TTMA Classes

[Winnifred]

Good morning! I'm curious to know what everyone else is doing regarding pregnancy/birth/baby classes. I don't want to overwhelm our schedule with evening classes (there's a 100% likelihood that I'll be irritated when the actual evening comes around), and I've heard positive and negative things about the classes offered through our hospital. The birthing class is extremely cumbersome but apparently it covers more than just birth. I'm currently planning on skipping that one and signing up for a baby care class, a brief childbirth class and breastfeeding class. We may also do infant CPR.

So what's your plan? What are your thoughts on classes that are offered in your area?

STM's - are you taking any classes this time around? Any tips/advice on what classes were the most or least helpful for you?

[requiressnacks]

I'm a FTM so I basically know nothing. I'll be taking an infant care class and doing a hospital tour. I'm skipping the childbirth classes and just depending on my nurses/doctors to get me through.

[mrswillie]

We went to a one day birth class when I was pregnant with DS1. It covered information about the birth process, comfort measures, pain control and birth technologies such as induction, augmentation and cesarean birth. They also talked about postpartum recovery, newborn appearance and transitional care. There was a tour of L&D.

I'd say some of the info was worth it, but most of it didn't apply to me. First of all, my water breaking was nothing like anybody told me. There or otherwise. No Niagara Falls. It was more or less the same as cough/sneeze pee. If you haven't experienced that yet, just wait. I ended up with a c-section, but just went along with whatever they were doing. I'd probably do it again though as a FTM because I think it helped to calm my nerves a little knowing something at least.

This time around, I'm considering bringing DS1 to a sibling class. He may remember the new baby experience a little bit from DS2, but I wouldn't think most f it. It's an hour in which they make a craft, read a book, see and touch infant care equipment and supplies, etc. They also do a tour of the mother/baby unit. He'll most likely come by every day that I'm there.

They have a newborn care class at our hospital, but honestly, I think you learn more as you go and what works and doesn't work for your baby.

[Deleted]

I'm taking 3. Breastfeeding(2 hours) because I'm a newb at it and I want dh to have the info too. Infant care(2hours) because I need a refresher from a college class and dh has no clue what he's doing. Preparing for Childbirth(4 hours), this includes l&d tour and preregistration. I've heard it's a little lame but there's a lot of other good stuff too. I also heard that taking the breastfeeding class lets you get on the pump rental list and you are more likely to leave the hospital with a pump rather than have to wait. I like that my hospital keeps the classes to shorter times, nothing is all day or multiple sessions.

Edited to add: all my classes are free for members of my medical group.

[legalbeagle]

Last time:
- hypnobirthing private class because my DH's job at the time wouldn't allow us to regularly attend classes
- infant care class
- CPR/carseat safety

I thought CPR/carseat safety was the best. The carseat safety one scared me so much that I swear we never rode in a taxi after DS outgrew his infant seat and he has been rearfacing until just recently (3.75). I'll definitely take another CPR class for a refresher.

I'll probably try hypnobirthing again, but do home study. The best side effect of that class was that I was not at all worried about birth. Aaaaand then DS tried to come out sunnyside up and so I was in really painful labor for a long time. Hypnobirthing made me confident to labor at home for a while (my water didn't break until they broke it right before birth) and I'd like to do that again. I ended up getting an epidural, which wasn't part of my birth plan, but my basic view was that I just wanted baby to come out healthy and he did so I'm okay with it.

If you want to breastfeed I definitely suggest reading about it beforehand so you know a little of what to expect. I didn't do any prep for that and breastfeeding was really hard for me and I pumped too early and ended up with oversupply at the beginning and that was very painful. I'm not sure if I'd recommend a class because maybe you should just save your money for a lactation consultant if you need one (I did and it was worth it but expensive).

[Winnifred]

Thanks, everyone! I know each place tends to offer something slightly different, but this is helpful.

legalbeagle, I'll look into carseat safety! I've never heard of hypnobirthing. And our breastfeeding class is only like $40 so I'll most likely take it as late as possible to keep it fresh. I have no idea what I'm doing in regards to BF'ing but I definitely want to give it my best effort.

@cahistoryteacher, I didn't even know you could come home from the hospital with a pump! I'll have to look into that.

mrswillie, I'm the first to admit that I get extremely impatient if I feel like my time is being wasted. I think the all day class would drive me totally nuts. It sounds like they do cover some really important/helpful topics, but just in excess. Even my doctor couldn't help but show in his facial expressions that the class is too much/too long. Hopefully your DS enjoys the class and can feel more prepared for the new sibling!

[fikafairy67]

We did a hospital tour with DS, and that was it. I did go to an infant CPR class refresher, since I had a certification at that time anyway, so I don't know if that counts?

We are going to be at a different hospital this time, and will likely do a tour there if offered, although by the end I will probably know the place inside and out since all of my biweekly/weekly scans will be there... I am definitely going to meet with the NICU doctors and pediatricians ahead of time, since we will have to do all sorts of blood testing and jaundice level checking when LO is born.

I MAY do a breastfeeding class this time around, but I'm not really sure yet. I wound up pumping during the day and using formula at night for a variety of reasons with DS, so I want to give it another shot. I'm going to check and see what kind of lactation support my insurance offers, and then go from there.

Side note, I CAN'T WAIT to find out what team we are on!! Calling this one LO is getting old, haha. I need to know if I am reusing clothes or not!

[lola]

So far, we are signed up for the breastfeeding class and the infant care class. My doctor said of all the classes, she recommended breastfeeding the most because it's the thing new moms tend to underestimate. I assured her that I was more scared of breastfeeding that the actual labor part, and I would not be underestimating it. Also, my mom used to be a daycare center director, and while she has all kinds of baby skills to help us, she did not breastfeed and will be no help there. We signed up for infant care because my husband has no idea what to do with babies. He keeps asking questions like, "Why can't a baby sleep on it's stomach?" So yeah, he needs to learn the basics.

I'm still waffling on the birth class. It's an all day thing, and I feel like my patience with that will be zero. Also, most women I talk to said it was a waste of time or made them more anxious (I'm sure it differs at every location). My doctor said that I'll obviously have a support team at the hospital, so if I skip that class it's not a big deal. I'm more of a reader anyway, so I may just pick up a few books on labor. I have a feeling that neither class nor book will adequately explain the real thing.

The one thing I'd like to look into is infant CPR. I've seen one class here that trains but doesn't certify, which I'm sure is fine. I've taken it before, but it's been years, so I'd like a refresher.

[Deleted]

Check with your hospitals about pumps, either free or for rental. Affordable Care Act has some provisions in it for breast pumps I was told.

[emilie]

I'm going to hire a doula who meets with us a few times and answers questions, so I'll probably skip the birthing class. I'll just read online and watch videos and consult my doula and stuff. I will definitely take the infant CPR class and maybe a breastfeeding class. For baby care I'll probably just read and figure it out

And yeah breast pumps are covered by insurance now in the US!

[littlelion]

The birthing class was an all day affair at my hospital.  DH did not want to go and I didn't want to go alone.  And honestly, an all day class was very unappealing.  But didn't get to make a choice in the matter since I had a c-section ahead of schedule.  

I got a couple lessons with the lactation consultant at the hospital since DS was there for 2 wks. Afterwards, I did read a few chapters of a breastfeeding book and found it very useful.  And yes, the pumps you can rent at the hospital are AWESOME! I rented one for the first month since DS was so small I worried he'd expend more calories BF'ing than with a bottle.  I think I paid $60-$90 for the rental.  My insurance would have reimbursed me but they were such a pain to deal with.  
 
Not sure what classes are offered this year and if I'll take any. If they're 2 hr classes, then I'd consider it. 

[mrsp121308]

With DD1, we did the standard childbirth education course at the hospital. It was 4 weeks long, 1 night each week and was an epic waste of time. It went through the basics of childbirth a few coping techniques, but I got more out of What to Expect and Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy than this class.

With DD2, we did the natural childbirth education course at the hospital because I really wanted to have a natural (no-epi) delivery. This one covered a few more options, like using the birthing ball or labor in the tub/shower, but again I didn't get a ton out of it.

This time, I'm not wasting my time or money. We are going to do a hospital tour, only because when DD2 was born 5 years ago, the new L&D wasn't complete, so I want to check out the new one.

My recommendation for FTMs is to ask a variety of people about their experiences, read different books on pregnancy and delivery (Girlfriends' Guide is my fave), and then seek out your local La Leche League for breastfeeding support after baby's arrival. You will learn more there than in a class before the baby is born. It's hard to understand breastfeeding when you don't actually have a baby.

[babycowbell]

We're doing the birthing class, four nights for two hours, and the hospital tour. Probably also a newborn care class but not signed up yet. My OB said people seemed to not really care for the breastfeeding class since it's hard to know what's applicable to you when you don't know your situation yet and that our area has tons of breastfeeding support and resources for after childbirth so I'm skipping that class for now.

[Lucy]

I didn't do classes with my first 2. Not because I knew everything, but because they were so high risk and I was so in and out of the hospital that there was no point. I had DS at 32 weeks, and spent more time in than out of the hospital the last 7 weeks. I had DD barely over a year after DS was born, and already knew the hospital inside and out, and I was a RCS (except it ended up being an emergency at 36 weeks, thanks to preeclampsia).

This time, I'm at a new hospital, so I'd like to do a tour -- but I'm having a RCS, so I don't really need to see L&D. I might take a breastfeeding class because it was such a struggle with the first 2 (DS was too tiny to BF and I'd like a refresher since DD). However, I have a local friend who is the local LLL leader, and a neighbor who is a midwife that I can pin down for a quick question or whatever if necessary. So the class would probably be a waste of money. Also, they tell you to bring a doll or stuffed animal to the class, and there is no way I could take that seriously -- so much laughing.

[Winnifred]

DH just told me he doesn't want to go to a breastfeeding class. I feel like I need him since I'm bound to forget what I learned in the heat of the crazy moments.... For those who attended a breastfeeding class, did you bring your spouse or did others??

[lola]

I plan to have my husband join me for the very reason you listed above. The more people who understand the basics of breastfeeding and how to help/encourage around me, the more likely I am to make it work. I think this is why my SIL wasn't successful. She refused help from anyone and tried to do it all on her own. And none of us even knew enough to try to help.