My husband and I are expecting our first child. I am 23 weeks,2days pregnant.(almost 6 months!)EDD: 9/18/09...
We are interested in taking classes that would help us with labor and birth (using different methods) as well as caring for a new born: breast feeding, what to expect, what to be aware of...
We do have some books, however we both would like some hands on experience.
The hospital where you are going to give birth at, most always has maternity classes.
So, check with them and you can sign up... sometimes there is a cost for it.
Or, ask your OB/GYN... they will know.
All the best,
Susan
Check with your hospital that you are delivering at. I know that St. Joseph hopital in orange is a great hospital for classes of any kind. I work in L&D there and we provide childbirth classes, breastfeeding support, even daddy boot camp! Good luck, Kristen
The hospital should have a whole series of classes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Ask your doctor's office. If you are interested in natural childbirth, take classes on the Bradley Method. Congratulations on your pregnancy.
ditto!
I like the choices at my delivering hospital and they were all taught by certified people with life experience. Or check with you OBGYN for referals.
Congrats!
Hi there
I'm not sure where you live but Mission Hospital offers a great course
Good luck
Check nearby hospitals! We did a prenatal class at the hospital I chose to deliver at and it was very informative!
They did one class on "lamaze", one on c-sections, one on breastfeeding, etc, etc. Plus we got lots of booklets to take home with us and got to keep.
I think we went something like 2 times a week (an hour and a half each time), for about 3 weeks - so total of 6 classes.
Unfortunately, I live in Hawaii so that might be a bit far for you to travel twice a week! LOL
I'm sure many hospitals have something like this though ;)
Good luck and congrats :)
Congratulations!!
I have a 7 month old and had her back in San Diego, but we took a class at one of the Naval Hospitals there and hated it. I decided to read, research and study as much as I could on my own and with my husband and I think I was much more prepared than I ever could have been with a class.
If you like the idea of the classes go to those too, but I strongly encourage all new moms to research on their own. Just in case you are interested, I read the "Bradley Method of Childbirth" and watched "The Business of Being Born" which is a documentary on childbirth and I would also recommend any of the books in Dr Sears library, especially the Breastfeeding book. Good Luck, I hope you get everything you want out of your birth!
Most hospitals offer infant care classes. I'm sure you can also find some info. either through your doctor's office or even through the city.
You can check with the hospital you'll deliver at. I am not sure where you are, but if your in the valley theres this place called A Mothers Haven. They have great classes, from labor and delivery, to breastfeeding etc. There are a lot of places around that have mommy and me classes and also offer birthing, cpr, breastfeeding etc
Cedars Sinai in west hollywood/beverly hills has all sorts of classes. they have a free seminar about pain medication options that gives a history of obstetric anaesthesia. I thought it was very interesting. The breastfedding and infant care classes were excellent. the birthing classes weren't my thing, but I think they do offer an overview of all techniques, focusing on visualization exercises to do during contractions. You don't need to deliver at cedars to take the classes.
hope this helps.
Krisztina,
I'm 29 and have an 18 month old. When I was expecting my husband and I took a birthing class at our hospital. It was a big waste of time. The books you have read are all you will need. Labor from my experience and other people I know is rarely textbook. Your water may not break and your contractions may come very quickly. The instructor told us that labor would progress slowly and to wait for a while before going to the hospital. NEVER WAIT! I was 2 days late and woke up in the middle of the night with intense back pain. Back labor which the class never mentioned. We immediately left for the hospital(1 block away) and was at 6cm by the time I was checked in. My water never broke. They broke it for me at 10cm. And the breathing techniques you won't remember with the caos. Just breath slowly and relax. That's all you need to know.
Call Roslyn Turner- 643-5513. She's a Dula- has 30 yrs experience and has ongoing classes. Rhonda Pessin, Nutrition consultant. 718-5547
Hi Krisztina,
I would advise you to contact a doula in your area to ask for refferals to good classes. Usually us doulas will hear about different classes, or many teach them. Go to www.dona.org, and search for a doula near you.
Hello Krisztina,
First off Congratulations!!!! My husband and I didn't find out the sex of our baby either, he wanted to but I said that is what will get me through the pain of labor and delivery:) It was very exciting.
I do not like hospitals or doctors so I was very afraid, but my labor and delivery experience was wonderful, can't wait to go through it again!!!
As for classes, we have Kaiser and took the classes through our insurance. If you have insurance check with them. We also took a class through Los Alamitos Hospital, it was recommended to us and we really enjoyed it. Just go to the Los Alamitos Hospital website.
Just one last note. This is something my husband and I did, we decided that he was going to tell me if its a boy or girl when I delivered and not the doctor. So, my husband announced "Dean Glenn is here, its a boy!" and I will never forget that moment, it was just my husband and me, even though the doctor, nurses and my Mom was there, in that moment all I could hear and see was my husband and the light in his eyes telling me we had our boy. Very special. We hope to do that same with our second, which we are starting to try for.
Congratulations and Best of Luck,
Megan
First of all congratulations!! I just had my first child (boy) in October. I too wanted to take classes so we took an infant care class through the hospital and we took private Bradley classes which I would HIGHLY recommend if you want to attempt natural childbirth. We were successful and I know we couldn't have done it without those classes...if you want the name of the instructor we used, and live in murrieta/temecula area, please send me a private message. As for the hospital classes...I agree with one of the earlier posts, the books you're reading are just as good, if not better. The only reason I enjoyed it was b/c my husband was able to attend and did learn a few things.
Hi-
I took ALL the classes that the hospital where I delivered offered. It ended up my first child was a emergency c-section and my second was a v-bac, but I did my own breathing. I would still recommend going to the classes at the hospital, I just would keep a open mind and listen to your body. I hired a doula and kept a focal point and just breathed slowly and evenly.
Good luck and trust yourself!
How exciting... I remember it well! We, too, waited to find out the sex and am so glad we did, so kudos to you. I equated it to waiting until Christmas to open the presents! Anyway, check with your ob on classes. We delivered at St Jude in Fullerton and took pretty much everything they offered from birthing to parenting and breastfeeding. There was even a class for the soon-to-be grandparents that my MIL took. I wanted to be well educated (as much as possible anyway) and read everything I could get my hands on, too. Nothing will prepare you completely for the big day, but you'll be amazed at how well those instincts kick in. So try to relax and enjoy every minute. Best of luck and congratulations!
Most hospitals offer them... find out from where you will deliver.. and congratulations!
Usually the hospital you're going to deliver at will offer classes on both child birth and caring for newborns. There are videos you can buy/rent to watch at home as well. The best book is What To Expect When You're Expecting. It's like the pregnancy bible. There is also What To Expect The First Year. I love them both. I have four children and I read both books with each one for the month-by-month guidelines and commonly asked questions.