM on October 14, 2010
The Bradley method really expects the father (or other coach) to be the primary labor support, and my husband was not good in this role. He's a great husband, friend and father, but he just struggled being labor support.
I tried for a "natural" birth, but did opt for the epidural after 19 hours. In our class, there were some folks who avoided drugs and some who went for the epidural (in this very non-scientific sample, the women who had shorter labors [8-10 hours] got through without drugs, and the women with longer labors [mine was about 24 hours] got the epidural). We were all invited back to the reunion.
I think the class was beneficial (particularly for my husband, who didn't read any birthing books). I particularly liked our class's focus on diet (120 grams of protein a day!).
posted by jeoc at 6:13 PM on October 14, 2010
Do you have a public library nearby? I've gotten the bulk of my birthing reading material through the library including one called "Husband-coached Childbirth" which is about the Bradley method. I haven't had my baby yet so I don't know how helpful it is just to read the book but I thought the tips and ideas were straightforward and my husband is enjoying it as well.
I, too, balked at the 12 week classes for that -- and the only ones in my area were a 30-minute drive away on a bad day of the week. So, we're not doing that.
I also looked at classes in my area for Hypnobirthing and Birthing From Within. I see in my public library's catalog that there are books on both of those methods available. I ended up not choosing either of those as the approach didn't really interest me that much and they were either full or at a bad time.
What we have ended up doing is taking a four week class at one of the local hospitals (not where we are delivering -- those were all full!) and after the first two sessions, I think it's really good. Our instructor is a certified midwife and a doula who works with that hospital. She is covering the spectrum of birthing topics and I think it's been really great for my husband to get spoonfed* information. And, it's great for both of us to have a place to ask questions and get direct answers.
Some other books that I have really enjoyed: "The Big Book of Birth," "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" and right now I'm reading "Orgasmic Birth" which is kind of cracking me up but I figured, hey, why not be optimistic? I should warn you on the Bradley book, though, that it seems a little bit old-fashioned. I skimmed a lot of the stuff where he either puts birthing women on a pedestal or seems to imply that maybe you have a problem if you fear birth or don't have an easy birth. Now I know why all the other books start with stuff about "no birth is the same" and "don't be ashamed if your birth doesn't go the way you want." Anyway, lots of skimming for the good tips and strategies for that one.
There's also a place in my city that does pre-natal yoga and they offer 1-day and weekend classes that are very natural-birth centered and about coping and things. If you have some place that does pre-natal yoga, they might be a good resource to find other options in your area.
Anyway, my 2 cents. It was frustrating to try to find the right thing but I'm feeling pretty confident now between my health provider, the class we're taking and the books I've been reading that we'll do okay.
*My husband is totally willing to read the birthing books but I think it's a bit much for him. I direct him to passages that I want him to read but he's not quite as riveted by that stuff as I am at the moment. However, he has really enjoyed reading books centered on newborn care and "what to do in the first year" which I think is great. It's been a good division of brain labor -- but he does need to go into the birth with a gameplan so the spoonfeeding method is good for him! YMMV!
posted by amanda at 7:42 PM on October 14, 2010
I, too, balked at the 12 week classes for that -- and the only ones in my area were a 30-minute drive away on a bad day of the week. So, we're not doing that.
I also looked at classes in my area for Hypnobirthing and Birthing From Within. I see in my public library's catalog that there are books on both of those methods available. I ended up not choosing either of those as the approach didn't really interest me that much and they were either full or at a bad time.
What we have ended up doing is taking a four week class at one of the local hospitals (not where we are delivering -- those were all full!) and after the first two sessions, I think it's really good. Our instructor is a certified midwife and a doula who works with that hospital. She is covering the spectrum of birthing topics and I think it's been really great for my husband to get spoonfed* information. And, it's great for both of us to have a place to ask questions and get direct answers.
Some other books that I have really enjoyed: "The Big Book of Birth," "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" and right now I'm reading "Orgasmic Birth" which is kind of cracking me up but I figured, hey, why not be optimistic? I should warn you on the Bradley book, though, that it seems a little bit old-fashioned. I skimmed a lot of the stuff where he either puts birthing women on a pedestal or seems to imply that maybe you have a problem if you fear birth or don't have an easy birth. Now I know why all the other books start with stuff about "no birth is the same" and "don't be ashamed if your birth doesn't go the way you want." Anyway, lots of skimming for the good tips and strategies for that one.
There's also a place in my city that does pre-natal yoga and they offer 1-day and weekend classes that are very natural-birth centered and about coping and things. If you have some place that does pre-natal yoga, they might be a good resource to find other options in your area.
Anyway, my 2 cents. It was frustrating to try to find the right thing but I'm feeling pretty confident now between my health provider, the class we're taking and the books I've been reading that we'll do okay.
*My husband is totally willing to read the birthing books but I think it's a bit much for him. I direct him to passages that I want him to read but he's not quite as riveted by that stuff as I am at the moment. However, he has really enjoyed reading books centered on newborn care and "what to do in the first year" which I think is great. It's been a good division of brain labor -- but he does need to go into the birth with a gameplan so the spoonfeeding method is good for him! YMMV!
posted by amanda at 7:42 PM on October 14, 2010
I had a home birth - so YMMV, but my husband and I took a 4week/8hour (2hrs per) class with a doula/student midwife/licensed childbirth educator. Our instructor also attended our son's birth, in the company of our midwife. The classes were wonderful and intimate (and there was absolutely zero role-playing). She focused very little on coping techniques, maybe one of the four classes. The most important thing that I took from the class was to keep my voice low (as in deep) and to keep my jaw relaxed, for what its worth. The other three classes focused on the physical and emotional aspects of birth and some baby care techniques.
Does your midwife have any recommendations? Do you have a doula? If you do not, I can not recommend one more highly, they are amazing. If you are thinking that a doula will take the place of or step on your husband's toes in the coaching/support department - they will absolutely not. (Besides, has your husband ever given birth before?) There is something about giving birth in the company of strong, knowledgeable women that makes it so beautiful and empowering (and believe me, it is pretty amazing on its own). Besides knowing what is going on in your body, I found that if I followed my instincts and listened to the small tips that my midwife and doula provided, I did just fine (they suggested things like: move your hips around as you sit on the exercise ball, gave my husband an idea of where to put pressure to ease some intensity, etc).
There is something about the various laboring "techniques" that turned me off, and that is this: if they don't work for you (for whatever the reason), blame is turned to the mother. She didn't do it good enough, didn't focus enough, didn't practice enough, whatever. I didn't want to open the door of self doubt for myself (though I know that these techniques work for lots and lots of women).
All this said, my point is this: Labor is intense (notice I didn't say painful). You will be SO INCREDIBLY in the moment, and maybe it matters less what class you take than who you choose to be present.
posted by LyndsayMW at 8:38 PM on October 14, 2010
Does your midwife have any recommendations? Do you have a doula? If you do not, I can not recommend one more highly, they are amazing. If you are thinking that a doula will take the place of or step on your husband's toes in the coaching/support department - they will absolutely not. (Besides, has your husband ever given birth before?) There is something about giving birth in the company of strong, knowledgeable women that makes it so beautiful and empowering (and believe me, it is pretty amazing on its own). Besides knowing what is going on in your body, I found that if I followed my instincts and listened to the small tips that my midwife and doula provided, I did just fine (they suggested things like: move your hips around as you sit on the exercise ball, gave my husband an idea of where to put pressure to ease some intensity, etc).
There is something about the various laboring "techniques" that turned me off, and that is this: if they don't work for you (for whatever the reason), blame is turned to the mother. She didn't do it good enough, didn't focus enough, didn't practice enough, whatever. I didn't want to open the door of self doubt for myself (though I know that these techniques work for lots and lots of women).
All this said, my point is this: Labor is intense (notice I didn't say painful). You will be SO INCREDIBLY in the moment, and maybe it matters less what class you take than who you choose to be present.
posted by LyndsayMW at 8:38 PM on October 14, 2010
We took a Birthing from Within class which i found useful. But even more useful was hiring a doula. I think my husband appreciated her even more than I did!
posted by vespabelle at 9:23 PM on October 14, 2010
posted by vespabelle at 9:23 PM on October 14, 2010
I took a hospital birth class, which was extremely useful, but not for the reason you'd expect. They spent some time demonstrating equipment used during birth. My husband looked at the needle used for placing the epidural and nearly passed out. That was when I decided to hire a doula.
When it came time to actually give birth, I used yoga training from years ago to keep breathing through pain. Yoga has benefits regardless of how your birth goes, so I'd recommend that over any other course specifically tailored to birth. You can always hire a doula to take care of the labour support.
posted by crazycanuck at 6:40 AM on October 15, 2010
When it came time to actually give birth, I used yoga training from years ago to keep breathing through pain. Yoga has benefits regardless of how your birth goes, so I'd recommend that over any other course specifically tailored to birth. You can always hire a doula to take care of the labour support.
posted by crazycanuck at 6:40 AM on October 15, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions so far. We will keep mulling over this for a few days before we make a decision, so if anyone has anything to add, I'd love to read it.
Just to clarify: it is a requirement of the birth center that we take some kind of birth class, they don't care what. It is not convenient to do the classes they hold there, so we are looking at ones closer to home. There are a variety here to choose from.
I do plan on starting a prenatal yoga class soon.
We have been well informed about the benefits of hiring a doula and will take that under advisement. We also have access to a large support group and information about labor prep, that's why my question is specifically about what classes you found useful or not.
posted by purpletangerine at 7:34 AM on October 15, 2010
Just to clarify: it is a requirement of the birth center that we take some kind of birth class, they don't care what. It is not convenient to do the classes they hold there, so we are looking at ones closer to home. There are a variety here to choose from.
I do plan on starting a prenatal yoga class soon.
We have been well informed about the benefits of hiring a doula and will take that under advisement. We also have access to a large support group and information about labor prep, that's why my question is specifically about what classes you found useful or not.
posted by purpletangerine at 7:34 AM on October 15, 2010
I took a Lamaze class my hospital offered, and it was useless for me. It was taught by Estelle Costanza's doppelganger and was full of irrelevant advice. I'd have done just as well with a hospital orientation trip and a copy of whatever Dr Sears book goes over the basics of "this is what is happening now." (I had an epidural with your standard hospital delivery, for context.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:04 AM on October 15, 2010
posted by The corpse in the library at 8:04 AM on October 15, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by supercapitalist at 12:15 PM on October 14, 2010