Monday, 15 June 2009
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Did You Take Any Lamaze or Birthing Classes?
Did you take any lamaze or birthing classes before having your baby? What do the classes prepare you for? When I get pregnant, do you think this is something I should consider?
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Comments (27)
Yes, I thought that some of the information was good, but a lot of it was a waste of time. I should have taken a private class. I think it would have gone by much faster and more efficiently. Pregnant people get tired easily and have things to do!
I didn't, and I felt like a real idiot when people kept asking me, "You're not taking any classes or anything?" I was like, NO! For the last time, I'm not! And I'll be fine!
And I was. My daughter's labor and delivery went perfectly, just like I knew they would. I pushed her out like a champ. :)
I think it depends on your level of comfort with the whole process. If you're nervous or afraid, classes may help to ease your mind. During my pregnancy I read a lot about pregnancy, labor, and delivery, so I was completely comfortable with the whole thing, and my friends and family were really supportive. I felt no need to take any classes; there was nothing for me to learn.
We did. I enjoyed it and did learn a few new things ( I did a lot of reading and watching videos on childbirth). I think it does make you feel a little more relaxed about the whole process and it's fun meeting other couples who are due close to you! We also got to tour the maternity unit where we would be delivering, that was nice.
I did and I got a LOT out of it. I did a blog about the experience, if you wanna check it out: http://www.girlyhomewebzine.com/our_first_baby/2008/12/childbirthclass.html
I took a childbirthing class with my first pregnancy. I mainly took it because I was very nervous and wanted to have a drug free delivery, and also to have a tour of the OB because I am very scared of places I've never been. As it turns out, I ended going on bedrest before my classes were over and missed the tour (that's ok, because I ended up on hospitalized bedrest before it was over and basically got my tour then). I did learn how to breathe through contractions, which came in handy for the drug free delivery.
I'm not taking any. How hard is it to push a baby out? Besides I watch Deliver Me and I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant and Birth Day (one of my favorite shows on Discover health Channel) so I already know about labor.
My Doula is a certified Lamaze childbirth educator, so that is the birth philosophy that we learned. I thought it was great!! Very informative, and it is SO much more than breathing techniques...in fact, they don't even teach breathing techniques anymore. We did learn other relaxation techniques though! I read a book that goes along with everything I learned too ("The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence") and I loved it...it really did give me the confidence I needed to go into childbirth.
I didn't take one and everyone looked at me like I was nuts for not doing so. Also, I decided not to breastfeed, and I got a lot of remarks for that.
And one thing I learned was, if I ever have another baby, I'm not telling anyone if it's a boy or a girl, or what I plan on naming them. I don't remember what any of my ideas for names were now, but no one liked em. Oh yes, Morgan and Skylar, or Tyler or Ryan. They all loved the name she has (Lena Sophia) but I still would have rather not had all the discussion about it.
Back to the point of the entry...I didn't take any classes, and I ended up not needing them, as I had a c-section.
I didn't take a lamaze class. I went to the one class where the nurses described what labor might be like and gave helpful breathing techniques and that is it. I only went to that one b/c the hospital required you go (but I doubt they actually enforced it I can't imagine them telling some woman that you can't give birth here b/c you didn't take our classes). It was helpful to know what to expect, but those lamaze classes seemed useless to me. Believe me if anyone would have counted or tried breathing with me while I was in labor, I would have requested them to be kicked out of the room unless I was going to kick them to they knew how much I hurt.
i didn't take any, and everything went just fine.
i think if you plan too much for it, you'll just end up disappointed.
I took hypnobirthing. I wanted a natural birth and hypnobirthing allowed for me to have that. No drugs and it was great! :) I loved hypnobirthing classes too....they were extremely relaxing which is wonderful towards the end of pregnancy.
@MommyGEM_RN@xanga - YAY for Lamaze! I'm a certified birth doula, as well as a Lamaze Certified childbirth educator as well ..........
LISTEN UP PEOPLE!! -- Lamaze is NOT your Ma's Lamaze!! It's not about breathing - it isn't about a method of giving birth ......it's a birth philosophy that says "birth is normal, natural and healthy". It dispels the growing number of fears and myths regarding birth. It promotes normal birth and how to achieve that. It helps people navigate the growing web of interventions and how to determine whether or not something is actually in your best interests. It helps people make good informed choices and decisions. Childbirth classes have been proven through research to make moms more confident in their ability to birth their babies. But it depends on which childbirth classes. Hospital based classes tend to focus on what can go wrong and how to fix the things that do go wrong. Lamaze, Bradley, hypno birthing classes, Birth Works, etc all focus on the normalcy of birth and how to protect yourself and your baby, while at the same time going over the MEDICAL reasons for inductions and cesareans, and teaching you how to approach those events when necessary - keeping apositive attitude.
If you've not taken birth classes and had a great experience, that's fine. But that's not the norm. More people are facing interventions and cesareans precisely because they don't take the classes.
Ignorance is NOT bliss when it comes to birth. Knowledge is power. And sorry - the knowledge obtained through shows like "Birth Days" and "Birth Stories" from TLC and Slice, and books like "What to Expect When You're Expecting" are NOT the best ways to inform yourself.
My .02 cents.
@nicolevw@xanga - Couldn't agree more! This is what my Doula has taught us as well, and it's true!
I just finished our birthing class and it was great. I really recommend taking a class just because it helps you understand your options and it connects you with other expecting couples. I guess I really won't know how prepared I am until I go into labor, but it was a fun time and our instructor was wonderful!
yes yes yes! We took them for my first pregnancy and they helped out quite a bit. They explained so much more about the whole labor and delivery process than a book could, plus tons of coping tips for the pain. I was able to hold out on my epidural a LOT longer than I probably would have had I not taken the classes. The dr. wanted to give me one right away (i entered the hospital at 3 cm) but I held out until 6 cm when I was told that at the rate I was progressing that I probably wouldn't be able to get one if I waited for them to check me again. I'd say every first time parent should take them. It at least gives you a peace of mind about what to expect
@MommyGEM_RN@xanga - the lady that taught my class was a doula as well. We spent maybe 10 min on breathing and the rest of the time on some other great methods- I had NO clue about birth balls, sitting on the toilet, rockign chair... the list goes on. I loved it- and I used so many of the tips that our doula gave me.
nope.
My husband and I are taking a Bradley course that starts in a few weeks. While I agree that many women don't really need to take a class, our bodies already know how to do this, we're taking the class to be as prepared and educated as possible to be able to have a completely natural, medication-free birth. Plus, DH wants to educate himself as much as he can since he'll be my only coach and he'll be the one calling the shots while I'm focused on labor.Â
I didn't, but I read an awesome book called "supernatural childbirth" It teaches you that contractions are just a muscle that is flexing, and to not be afraid of that.
I had two different classes. With my first baby I did the hospital classes which taught a form of Lamaze breathing. I ended up with a c-section. In the 2 years and 10 months between that birth and the next I got myself much more educated about childbirth. I researched options and chose to take Bradley childbirth classes. I had a successful VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). I think it is a very good idea to be as informed as possible because you never know what may happen. If you're fortunate to be a woman who has a 2 hour labor and pops a baby out without much effort, great. But that's not the average. Do your homework. I'd choose a class outside the hospital - their classes tend to be rather superficial and do not address possible complications.
Doesn't everyone agree that it is always best to be a well-informed medical consumer?
I didn't take classes for the birth of my son. Mostly because I felt that no matter what, mostly because he was my first child, it would all go out the window once labor started. Now, I read What To Expect and researched things online but I just didn't see the need for the class.
yes and it was almost completely pointless. this has nothing to do with the nurses that taught it, they were great. the thing is when you're in labor you can't really concentrate on all that they tell you to do. i think if you are going to feel uncomfortable not going, then just sign up for one...it can't hurt and will put your mind at ease.
I took some classes with my first child. I'm not sure how helpful they were. I didn't remember most of what they told me by the time I was at the hospital and in the middle of everything. I still had fear of the unknown but I am not one to panic so I did just fine. With my second child I didn't take one because I had done it before. I think you should take one if you want because it doesn't hurt anyone to do it but I don't think someone should be made to feel like a bad person if they don't either.
My husband and I did take Lamaze before our son was born. It was fun, but in all honesty, everything we learned about the "breathing" went out the window when I was in actual labor. I didn't do the breathing exercises like "hee hee hooooo, hee hee hoooo" during my contractions, they weren't at all helpful. I just blew as hard as I could during the contractions, it was so much more beneficial to me!
Not that it matters, but I did end up having emergency c/sections when my two children were born. The second was a planned VBAC (though not natural).
I Hope to!