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need help from the moms
Since my DH is clueless (more clueless than I am) and in this situation completely useless... I'm trying to figure out the scheduling of classes and workshops to get us ready for the baby, birth, etc.
I'm interested in taking the "prepared childbirth" class at the hospital I'll be delivering at (overview of labor, birth, medications, potential complications, postpartum & infant care). I'd like to take a class that goes more in depth into natural birth methods - hypnobirthing, etc. Unfortunately, these aren't cheap, and money is already a bit tight. Advice on what classes are worth it, or how many is too many? DH is already annoyed with the two classes I want to take.
I'm also interested in doing the workshop at the Diaper Lab to learn more about CD-ing and to hopefully get my very stubborn DH on board. Any advice on how soon before the birth I should do the CD workshop, does the timing of this one matter much?
AND... I also want to take the 1-day breastfeeding class - thoughts on the timing of this before birth? This one is only $10, so it won't break the bank.
I just want to be as prepared as I can, since I'm the one who will be pushing this baby out - all I'm asking of him is to tag along and stay awake! Grrr, men!
Re: need help from the moms
We took the class at the hospital. Insurance covered it, but I don't feel like I learned much there.
What I did do was read up a TON before he was born. I have the hypno birthing book and a breastfeeding book. Plus a couple others. We also learned a lot from watching "The Business of Being Born" (Ricki Lake)-interlibrary loaned it for free from the library. For breastfeeding, there's a free lactation consultant at the one we delivered at. Didn't feel like I needed a class for any of that.
We CD now and I learned everything I feel I need to know online and through friends. (The CD board on the bump is helpful).
Unless your learning style is such that you feel you learn best from classes, I'd say save your $$$. If you'd like to borrow my books, you can. And I can show you various CD options. I work 5 min from Dover.
I did learn a lot from the birthing classes, probably what helped me get through unintended all natural labor
I didn't learn hardly anything from the breastfeeding class. In fact, I think I learned more reading online. Wasn't a waste of $ though since it was part of the childbirth class. Insurance didn't cover it but check to see if your FSA or HSA will let you use that to pay for it.
I didn't take any other classes, didn't feel I needed it. Definitely read, read, read! CD board on the bump like Jackie mentioned is helpful. I lurk there often still.
can't think of anything else....good luck!
I opted not to take the breastfeeding class since the hospital goes over this so much after I delivered. Figured it would be easier for me to learn hands on once she was born.
The birthing class was so-so for me at the time since I did so much reading BUT it helped DH a lot. Plus, since everything with me happened quickly and I was actually out of it and they were making emergency decisions with the MRI/ possible emergency C-section/stroke etc. having some of the terminology and knowledge was very helpful to DH.
The diaper lab class is pretty helpful I've heard but I learned everything from the Nest and just looking over lots of sites etc.
Goodluck, it's daunting, but try not to make it feel like it is. I tried to make the classes etc as fun as I could since both DH and I attended.
I don't know if you are delivering at York or not, but I didn't get much from the child birth class there or the BFing one, nothing I didn't already know from here...
the BFing one was basically, attach baby to boob, it is going to be tough, once baby is here LC will help you, come to our meetings Wednesday morning, thank you for coming!
It was nice to see the LC and a couple of the nurses so we had some friendly faces once we got there, but I think we would have been fine without it.
If you have insurance that will pay for it, I would take the childbirth classes. Even if you don't, I think the cost is worth it (ours was something like $150). It basically reviewed all of the information you can read in "What to Expect When You Are Expecting," but for me, it made the whole thing more real. It helped me to mentally prepare for the fact that this baby was actually going to be coming out in the very near future. I also liked having that experience with other expectant parents and hearing their thoughts and concerns. In addition, DH didn't read a damn thing during my pregnancy so it was a good opportunity for him to learn the things he needed to learn as well.
The breastfeeding class was a must for me. Again, you can read all this info online or in a book, but the demonstrations were helpful and there are so many complications with breastfeeding that I thought it was worthwhile. If it's only $10, do it.
And if the Diaper Lab workshop is free, then it will definitely be worth the time investment.
Personally, I think it comes down to how best you learn and how much exposure you've already had with childbirth - ie how many friends who have had babies, etc. I'm totally type A and learn best from being in a hands on setting. I could read books until I'm blue :-) Besides the girls here, I was really one of the first of my friends who has had a child so no gory details from anyone else. Reading the "birth stories" from others really are wonderful to read, scary and beautiful at the same time. All this said, we took a birthing class paid for by insurance and loved meeting other new parents, being able to ask questions openly, and of course learning all the good stuff. GL!
For me, the hospital childbirth and breastfeeding classes were great. The best part about the childbirth class was the conversations my husband and I had about them. I was doing lots of research but the classes were where he got most of his information. The class also told me everything I needed to know about hospital procedures. That information plus the tour of the maternity unit was priceless for me because I'd never been a hospital patient before and was really nervous about that part. Our class also gave us great tips for labor positions and how birth partners can help mom during labor. That helped us both be prepared when the time came. I should also say that our class included relaxation and breathing exercises that we could practice at home. Since I did the Hypnobabies home study program the exercises in the class were bonus material, but I still found it useful. The breastfeeding class I took had a great video that showed real women feeding real babies. It turned out that what I envisioned a good latch to be (from reading books) was not at all correct. So the class helped me get the proper picture in my mind of what we were going for.
I'm one of those people who always wants to have more information so I didn't feel like the classes were overkill. They were worth it to me, as was the money I spent on my Hypnobabies stuff.