Post # 1

Member
7152 posts
Busy Beekeeper
My Hospital offers them, but I thought that they were free. Boy, was I wrong!! They are $150 for 7 classes. I was wondering if they were worth going. I just don’t want to spend the money and it end up not being useful. Also, ladies…how many classes did your Hubby/SO actually attend with you?
Post # 3

Member
5670 posts
Bee Keeper
I thought they were a complete waste of time. Darling Husband actually found them to be more beneficial than me because he learned about pregnancy. We did a weekend long course for $175, and I wouldn’t do it again. Darling Husband does need to come with you or else the teacher ends up standing in for him and it’s like you are the only one w/o a partner. Basically they tell you what you already know and you practice labor positions and breathing techniques. I don’t remember anything.
Post # 4

Member
7152 posts
Busy Beekeeper
@roxy821: The ones offered at my Hospital teach CPR, safety, breastfeeding, and basic infant care. Did yours do that too?
Post # 5

Member
5147 posts
Bee Keeper
The prepared childbirth, breastfeeding, and baby care classes at the hospital I delivered at were free. And you didn’t have to be delivering there to take them, they were open to anybody. Maybe look around at other hospitals and see what they have so you don’t have to pay.
For the hospital classes:
- The prepared childbirth class (2 sessions) was really helpful because I knew what to expect as far as what the hospital usually does and what their policies are.
- Breastfeeding class (1 session) I really didn’t need, it was more of “breastfeeding is good, do it!”; the hands-on help from the nurses and lactation consultant in the hospital was much more helpful.
- Baby care basics class (1 session) I didn’t learn much even though I had zero baby experience before hand. At the hospital, they showed us stuff like giving baby a bath, how to change a diaper, etc. The baby care basics class just talked about that stuff.
I also took Bradley Childbirth classes (typically 12 sessions, my instructor did it in 6 so we covered 2 chapters each week), since I wanted (and successfully had) a natural drug-free birth. Those were worth every penny! I think they really helped me succeed with doing it all natural.
Darling Husband attended all the classes with me.
Post # 6

Member
5670 posts
Bee Keeper
The class I took was breastfeeding and childbirth. There were other classes for safety and cpr, but after we took the first one we decided not to take anymore.
I should also add that I do wish to have an epidural, so that could be part of the reason why I didn’t find it as helpful.
Post # 7

Member
9134 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
- Wedding: November 2013 - St. Augustine Beach, FL
If you are a first time mom I would say it’s a good idea to take some sort of birth prep class. $150 sounds unreasonable to me since most hospitals offer discounted or free classes for mome who are registered to give birth at that particular hospital.
Planning for an epidural is a good idea if that is what you want but what if you get to the hospital too late to get one? Wouldn’t you rather be somewhat prepared for natural childbirth in case you don’t have another option? I think the best thing you get from classes is that you learn about the process so that you are less likely to be scared (being scared = more pain for most people.)
Not sure where you are delivering but here is a link for free classes in Memphis: http://www.baptistonline.org/news/2012/baptist-tipton-to-hold-free-childbirth-and-breastfeeding-classes/
Post # 8

Member
1064 posts
Bumble bee
I had pre-natal classes for free in our local health center and later on on the Hospital and YES, they did help!
Post # 9

Member
6887 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I would say yes they are! Even though we didn’t take them (DH had the option to either do that or read a book, he chose the book and munchkin arrived early)
I took those kind of classes in college very informative and educational.
Post # 10

Member
7152 posts
Busy Beekeeper
@beachbride1216: I saw that a few hours ago. I am in Shelby County, so the ride is too far. 🙁 Thanks, though.
Post # 11

Member
7152 posts
Busy Beekeeper
I am upset that others’ classes were free! Why is my hspital charging and I am delivering there?!
Edit: someone just informed me that another branch of the hospital is offering them for FREE!! How strange for one location to be free and the other not. Will it make a difference that I am not tkaing it at my exact location?
Post # 12

Member
5670 posts
Bee Keeper
@beachbride1216- If I get to the hospital too late for an epidural, I’ll be in heaven! LOL. With a first baby I can’t imagine labor being that short.
Post # 13

Member
9134 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
- Wedding: November 2013 - St. Augustine Beach, FL
By chance did you ask your OB/GYN or nurse at their office if they were aware of any other classes that are cheaper or free? I know that many OB/GYNs that are affiliated with certain hospitals so they are bound to refer you for services and classes at that hospital. The nurse may be aware of your other options and more likely to give them to you.
I don’t see where it says you have to register to use the Tipton Hospital classes. You could always call ahead and verify that they are open to all women.
P.S. My mom’s family is from the Shelby County area.
Post # 14

Member
9134 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
- Wedding: November 2013 - St. Augustine Beach, FL
@roxy821: Babies are unpredictable but first time moms are more likely to end up at the hospital super early so it most likely won’t be an issue. Personally I plan to ask for the epidural because I saw how much it alleviated my mom’s pain during labor with my sister. I will likely also do hypnobirthing classes online because I don’t want to get the epidural too early and end up with a C-section. Plus, I would be terrified if I went into labor without an idea of what to expect and what I could do to alleviate some of the pain on my own. But that’s why they tell every woman to educate themselves on their options and make their own personal birth plan that works for them. I am glad OP is getting opinions across the spectrum so she can decide what works best for her.
Post # 15

Member
6009 posts
Bee Keeper
If your classes include infant care, safety, and infant CPR I’d say go for it! My childbirth series was 5 classes for (I think) $100, but I had to take separate infant care and infant CPR classes. Your husband should definitely attend with you since, presumably, he will also be watching the baby sometimes. I would say learning the basics of infant care and safety (expecially if you don’t have a lot of experience with newborns) is very helpful.
Post # 16

Member
515 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: September 2011 - Clark Gardens
We’re about halfway done with out classes and I’d totally pay for them if they weren’t free (which they are free for us, thankfully)
We’ve done Baby Care, Infant Safety/CPR, and Darling Husband has taken a Daddy Boot Camp class. We also did the first half of our 2 class Prepared Childbirth series yesterday and will finish up on Thursday. Then we have Breastfeeding and Car Seat Safety as well. My parents are also attending a 2-part Grandparent Class. I think they are well worth it. Is everything brand new information? No, but there is still a lot of things that I learned in class.