Mommy question!

MarJo03 · December 2010

This can be for the moms to be too (which classes you're thinking of taking)...

What pregnancy/baby/birth classes did you take, if any? Did you find them helpful? What classes do you wish you had/hadn't taken?

Thanks!

ecavin · December 2010

I asked this question yesterday on the April 2011 baby board! I am going to take basic baby care, CPR, and breastfeeding. I am probably not going to take a childbirth class, I am in the "what I don't know won't freak me out" category.

FutureMrsNAH · December 2010

We took:

Childbirth Preparation (included a tour of the hospital)
Infant CPR (had my mom take it too since she watches him all day)
Home With Baby (Nick had never changed a diaper or anything)
Breastfeeding Basics.

All of these were through the hospital. Home with Baby was good so it wasn't like I was teaching Nick "this is how I do it and it's the right way" it was a learning together kind of thing. Turns out he did all the baby care aside from BF for the first 2 weeks so it was good we took it. I'm glad we took all the classes although some of childbirth preparation went out the window during labor (the nurse was like, "didn't you learn how to breathe!?" I was all, "yeah, but I forget!!")

I recommend a more indepth Breastfeeding course (my hospital's was Breastfeeding: Beyond the Basics). The basic course was kind of stupid to me. It was all about why it's important - um, I here, I already know it's good. Obviously we've been successful without that though with the help of the LC at the hospital and the one we had come to the house once. I think it is very important for the daddy to attend the breastfeeding class.

All that said, nothing was revolutionary so if you don't ever get to take a class, you'll still be fine.

Kupuggie · December 2010

I'm glad we took them all! We did breastfeeding, which was awesome. A tour. Labor Basics, which at my hospital told you their policies, what will happen when you get there, when to come, how it all works basically, very informative. We also did a breathing and relaxation class.

lissydee · December 2010

we took the Bradley Method. It is a 12 week course that really covers all aspects of labor, delivery, breastfeeding, parenting, exercise, relaxation, nutrition...you name it. It really focuses on natural child birth (no meds, low intervention) so if that is not what you want for your birth, it may not be a good fit. But I definitely think a birthing class and a breastfeeding class if you are planning on doing that, are extremely important and worthwhile.

WildcatPrincess · December 2010

We took breastfeeding, newborn care, and hypnobirthing. I think we drew info from each so I'd say they were all helpful. The BFing and newborn classes were free, not sure I would have taken the newborn class otherwise, but DH really was interested in that. I didn't think the BFing class was all that great until afterwards when a few friends of mine had trouble BFing and were listing all the things they learned after the fact that they never knew (and I did from the class) so I guess it was helpful. Hypnobirthing I'd do again in a heartbeat, there's no way I could have gone natural without it. The only regret I have was not taking infant CPR before she was born. Trying to get to it now has been very stressful!

crows1920 · December 2010

i took:

-babycare 101: i felt it was a waste of time since i already knew everything they taught. james actually thought it was a waste of time as well and he never took care of a kid.

-childbirth prep class: i'm glad i took this class even though i never used any of the breathing techniques, etc... i felt it explained everything pretty much in detail. it also gave a tour of the hospital so i felt as prepared as i was ever gonna be.

-breastfeeding class: i thought it was a waste of time. they pretty much gave us handouts i never used and showed us videos right from youtube. also, nothing in that class prepared me for the actual moment i had to put the baby onto the breast. my hospital actually had LC's come in like every hour to help. that was more helpful than anything. the hospital also gave us TONS of information to help us with breastfeeding (and taking care of the baby).

i honestly felt that the packets of info the hospital gave out were the most helpful and that i referred to most often.

Rebekistan · December 2010

I only took a childbirth class that gave an overview of childbirth, medication options, and a tour of L&D. It was great to do the tour so we knew what to expect, and the overview of childbirth helped spur me into making the decisions I needed to make about how I wanted it to go down -- as well as teaching MH more about it.

I wish I took CPR and Heimlich. I really want to take it now and it's holding me back from going full speed ahead w/ finger foods b/c I'm afraid Jacob's going to choke and I'm not going to know what to do.

If you'd like to go med-free or avoid meds for as long as possible, I recommend getting involved in a class the sooner the better, so you're practiced and prepared.

Otherwise, I read a lot of baby books and felt prepared for taking care of baby and breastfeeding, although I still needed a good LC when we started and I could've used a more in-depth BFing book like the Nursing Mother's Companion; but I still haven't bought it! (I just go to my local nesties lol!)

prneyes3 · December 2010

We took a childbirth overview class. It actually freaked me out a lot, I am a worrier by nature and hearing all the worse case scenarios made me focus on them. However, we did learn all the breathing and toured the hospital. We both left the 6 week course wishing we had saved our money.

I did a video course in the hospital after Bella was born on breastfeeding. It was very informative.

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