Necessary Birthing Classes and Isis Maternity

I thought these classes were really helpful. I did one at Isis, one at our hospital, and one at Harvard Vanguard. The one at HV was on breastfeeding and was free. Isis is great but it's kind of pricey -- maybe check out your hospital or doctor's office to see if there are any less expensive options? My husband probably got most from the newborn care class. He didn't have any idea how to swaddle a baby and other things like that. And CPR is an important skill to have! Good luck!

I would really recommend it! We didn't go to Isis, but we did 12 weeks- 2 hours a class, for Bradley Method in Cambridge. And that was just for the pregnancy, labor and delivery, a bit on infant care, and breastfeeding. And that was SO WORTH it. We both tell everyone that is interested in a natural labor about it...

We took infant CPR and that's it. No birthing class or anything else. Unless you are a committed natural birther, I don't think you need it. (I ended up having a natural birth - not by choice - and even though I hadn't taken a class my daughter emerged none worse for the wear!). I had a hard time breastfeeding both my kids (although I did exclusively with both of them for a few months). The nurses at the hospital can be really helpful, and I would wait and see if you need the help of a lactation consultant after the fact. I guess my advice is if your husband is balking, back off. If he thinks it would be helpful after the infant CPR class, sign up then.

Hi L.,

I am not sure anything but a childbirth prep class is "necessary" but I think they are all helpful. We had our first daughter a year and a half ago and are expecting our second child in a month. I had lots of experience with kids (but not newborns) but husband did not. He was initially freaked out about the idea of the classes but I think he ended up being surprised by how much they made him feel like part of the process. I think the best part of the classes is that they sort of help you prepare yourself for the idea that there will actually be a child in your life soon (I had a hard time with that first time around :)

I bought a package of 4 classes with my membership. The childbirth prep class is frequently re-imbursable from your health insurance plan which can help with the expense.

We took the prepared childbirth course (which wasn't great, this time we are taking hypnobirthing), the newborn essentials (which admittedly was kind of goofy but had good information about car seats and safety stuff that I didn't know), the CPR (which was really good and helpful) and I took the breastfeeding one on my own. I thought the class was pretty helpful although a good book is key and I needed the help of a lactation counselor afterwards anyways. The very best class we took was the Barks and Babies. If you have a dog I highly recommend it, it was really helpful.

One last plug for Isis, definitely take the new beginnings class with your baby after she/he is born. The new mom's groups at Isis are probably one of the best things they offer and I and many of my friends have found them to be life savers.

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

E.

Hi,

I didn't take my classes at Isis, but those are basically the ones I took, and I am glad I did.

My husband came to all of these with me and although I think he was initially surprised about them he was glad we took them as well. It was especially helpful to have him at the breastfeeding class since it was good for him to learn about the process, how difficult it can be for some women and what he can do to support a breastfeeding mom. I think it might be easy for a dad (or maybe even a mom) to assume breastfeeding will be easy, but it can be very difficult for some moms. It's also good for them to hear all of the benefits so they can be fully on board.

The most useful thing about the newborn essentials class was watching one of the nurses give a spongebath to a 2 day old baby. We were at the hospital and went up to the nursery and it was reassuring to see how the nurse handled the baby. She was obviously careful, but showed that the baby isn't as fragile as you might expect.

I have heard about a couple of dads who didn't think the classes were worthwhile, but I totally think it is worth it. You are both going to have a lot to learn over the lifetime of this baby, and it is time to start! Our classes also had a lot of handouts that I referred to frequently.

Good luck and congratulations!

Hi L.,
Congratulations on your pregnancy. It is such an exciting time!. Our son just turned one and we took all of those classes at Isis, with the exception of the Natural Birth Class and i could not have been happier that we did. I cannot praise the Isis center enough. I too had experience with babies (both of my sisters have kids and i spent most of my time there with them when there were young) But you are right..It is a totally different thing when you are bringing one home of your own that you are 100% responsible for. I'm sure you could figure things out on your own if need be, but i will tell you those classes are priceless. And, after you give birth, they have a mother's group you can join (which basically is a group of new mothers (all the babies are born within around a month of each other)...Our group is still in contact and get together for play dates with and without the kids...it's so great to have that network of people going thru the same things with you at the same time..everyone has the same questions/concerns and you can use them for support and ideas. I wish you luck and i really think you should utilize Isis...It was the best thing we ever did!!

Keep us posted.
L.

L.,
My husband and I took all the classes you mention (except the breatfeeding one) at NWH and found them helpful. We felt they were all helpful for first time parents. We did a birthing class once a week for six or eight weeks. The instructor even held a reunion after all the babies were born which was fun. I fould the nurses were very helpful with the breastfeeding while I was at the hospital (I had a c-section) - hands on training!
Good luck and enjoy..

Hi L.,

I took 2 classes through Isis Maternity before my son was born in June '08. I took the Newborn Essentials and the Breastfeeding Basics. I recommend both and my husband actually attended both with me. I found the Breastfeeing Basics to be the most helpful and the Newborn Essentials was a nice review of general newborn care. I didn't take the birthing class because I thought it would actually cause me more anxiety. I ended up being induced anyway and got an epidural and the nurses at BWH really talked me through everything. I'm planning to take a CPR class this month through http://helpnewengland.com/newmomcpr.html, a woman that I met in a local playgroup provides this course for $10! Hope this info helps, and I hope all goes well for you! What an exciting time in your life!

Hi L.,

Congrats! It's so exciting, and so overwhelming, but you are way ahead of the game preparing nice & early. My husband & I took all of the classes you mentioned at ISIS (breastfeeding, newborn essentials, CPR and it was a 1 or 2 day class for natural childbirth). My husband was also skeptical (as was I) but we actually found ALL of them to be useful, CPR non-negotiable of course. Breastfeeding was really helpful to me - I have no experience with babies and had no idea how it all worked. My husband too. THey say if your partner isn't supportive of breastfedding you are much more likely to give up (since it's so hard in the beginning) so I am very glad we did that one. Newborn essentials was very helpful to us - we learned about swaddling, car seats, preventing flat head, all sorts of things we had no idea since neither of us has dealt with babies before. The birthing class was good but we ended up with a c-section despite everything. Everyone says hypnobirthing is great if you are looking for a natural childbirth but we planned too late and didn't have time for a multiweek course.

Anyway, the bottom line for us was that ALL the classes (even though it seems like an absurd amount of prep) were useful, but I am sure it's different depending on your experience with babies.

Congrats! I am sure you will be fine no matter what you decide. I think it's a hard sell for many husbands who later are glad they did it, plus it makes them feel involved. My husband REALLY loved the CPR class.

L.,

My doctor's office suggested these 4 classes as well. We took a different birthing class then you mentioned but I would say take the class that fits you and your ideas and wants for you birth but that you should definately take a class.

We did take the infant CPR however I have a friend that took a infant/child CPR class when the kids started solid which worked too. But either way I would take some class with in the first 6 months.

I was signed up for the breastfeeding class but had my daughter before the class. She came by emergency C-Section so I missed this but I have to say La Leche League - www.llli.org -to find the chapter in your area. These women will help more than anything. I would even suggest going to a meeting before you give birth and take to them. Several of the leaders told other mothers to be to take their phone numbers to the hospital with them in case they needed help. I would suggest talking to the ladies of La Leche League and save your money with this class. Also after you have the baby Isis has free weekly breatfeeding session where you can go and be seen and get help if needed. This helped me in between La Leche League meetings. If the person at Isis says you need to be seen privately just call La Leche League and talk to them - this would only have if you were really have issues. Again La Leche League has been a life saver for me and they don't charge.

I opted not to take the newborn essentials because like you I have had a lot of experience with babies. However I do think my husband would have benefitted from it. You could ask your husband how he feels about it. I delivered at Brighams and they gave a 'bath class' every day where you can watch a nurse give a baby a sponge bath and they give you tips. They also have a breatfeeding class at Brighams.

Another thing to check out is if your insurance company gives classes. I think Harvard Vanguard in Davis Square does some birthing classes or maybe it's Mt. Auburn Hospital. I have a friend that took some class at one of them and it cost a lot less then Isis. So maybe try other options to save some money.

Good luck,
L.

HI L.,

I am 40 and have a 1yo and a 2yo. When pregnant with my first, I took an infant CPR course offered through my work. I would highly recommend it. I took it again a couple of months ago, as a refresher. Thankfully, I have never had to use it, but it is definitely something every parent should know. My husband didn't take the CPR course, but I went through everything I had learned with him, and he did watch the DVD and read all the associated literature.
We also took a birthing class together, one night a week for about 8 wks. I would highly recommend this also. In reality, maybe about 40% of the material was really helpful, but it was worth it. It went through options (epidural, water birth, dulas, c sections, etc..), stages of pregnancy, what to expect afterward. It included a tour of the maternity ward, and a meet and greet with some of the doctors. We also made it a date night every week, with a nice dinner out before each class. (something we haven't done again since then ;) We have kept in touch with 2 of the couples from the class, we get together every once in a while. It is a lot of fun seeing the kids growing!
For the newborn essentials and breastfeeding, some of that was covered in the birthing class (car seats, swaddling, breastfeeding/bottle feeding..). If you have a lot of baby experience, probably not a necessary one. But, this is a once in a lifetime event, and if you feel you want to, you should.
Hopefully your husband will come around for the birthing class. My husband was really into it, and it also helped him really feel a part of everything.

Hope this helps a little,
Congratulations!!
Kim