Childbirth classes?
MoonMama wrote: I know I'm new here so I hope know one minds if I already am asking questions.  I have been semi looking into childbirth classes and I have signed up for the birth center tour where I will be having Braedin.
My husband and I are very fortunate to have both of our families living near by and we love it. Here is the issue everyone and there neighbor seems to have an opinion on if I should or should not take childbirth classes. Now I want to enjoy and experience all aspects of this pregnancy and birth as it could very well be our only.
So my question is did you take the classes? If so how did you like them, do you feel they helped? Also if you didn't do you feel they may have helped? Any thoughts on the subject would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.
luvmykids replied: You don't have to apologize for asking questions 
I personally didn't take the classes and didn't really feel like I missed out on anything.
Brias3 replied: ITA with Monica. I don't feel like what was offered was crucial enough that I'd be slighted during the childbirth process.
hawkshoe replied: I did not take classes. I used a midwife and she told me to forgo the classes. Her reasoning was that they teach you one way to deal with your pain and if you go into labor and find that that isn't working for you, it tends to make you feel like a failure. She said every woman is different and reacts differently during the birthing process. She prefers to help eveyone through their unique exerience. I know she definately helped me have a positive one.
C&K*s Mommie replied: I took a couple of Bradley Method classes at an instructors home. I felt very much out of place, since most of the time my DH at the time was working hours that did not allow him to accompany me. Everyone else there had a partner with them. The instructor loaned books, and we had instructional workbooks and those helped when I was missing out.
Overall, most of the methods that the Bradley method encourages went to the wayside during labor. I did the exercises while PG, which helped me to be more comfortable. I can only speak for myself with this, but the hardest part of the birth process was the pushing, that was very unnatural. So the Bradley Methods for pushing did not help, I was concentrating on doing something unfamiliar (pushing) and trying not to freak by having oxygen masks on me (did it for both births and I hated it).
J-rod replied: we went to two of four classes.....totally not worht it. we got more from reading books and watching a couple videos.........despite what people tell you i was more comfortable going in there blind and letting emotions take over.
steph hated the classes and was mad she signed up. did nothing for her.
PrairieMom replied: We went with our first pregnancy and I think it was totally worth it. It didn't help me much but it really helped DH. he thought he knew what to expect, but he had NO CLUE!  In the end it really helped prepare us. Durring my delivery DH really did almost everything. He was an awesome coach. The nurse just sat in the corner and tried to stay awake! It really helped make the birth of our son more special.
gr33n3y3z replied: Ok you guys are really going to laugh at this
We went with all of ours and it was four lol
But I made many of friends while there and did I get anything out of it
Yes and No but each time we went something has changed
It depends on what you want to get out of it I guess
1lilpeanut2love replied: We took a few classes and thought it was worth while. Also, learned a lot from reading pregnancy books and videos. I thought it was very informative. 
TheOaf66 replied: DW and I took em, was bored with them, didn't learn anything that helped but it is totally up to you, for us it was a waste of $$$
1lilpeanut2love replied:
Ours were free!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 
mckayleesmom replied: No I didn't.......My senior year of highschool, I took a bunch of child development classes and they covered all of it.....I didn't have McKaylee too many years after high school and I still remembered all of it......So no we didn't. Also....dh would have never been able to make the class and I didn't want to go alone.
boyohboyohboy replied: we didnt go to any of the classes, and my first child was born naturally with no medications, and my second we didnt attend, and we had an epi.so I dont think the classes would have changed anything.
I also think that the books tell you alot more and the web sites you can find tons of info.
mom2my2cuties replied: I went to them with my son - honestly, they were ok, I pretty much felt like I was wasting time, and didn't use anything except the very slow deep breathing because I had back labor with both my kids however, the breathing thing comes naturally, you odn't really have to "learn" it.
MyLuvBugs replied: With our first, we thought "We college educated people. We can just learn from books and videos. We'll be fine...." Yeah we weren't prepared in the slightest!! We'd read 4 books and took a breastfeeding course and a tour of the hospital....and yet we still had NO CLUE as to what was going to happen. KWIM? We learned as we went.....
This time we took a lamaze course (6 weeks long)....didn't learn too much more than what experience had taught us the first time around, but I now feel calmer towards having this baby. Almost like.....well, like I'm mentally ready. If that makes any sense.  And I know it's my second child and that should make a difference anyway, but it really doesn't . Especially since this PG has been the complete Opposite of the first PG. Taking the class and having some of the little things reitterated and fresh in my head has made me more relaxed and prepared.
Hope that helps.
AlexsPajamaMama replied:
same here
ashtonsmama replied:
hawkshoe, just wanted to welcome you as well!
And MoonMama, 2 things: yes, we did take a Childbirth class at our hospital here before Ashton was born, just so we'd know what to expect with a first baby, but I feel comfortable enough this time to not take another class. I think if you feel you need a "refresher", go for it, otherwise, just skip it.
Also had to say I love your siggy! It's adorable, did you make it?
My3LilMonkeys replied: We didn't take the classes because we didn't want to spend the $$. If they had been free I probably would have gone but DH wouldn't have - he doesn't like anything that reminds him of school. 
MoonMama replied: Thank you so much for all of your thoughts on them, after reading what you all did and talking to a few friends of mine. I have decided to at lest check them out (the first one anyway) and go from there. DH of course has said its all up to me go figure  . Thank you so much everyone. 
Bamamom replied: Is it too late to add my  ? The hospital where we were delivering offered free classes. If your does I would definantly suggest going. They gave us a tour of the L and D rooms and walked us through the whole process. They also showed us all the instruments that the dr would be using, gave us advice that was VERY useful, and generally made us more comfortable with the whole process. We only spent about a 30 minutes on breathing techniques (they offered a seperate class that concentrated on those), but I found that 30 minutes to be sufficient.
If that sort of class isn't offered at your hospital I would suggest scheduling a tour so that you will know what to expect at your particular hospital.
Boo&BugsMom replied:
We took them and regreted it. We didn't learn anything. We actually skipped the last class.
hawkshoe replied:
Thanks
Jackie012007 replied: my doctor's office offers them for free so we are gonna check them out... especially since I am completely clueless about infants
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