My friend Sara INSISTS that since I am having a baby I need to take a Prepared Childbirth Class at the hospital.
It is one 2 1/2 hour class once a week for four weeks OR one Saturday from 8 am until 5 pm.
Here is the course description:
This course is designed to help prepare mothers and their partners for the labor and delivery experience. We explore topics such as physical and emotional changes during and after birth, the role of your labor coach, techniques for relaxation and breathing, vaginal versus cesarean birth and the labor and delivery experience. A tour is included. Fee is $85 per couple.
I'm not so sure about this. I think I can figure it out.
So...Did you take one of these classes and are they a waste of time?
10 comments:
Um yeah... you HAVE to! So what the majority you could read in a book somewhere, so what most of the other couples are lame or scary, so what you think you're a bad-ass and know everything... It's the ONE time you will be able to do it, because I guarantee you that when baby number two comes around you won't have the option. Things change after you have a baby, and it was like the last fun pre-child thing we did (aside from spending time together.) We were the goober kids laughing through the entire class and "getting in trouble" together... and you do learn what you need to know for labor. It's different to learn them through 8 chapters of book for nine months... the class is like a dummie book: "Labor and Delivery for Dummies."
Just quit yer griping and do the one day course... I'm sure it will be just as fun, filled with all the bloody, scary, labor movies you can handle. ;)
I think I would probably go. I had two friends who did the opposite of each other. one went and the other didn't and both ended up having smooth labors (well, as smooth as labor can be) and no problems. I think it is really up to you!
Ryan and I did the one day class. We weren't excited about it. It was entertaining at times, gross, and scary all together. But then it turned out I had a c-section and none of it applied to me! We did have to take that course to get a tour of the hospital to find out where to go....I would go for the one day deal and get it over with. Jennifer did the once a week one and she hated it! Just some suggeestions!
My suggestion would be to take a private class or a class outside of the hospital. We took one with a girl who came to our house, it was a lot better than sitting in a boring hospital for an entire saturday! Also, the classes taken in the hospital push policies and stuff that they want you to accept, that you may not have to accept. I know we went about things totally differently than most people, but getting an unbiased class could be helpful when it comes to hospital interventions and such that may happen later on when you go into labor. Just be sure that if you do take the class at the hospital that you know all of your options. Remember, this is your baby and it should be your birth experience, how you want it, not how the hospital says it should or has to be! That is my two cents!
love ya!
kim
I took the class w/ my first and enjoyed it. I think you'll learn a lot from it, too. You don't need to think about it until you're about 7 months, though, usually. I wish I could go back to that time--a room full of first time, eager, excited parents. LOVE it.
We didn't take that class specifically because we knew I was having a C-section (Nate was breech), but we did take a class about breastfeeding, and I'm really glad we did. If you think you might want to breastfeed, I highly suggest it. We both learned a lot, plus I think it really helped Matt understand what I was going through, and in turn he was very supportive. But look at it this way, if you take the class, at least you and Freddy will probably have lots to laugh at and make fun of on the way home!
We didn't take the class, & there was nothing in the delivery that I was worried about. I figure that the nurses, your doctor, & all the hospital staff had done it enough that they could coach you through it. But that is something you two have to decide for yourselves. It could be a fun experience. I just know it wasn't something that Tanner or I had a desire to do.
We did and I totally recommend it. I was a little apprehensive about the delivery b/c I didn't know what to expect. That's what the class is all about. You tend to fear the unexpected so gaining the knowledge of how everything was going happen totally prepared me! DO IT!
We didn't take one. I wanted to, primarily for Donald's sake! I wanted him to know what was going to happen. I felt like I'd be OK because of my background and my sister taught me the only breathing techniques I used. ;) Let us know what you decide!!
Post a Comment