5 Reasons To Take A Childbirth Class
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you may be considering taking a childbirth class. You may be wondering if taking a class would be worth the time and money invested into it. Or perhaps you’ve been doing some research and are overwhelmed by the different options: in person classes, online classes, intensive weekend classes, and even self-paced digital courses are available. With so many options available, how will you know which class - if any at all - is right for you and your partner? Childbirth classes aim to educate on the basic processes of labor and delivery, as well as give a rundown on hospital procedure and what to expect during your stay. Finding the childbirth class that fits your budget, schedule and preferred method of learning can be very beneficial for both you and your partner as you prepare for birth.
Why should you take a childbirth class?
As a doula, my goal is to help clients feel prepared, informed and confident going into childbirth, regardless of the type of birth they are planning or anticipating. Part of being informed about birth is knowing the basic physiological process of childbirth itself, as well as learning some of the common interventive procedures, common complications, and terminology you may hear used during your stay in the hospital such as dilation, effacement, presentation, and APGAR score, just to name a few. A typical childbirth class will cover all of these bases on some level, depending on the type of class you attend; I recommend a childbirth class as an important part of being informed about your labor and delivery. Depending on the type of class, you may also learn other important things like coping techniques, physical comfort measures,
It can help you understand the physiological process of birth.
A good childbirth class will help you understand what is happening with both the mom and baby’s bodies during labor and delivery. Knowing how your body and your baby are working together to bring baby earth-side can be really comforting for new parents, but also help you to understand what to expect from your own body.
2. It can help inform your decision-making.
During a childbirth class, you will likely learn about different policies and procedures associated with the hospital you’ll be delivering at, or typical policies and procedures relevant to your birth setting. This may include what to expect in terms of electronic fetal monitoring, IV fluids, and immediate after birth care for the newborn, for example. If you have strong preferences on any of these, the childbirth class may be a good place to gain information about any of the above, so that you are able to make an informed decision for your own care or the care of your baby.
3. It can teach you coping strategies and comfort methods.
Some childbirth classes such as a Lamaze class may have a specific focus on coping methods and relaxation techniques as an alternative to pain medication. If you’re planning an unmedicated birth or you’re not sure what your pain management preferences are, a childbirth class such as a Lamaze class can give you some practical ways to self-soothe without pain medicine or before you have access to it.
4. It can help you feel confident in your ability to give birth.
In a lot of ways, knowledge really IS power! Sometimes understanding what to expect during labor and delivery can help you feel empowered and confident in your own ability to birth your baby. Imagine someone told you that you’d have to complete a task, but you wouldn’t know what the task was or how to complete it until the day it was due. That’d be pretty anxiety-inducing! But if you’re armed with knowledge gained ahead of time, you’ll feel more confident when it comes time to complete the task. Of course sometimes things don’t always go as expected, and a good childbirth class will touch on common complications and how they are handled in the moment, should they arise.
5. It can be a bonding experience for you and your partner.
If all else fails, a childbirth class can be something you and your partner can bond over! Pregnancy and childbirth also brings a lot of emotions for your partner or spouse, ranging from excitement, to anxiety, to overwhelm, confusion, indifference or even frustration. By attending a childbirth class together, you’re able to both grow in your knowledge of childbirth but also in your relationship to each other. The topics presented in class can be useful conversation starters that can help you both feel like you’re on the same page when it comes to labor and delivery. If you both have busy schedules, attending a childbirth class together can be a relaxing evening or weekend that you can look forward to spending together, without other obligations.
Of course this is not an exhaustive list, and there are several other great reasons to take a childbirth class, but I hope this short guide helped you make a decision, if you were on the fence about whether or not you should take a class. At the time I’m writing this post, many organizations and institutions have made their classes accessible online instead of meeting in person, and there’s been a rise of digital courses and classes becoming available. In some ways, this makes classes even more accessible to expecting parents who may not have previously had the time or availability to commit to an in-person class. If you are an expecting parent, a quick internet search within your area will likely bring up dozens of different options for childbirth classes near you. I hope that if you do decide to take a childbirth class, that it serves you with a wealth of knowledge and proves to be a valuable part of your childbirth preparation!