What birth class did you take?

[cetcar]

I hope it's ok to post this here. 

Our OB asked us yesterday if we had thought about what type of birth class we wanted to take.   Birth still seems like this painful but wonderful experience a long ways away yet I guess it's time to start thinking about it and researching classes.  Any recommendations?  Bradley Method, Hypnobabies, Lamaze?  I'm sure I'm missing some and do realize this is a personal decision but thought I would see if anyone wanted to share their experience.  Did you have a natural or medicated birth?
Thanks! 

[rikkiandjulie]

I probably shouldn't answer but I will chime in because I'm chatty. If DW gets to the birthing stage she has said that she will be having a medicated birth, and would like to take Lamaze. I bet that changes but that's what I've been told up to now

[kh826]

We took a birthing class that was offered through the hospital where we delivered. I don't remember the name of the class, but it was kind of a mixture of several different methods. It was a one-time all day Saturday course. We focused on breathing techniques, positions and partner support the most.

My wife and I also did a lot of reading and watching videos on our own as well. To be honest, that is more our style, and I think we ended up getting more from that than the class that we took. However, I am still glad that we took the class. The class also included a hospital tour, which I found to be very valuable. It was helpful to know what the rooms would look like, where we would go when we got there, etc.

I did end up with an epidural eventually due to the boat loads of Pitocin that I needed to regulate my labor and bring my contractions closer together. I had originally planned a natural birth, but Pitocin is no joke, and I decided that for me the epidural would be a good choice. I do not regret my decision. They turned the epidural off (at my request) about 20 mins before I was ready to push so that I would better feel when to push, and it worked really well for me. That was my experience.

[kona]

DW and I took the birth class at the hospital we delivered at. It was generic and I didn't think it was worth much. It did include a tour of the labor and deliver floor which was nice.

We did (read me as I am the nerd) read Expecting Better by Emily Oster which helped me immensely. I needed hard facts and numbers not folklore and this book had it.

[cetcar]

Thank you for your comments.

For those of you who are considering this, CET found this thread-
www.goodbyecb.proboards.com/thread/49180/talk-me-med-free-labor

[Deleted]

I took none. But I cant say I recommend this route.

[2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)]

Hypnobabies! I needed something "mental" because I have Vaso vagul and feint easily and badly (lengthy, shaky). I wasn't expecting to for sure not have epidural or pitocin but I tried to use the natural methods as long as possible. And it worked for me. For a while. Til it was 20 hrs ish... Lol. But I think the methods helped calm me enough to make it a successful semi relaxed labor!!