What childbirth class did you take or will you take? Why did you choose it? If you've already taken it, were you happy with how it prepared you? Would you choose a different class for your next childbirth?

Jacqui

With my last pregnancy, I just took the general childbirth class. I kinda felt prepared, but a lot of it just covered the basics that I already knew from reading other things. I didn't really feel like the class was worth taking and I'm not planning on taking any classes this time or with any future children.

I took Bradley and I LOVED it. I got a lot oout of it and really felt prepared when it came to labor. My goal was a no intervention birth and thats what I got because I followed what I read.

I took the hospital class and it was horrid they tried to train you how to be a good patient rather than making an informed decision. I actually switched hospitals in part because of this class.

I'd do Bradley again in a heartbeat. I'm going to have to sit in on another childbirth class since I'm studying to be a Doula. I doubt I'll fond something I like more than Bradley it worked once so why not go with it again.

I also took a general childbirth class with an independent certified childbirth educator, and it was a waste! I took a couple of the hospital classes and they were really pathetic, like Nick's mom's experience.

If I get PG again, we'll take Bradley. I've yet to meet someone who took the Bradley class who was not a great birth consumer and had the low medical intervention birth that they wanted.

I'm about to complete my Bradley classes. They've taught me so much! My goal is a non-medicated birth and Bradley gave me the keys to make that happen. DH and I went to ONE hospital class and were so NOT impressed by it that my DH and I never went back. It was a huge waste of time for us.

We start Bradley classes on January 4, and I'm very excited! I have never talked to anyone who has done Bradley that wasn't thrilled with it, and since my goal is a no intervention birth, I think Bradley will be perfect for me.

I want to take a Bradley class...I have heard so many good things about it and I think it will be good for my DH to hear a lot of the stuff too...since he isn't too into reading books.

It's been a year since I had my daughter but I took Bradley classes and had a very successful drug free birth. I highly reccomend this class. Although I was disappointed that ours was an 8 week class rather than a 12 week.

I will be taking Hypnobirthing instruction so I am leaning towards not taking the general childbirth classes offered by the hospital. I know that the general classes with cover many things that Hypnobirthing will not, but I feel like I have enough information and enough resources that it would be a waste of time and money. I am planning on taking the tour of the hospital though and also a breastfeeding class at the hospital.

I got far more info from La Leche League meetings than I did from the hospital bf-ing class... I just found all of the hospital classes to be a waste... merely teaching women how to be good patients instead of good consumers... Sad, but true... I also got more out of books like "The Breastfeeding Book" by Dr. Sears and "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding".

We took holistic childbirth classes, very crunchy, it covered breathing techniques, positioning, pre-natal nutrition, breast feeding, holistic medicines to take before, during, and after birth...I don't remember what else.

It was actually a very good class though, but we don't plan on taking any classes this time around. I also met great people through the class and I love the drop in ap play groups the center has.

Hmmm, good to know about the hospital breastfeeding class. It is only $20 so I figured why not, but I will be getting the two books mentioned because I have heard a lot about them :) Hopefully all that will cover me!

We started our classes last night!! :jump: We are going through our hospital but they have a similar philosophy towards the birth process as my husband and I.