Finding the Childbirth Education Class That's Right for You

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What a childbirth education class can do for you—and what it can't . The different types of childbirth classes . What to look for in a class . What a typical class is really like

Finding the Childbirth Education Class That's Right for You

There's no doubt about it: parents are passionate when it comes to the subject of childbirth classes. They either love 'em or hate 'em; there's no in-between. Some couples swear by them, insisting that they're every bit as important a part of having a baby as choosing a good caregiver and finding the right place to give birth. Others view them as a complete waste of time.

You've no doubt got your own ideas about what childbirth classes are like. If your knowledge of childbirth classes is based on what you've seen on TV, you could be in for a pleasant surprise. Although the sitcom writers seem to take perverse delight in portraying childbirth classes as a form of boot camp for pregnant women and their partners, they can actually be fun and informative—provided, of course, that you choose the right class.

In this chapter, we give you the facts you need to do just that. We give you some good reasons for attending childbirth classes, discuss the philosophies behind the most popular types of classes, tell you what to look for in a class, and then wrap up our discussion by giving you the lowdown on what childbirth classes are really like.

Unofficially…

When a baby is born at Peterborough Civic Hospital, Brahms's Lullaby is played over the hospital PA system. "All you ever hear over the PA is code blue, code red, code yellow, or a request for a doctor," a hospital spokeswoman explained to the Peterborough Examiner. "This is a reminder that exciting things are happening in maternity."

Why bother?

You're exhausted after a day at the office, and nothing looks halfway near as appealing as your very own couch. Why on earth would you want to head out the door to spend the evening at childbirth class?

Here are six good reasons why you might want to make the effort:

• Childbirth classes can help reduce your anxiety about giving birth by giving you an idea of what to expect—whether you end up having a vaginal or cesarean delivery.
  
  
• They educate you about various birthing options so that you have the facts you need in order to plan for the birth you want.
  
  
• They give you the opportunity to make friends with other expectant couples—contacts that can be pure gold if you find yourself housebound with a colicky baby a few months down the road.

• They can help you master breathing, relaxation, and coping techniques designed to reduce your perception of pain during labor.
  
  
• They give your partner the chance to play an active role in your pregnancy while familiarizing him with his role during the delivery: that is, providing you with support and encouragement and acting as your advocate.
  
  
• They give you the opportunity to ask questions about pregnancy, labor, childbirth, breastfeeding, and life after baby, and help draw your attention to issues that you need to be thinking about (for example, the pros and cons of episiotomy, circumcision, rooming in, "drive-through deliveries," and more).