Are you trying to decide whether or not to attend childbirth classes? Pregnancy can be an exciting, yet daunting time. As the birth date draws ever-closer, it’s common to start to feel anxious and scared.
Childbirth classes are designed to prepare you for the big day, well as much as they can do anyway! Nothing can fully prepare you for the actual experience, but some knowledge of what to expect can make a huge difference when labor begins. That being said, like anything, there’s pros and cons of attending these classes. So, to help you make a decision that’s right for you, here we’ll explore the pros and cons of childbirth classes.
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Childbirth Classes – The Pros
There’s no denying childbirth classes come with a lot of advantages. In fact, there’s definitely more pros to attending one than there are cons. Here, we’ll look at just some of the main advantages you’ll gain from attending childbirth classes in your area.
Peace Of Mind – By far one of the biggest advantages of childbirth classes is the peace of mind they provide. The things you’ll learn during the class can ease your worries about everything from the labor to caring for your newborn.
Often, the main cause of anxiety as the pregnancy progresses is not knowing what to expect. Childbirth classes tell you exactly what to expect and how to deal with absolutely every part of the labor and birth process. You can look at it as though the birth is a test and the childbirth classes are the study for that test. Although all classes are different, most tend to be very comprehensive, providing you with invaluable information to ease your worries and answer any questions you may have.
It Provides A Bonding Experience For You And Your Partner – Childbirth classes aren’t something you typically do alone. They’re designed to help both you and your birthing partner prepare for the big day. If your partner is going to be the one with you during the birth, the childbirth class can provide a unique bonding experience.
Often, partners are left feeling left out throughout the pregnancy. They may feel useless waiting around until baby is born and scared of what’s to come. So, the classes can prove to be more useful to your partner as often they tend to feel even more nervous than you are! It prepares them for what’s to come and they’ll learn exactly how they can help you on the day of the birth.
It Prepares You For More Than Just The Labor – Childbirth classes don’t just teach you about the labor. You’ll also learn more about the pain management options available, exercises you can do to make labor more manageable and tips on how to look after baby once they’re here.
If you visit child birthing classes at the hospital you plan on using, you’ll also get a good idea of how the big day will go. You’ll run through the admissions process and typically have a tour of the hospital, so you can get to see where you’ll be giving birth. The amount of knowledge you do learn is fantastic and can really help ease your fears.
Learning More About Complications And Risks – One thing you will learn at these classes that’s going to prove really useful, is the potential complications and risks which can occur. No pregnant woman ever wants to think about the things which could potentially go wrong but being prepared can make the world of difference if something does go wrong!
You’ll learn about the most common complications and risks associated with labor and how they can potentially be resolved. For example, do you know all there is to know about C-sections and why they might be needed? If not, a childbirth class could be just what you need!
These are just some of the main advantages of attending child birth classes. So, what about the potential cons?
Understanding the Potential Downsides
Although there are more pros than cons with childbirth classes, it’s still worth being aware of the potential downsides. Classes aren’t necessarily for everyone so consider the following before signing you and your partner up:
What You’ve Learnt May Not Help You On The Day – You’ll learn a huge amount of information to do with the labor, birth and how to look after your newborn. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will come in useful on the actual day.
This is because, once labor begins, the experience can often be a LOT different to what you imagined. Many women have claimed that what they learnt during their childbirth classes was quickly forgotten when it actually came time to give birth. However, that doesn’t mean your partner won’t remember, it’s just something that’s worth keeping in mind before booking a class.
You Can Typically Find The Same Information For Free Elsewhere – At one time, childbirth classes were the only place you could really gather information on the birth. However, these days you can find out everything you could possibly need to do at a few clicks of a button.
The internet has not just articles and blogs with real-person experiences and medical information, but also videos you can watch. Absolutely everything you need to know about labor, the birth and caring for a newborn, can be found for free online.
So, if you’re the kind of person who benefits more from researching online than you would in-person, childbirth classes may not necessarily help you more than you could help yourself.
Not All Classes Will Be Right For You – Another thing to keep in mind is that no two childbirth classes are the same. In order for you to get the most out of the class, you need to be able to connect with and actually like, the instructor. This means potentially visiting quite a few different childbirth classes until you find one which clicks with you.
They Can Be Expensive – Finally, the last potential disadvantage of childbirth classes is the fact they can be pretty expensive. It’s not unusual for classes to cost between $60-$100 per day. This is a pretty high cost for those on a budget!
Conclusion
Overall, childbirth classes can be extremely beneficial and provide you and your partner with great peace of mind. However, it is important to look at both the advantages and disadvantages before deciding whether or not these classes are ideal for you.
Preparing enough knowledge for birth classes is very important. Not only common knowledge but also special knowledge. Birth classes is not only about good preparation but also how to know the actual experience about a birth. Ask relates and colleagues can build confidence and down the pressure while the birth process. In this case, gain experience from others is a crucial point besides good preparation to face the birth day
Yes, that’s true. Aside from the sources cited here, asking friends and relatives about their birthing experience will give one a good idea of what to expect. What’s more, you are assured they are talking based on actual experience.
You made a valid on the need for mothers to be aware that not all they learn from these childbirth classes can be useful when the need arises. This is the reason every mom should have the mind of their own in taking some decisions when the time for delivery comes nearer. However, just like you said, attending these classes can bring a kind of peace of mind to the mom as they plan for child delivery.
Yes, knowing what to expect as learned from classes will help ease the apprehensions of childbirth. And as always, pregnant women should be flexible with their birthing plans and not stick to only one plan.
Being flexible with the birth plans is one key element that every pregnant mom should always have at the back of the mind since we can’t really say that this is how the event is going to play out or the other way round.
In our town, there are no childbirth classes. However, when my wife was pregnant, I really wished to attend childbirth classes. Since my wife has a history of anxiety, I was afraid that she would slip to anxiety again. I was always with her and thankfully she remained calm during the 40 weeks of pregnancy.
Moral support always helps a pregnant woman calm her nerves. Knowing that you are always there for her is such a great relief for any woman. She may be strong, but she would love to have someone to lean on.
In our town, there are no childbirth classes. However, when my wife was pregnant, I really wished to attend childbirth classes. Since my wife has a history of anxiety, I was afraid that she would slip to anxiety again. I was always with her and thankfully she remained calm during the 40 weeks of pregnancy.
Wonderful of you to have been on your wife’s side during her pregnancy. She may not have told you often, but I’m sure she really appreciated your presence and loving support. Not many are understanding of a pregnant woman’s condition. You are one of the wonderful exceptions 🙂
I wish there were classes specifically tailored for single mothers. I did not attend a class for the fear that people would judge me.
I totally understand your predicament, Ruth. A lot of people are judgmental, as if they know someone well. It would be really stressful to attend birth classes and be judged so it’s safer to distance yourself from such people.
I did check online and found birth classes for single moms. You could probably check if there are classes as such that are available in your area 🙂
I completely agree that anxiety is usually caused by not knowing what to expect. My friend is pregnant, but she grew up with a single father, so while she is excited, she also isn’t sure were to go for birthing questions. I’ll share this article with her, so she can consider attending a childbirth class. Because it’s her first child, I feel like this will give her and her husband the support they need. Thanks so much for the great article!
Thanks for mentioning how childbirth classes should involve the mom and the dad. I also like how you said that it should be a way to bond. My husband and I are looking into childbirth classes; thanks for the post.
Thanks for putting down the pros and cons of taking childbirth classes. Indeed, childbirth, for men, can be a daunting time. I agree that birth classes can be costly if on a tight budget. If you know what to look for, doing independent searches on the internet can be helpful. Keywords like Bradley Method, unmedicated birth, undisturbed birth, Birth for Men, or even lotus birth is what my wife got hooked on.