Classes-

[Andrea]

We got our preregistration packet for the hospital (holy shiz) and they gave us a giant list of classes to sign up for.

Do you guys have any suggestions? What did you take/plan on taking?? Are these silly?

I am skipping the labor & delivery one since we are having a scheduled c-section but I'm interested in the breast feeding class, infant CPR for DH (I'm already certified), and maybe an infants basics for him. He has zero experience with babies, while I have been immersed in children my whole life. Sooooo what says you June?!?

[pdxlaurens]

This is my 2nd baby but we took an infant basics/breastfeeding class which was really helpful for both of us and a labor/delivery class that was pretty good too. If you plan to do a specific labor/birth technique class then the broad class probably wouldn't be necessary but it was nice to have info on labor progression and some basic coping techniques.
My hospital had classes book up fast so start researching and sign up now!

[mladerri]

We took a new parent class together (helpful to prepare for labor plan and taught dh how to put on a diaper), we also took a cloth diaper class, I took a breastfeeding class and I took cpr for infants. If you have time I'd take the classes. Our baby class was 2 hours a week for 6 weeks and we preferred that over the all day class. It also gave us an opportunity to meet people in the class and I'm still friends with a couple of them.

[sandandsea]

We took the labor and delivery, breastfeeding, and Cpr/first aid classes last time. We also did the car seat safety class. This time we will only do the hospital tour and maybe the Cpr refresher.

It was our first so they were all helpful. Even though I had been around kids my whole life it's different when it's your own and standards change all the time.

[babyzebra]

I think the ones you mentioned sound good and I would definitely go with YH to all of those. If they have a car seat class, that would be good to go to also. Make sure to go on the maternity tour too.

In addition to going to a car seat class if they have one, I would join the Car Seats for the Littles group on Facebook. That has been an invaluable resource for me seeing all the questions and pictures that others post.

I think this time around I'm just going to sign DH and I up for infant/child CPR again. I figure you can never be over prepared in that area.

[soultrane]

We did a labor/delivery class that was really helpful because it went through all of the possible interventions, including c-section. It might be worth calling to ask what the course covers and if it would be beneficial for you.

We also did the hospital/L&D tour, infant and child CPR, and I was signed up for a breastfeeding class but it was cancelled for reasons I don't remember at this point.

Ours were free through the hospital, so if that's the case for you too I would sign up for as many as they offer!

[Kevinmac]

I have the thing to mail in in my purse. I think I signed up for a new parent class and a breastfeeding class.

[Flair Underwood]

I would do the infant CPR, breastfeeding and infant care (in that order of priority) if you have time for all three. My thoughts on infant care is that you learn by doing, and you won't screw it up so if you don't have time for that one, I wouldn't worry. He'll learn from you and be just fine!

[bighair12]

We did a hypnobirthing class the first time around. We did newborn basics which was fun. Breastfeeding class which I might take again. We did an infant sleep class which was super helpful. This time around we might have DD do the new sibling class.

[Andrea]

Feb 10, 2016 0:16:41 GMT -5 sandandsea said:

We took the labor and delivery, breastfeeding, and Cpr/first aid classes last time. We also did the car seat safety class. This time we will only do the hospital tour and maybe the Cpr refresher.

It was our first so they were all helpful. Even though I had been around kids my whole life it's different when it's your own and standards change all the time.

My job is geared with working with infants and toddlers, so I am up on the standards. I am well aware that things are totally different when it's my own, not delusional over here

[Andrea]

Feb 10, 2016 7:41:55 GMT -5 soultrane said:

We did a labor/delivery class that was really helpful because it went through all of the possible interventions, including c-section. It might be worth calling to ask what the course covers and if it would be beneficial for you.

We also did the hospital/L&D tour, infant and child CPR, and I was signed up for a breastfeeding class but it was cancelled for reasons I don't remember at this point.

Ours were free through the hospital, so if that's the case for you too I would sign up for as many as they offer!

I called to ask about what the covered in terms of c-sections last week and she said it was about a 45 minute chunk of the two day class. They charge $90 for the class, so I am not sure it's worth it. My best friend is the labor and delivery nurse supervisor at the hospital we are delivering at so she gave DH and I a pretty detailed run down at what to expect. He was asking some awesome questions, so I am glad we got her as a resource.

The L&D class what he one with the heftiest fee, everything else was in the $30-45 range, so I am willing to have DH and I take what we can schedule in together. Our hospital tour is free, so I will be doing that. Especially sicne it is lead by my bestie

[Andrea]

Feb 10, 2016 5:46:00 GMT -5 babyzebra said:

I think the ones you mentioned sound good and I would definitely go with YH to all of those. If they have a car seat class, that would be good to go to also. Make sure to go on the maternity tour too.

In addition to going to a car seat class if they have one, I would join the Car Seats for the Littles group on Facebook. That has been an invaluable resource for me seeing all the questions and pictures that others post.

I think this time around I'm just going to sign DH and I up for infant/child CPR again. I figure you can never be over prepared in that area.

Thanks for the heads up on that group on Facebook. I did not see a car seat class, but I wonder if I can find one locally. That is something that would be super beneficial to get a refresher on!

[txmommy14]

We took L&D class, CPR/infant care, and breastfeeding. I would definitely recommend going to the breastfeeding class (with your H/SO) if you plan to try breastfeeding. It was helpful, and honestly really helpful for DH to hear and be able to understand the importance of his support!!

[Flair Underwood]

Andrea, Also - your local fire company SHOULD do a free car-seat session with you to make sure you install tightly, safely/etc... We did this with our infant base and also when we switched to a convertible seat.

[titania]

We signed up for a CPR class, newborn basics, breastfeeding, and L&D (which has the hospital tour). BUT the only class we had to pay for was the CPR class - the rest were free with Kaiser.

babyzebra, I have not seen a car seat class, but I will check that out. Thanks!

[2dogs2kids]

First time around we did not take any classes. We toured the hospital and that was it. I am already certified in infant CPR and first aid. I went to school for and have worked young children my whole life so I figured I didn't really need to do the infant care. Also much of my course work covered topics listed in the class descriptions from L&D.

This time Im considering taking a breastfeeding class at a local place. I guess kind of thought BF was self explanatory and it would come naturally but it didn't. I personally am not really comfortable with BF anyways, I prefer pumping, and that's what I did with DS but it just seems like it will be to much with a toddler running around.

DH had never been around babies DS was actually the first baby he ever held, but he picked up on everything really quickly. He was nervous about diaper changes at first because of umbilical cord and circ, but he managed.

[Andrea]

Feb 10, 2016 9:44:50 GMT -5 Flair Underwood said:

Andrea , Also - your local fire company SHOULD do a free car-seat session with you to make sure you install tightly, safely/etc... We did this with our infant base and also when we switched to a convertible seat.

Unfortunately with budget cuts, this program got cut out in our county. Hooray!

The hospital will do a check before we leave with baby, but I would love to get more specific information in regards to the carseat we go with. I will report back if I find anything!

[cattuccino]

I'm so jealous of all the classes that seem to be offered for you guys!
We only had a labour and delivery class option (for over $100). We opted out with DD. (And I know I've said it before, but I don't think it would have better prepared me for my delivery experience).

I do want to do infant CPR though - I intended to through St. John's ambulance and we just kept setting it aside. I should bring it up to DH again, because that one is valuable to me. I'm only adult CPR certified.

I'm also intrigued by the car seat classes - not a lot of those around here too, and even stations I've been hearing don't want to check because they don't want liability.

[pbandj714]

So far we're scheduled for a Multiples class that covers pregnancy, labor, birth, and preparing and caring for multiples. I think we'll also do the hospital tour, breastfeeding class, and infant CPR class. I probably won't bother with a birthing class.

[vlinder]

I'm so glad you asked this--I've been wondering the same thing. Adding signing up for classes to my to-do list!

[sandandsea]

Feb 10, 2016 10:06:05 GMT -5 cattuccino said:

I'm also intrigued by the car seat classes - not a lot of those around here too, and even stations I've been hearing don't want to check because they don't want
liability.


I'm stuck in the box - our carseat class went over the proper installation and use (no thick coats, chest strap between nipples, etc.), what to check for (making sure it's tight), latch limitations, the new laws (RF until 2), etc.  It was taught by a retired sheriff and a certified tech.  Most fire depts don't do checks in our area, but they will have special events where they will have techs come in and check your seats for you.  But, you have to know when/where it's happening, show up, wait in line forever, then they will check it.  All of the information is out there. but the class was a helpful 1 hour download of all the information.

[soultrane]

For the car seat stuff, if you aren't able to find a class locally you can always search for a certified tech in your area and set up something privately. Some techs will help you install your car seat/base, or they could just check it after you've already done the installation. They'll also help you after baby is born to make sure that you're using it correctly, straps are snug enough, etc.

cert.safekids.org/find-tech-0

The search function can be a little funky (putting in both my zip and my town yielded no results even though there's a tech in my town) so I ended up just searching by my state to find someone fairly local.

[titania]

soultrane Thanks for that! I found one near us!

[shan]

I would do a breastfeeding class if it's important to you.

Cpr would be the second class I would take.

I felt OK with infant care first time around so we skipped it.

This time around - nada

[housecarder]

Just as an FYI, if your hospital doesn't offer a class you want check out your local BRU. They offer a wide range here and the cost is minimal.
Just another option.

[frecklesnbrains]

Our hospital charges $150 for a birthing class which I think is way too steep. I've attended a lot of births in my life so I'm not sure if get a lot out of it, and my DH says he'd rather read a book. So we're probably going to skip it.

Speaking of books, does anyone have book recommendations regarding L&D, or newborn parenting basics for that matter?

[microworm]

We did zero classes with DS1 and just did the L&D tour. I think the breastfeeding one would have been helpful, but I did OK without it. Neither I or MH had experience with babies before DS1. We even had a nurse come in and check the first diaper (ever!) we put on. But we figured it out pretty quick. Anyway, the cost of the class would be a factor in my decision to take classes.

[graciest719]

We did the hospital tour and labor & delivery class, which was free. Neither of us had changed a diaper or fed a baby before DD was born, and we did just fine. We won't do any classes this time around.

If you are going to BF, take a class. I didn't because I thought it would be very easy and natural for me. It wasn't. Lots and lots of tears were shed before I finally saw s lactation consultant, and by then my mind was set against it.