Childbirth education classes are an important component as you prepare to give birth. Most birthwork professionals recommend taking childbirth education classes in the third trimester of your pregnancy. This way the information is at the forefront of your mind when the time comes for you to have your baby!
If you take the class too early, you are more likely to forget some of the important information by the time you reach full term. If you take the class too late you risk going into labor before being able to attend the class at all!
What is the purpose of childbirth education classes?
Childbirth education classes are meant to prepare you for the complex work of childbirth. These classes will help you understand what you will experience in your body during labor and delivery. Additionally they can offer insight about what to expect if you choose to birth at home, at a birthing center or in a hospital. There are so many nuanced options and decisions that can go into giving birth. Seeking education from professionals in birthwork is a great way to ensure that you are prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead.
Typically you will be encouraged to attend your childbirth class with your partner, or whomever will be supporting you through your birthing experience. This will ensure that when the time comes to take action or make decisions that both of you are prepared and educated about what you are facing.
How long should you labor at home? What are your options for pain management? How do you know if you are ready to start pushing? What does effacement mean? These are just some of the topics covered in most childbirth education classes.
Are birthing classes necessary?
Your body will birth your baby whether you are ready for it or not. Your baby will not stay in the womb forever. So are birth classes necessary in order to give birth? No. They are not. Your body was made to bear and to birth and to bleed and will do so with or without your preparation or participation. But is that how you want your birth story to be?
If this is your first time giving birth, taking a birthing class is an invaluable way to prepare yourself (and your partner). It will educate you on the different phases and stages of labor, and what you can expect to experience in each stage. You will learn different ways to approach labor and cope with contractions.
Knowledge is power, and taking charge and feeling empowered during your birth experience can help you feel in control. Not all births can go according to “plan”. But taking a birthing class will leave you prepared and armed with knowledge of what to expect and how to approach your birth. You are more likely to have a positive birth experience when you are aware of what can and should happen. As well as possible variances. Birth trauma is common and preventable in so many cases.
Even if you have already had a baby or two it can be valuable to attend a birth class to once again familiarize yourself with the information. No two birth stories are the same, even in the birth of multiples. Coming into a birth class with prior knowledge and experience can help you feel even more prepared. For example, if you had postpartum complications in your previous birth, you now know that you can ask questions about how to prepare for such an event. Or if you know that this time you want to try a different pushing position you can ask questions about how to advocate for your preferences.
Why are birthing classes important?
Imagine it is the middle or the night, and you wake up to what might be a contraction. But was it? How do you know for sure? Imagine you have been in labor for hours, and your provider wants to rupture your bag of waters to speed things up. What does that mean? How would they do that? Are you allowed to refuse? These are some common scenarios that professional birth workers see all the time.
You know what to expect when you choose to get informed and educated. When you know what the benefits, risks, and alternatives are in common birth scenarios there are less unwanted interventions. This means more positive birth outcomes. Not just a healthy birth parent and baby, but a birth story empowered by your informed decision making and confidence.
Whether you are expecting to be induced, have an unmedicated birth or a planned cesarean it will always benefit you to enter into your birth arena with a sense of understanding and empowerment. Your birth team should be working to support your birth experience, while keeping you and your baby safe. Knowing your options can help you create a birth plan, or birth preferences to help your birth workers support you.
What are the benefits of taking a childbirth class?
In choosing to get educated about what to expect at your birth you become an active participant in your birth experience. Many birth parents can feel like birth is something that happened to them, rather than an experience they were a part of. This can happen especially in countries where birth is highly medicalized (like the US). Taking a childbirth education class reduces that risk.
Conversation boosts comprehension. If you are in a class with an educator and other expectant parents you might get different and more extensive information than just watching a YouTube video or reading a birth book. Though both YouTube videos and highly rated books about childbirth are better options than getting no education at all (ask your birth team for recommendations if you choose to go this route). That being said, when you take an in depth birth class it is better than reading a book. You will be able to ask specific questions and personalize your experience.
Depending on what kind of birth class you take to prepare yourself you might get different ranges of information. If you know you are having multiples, you can find a birth class with an educator who has that specific knowledge. If you know you want to try to have an unmedicated birth you can find a birth class that can teach you different ways to cope with contractions (such as Lamaze or Hypnobirthing classes). Though these classes are by no means limited to people who desire unmedicated birth.
What classes should you take before having a baby?
Childbirth education: Childbirth education classes are a great way to learn about what to expect at the birth of your baby. You will learn the phases and stages of labor and delivery. You might learn coping techniques for contractions.
Breastfeeding class: Breastfeeding class will teach you what happens to your body during breastfeeding. It will educate you about how your milk and supply changes throughout breastfeeding. You may learn different breastfeeding positions.
Infant care class: In an infant care class you will learn how to take care of your baby. Some of the basic topics covered in infant care classes are swaddling, feeding, diapering and bathing. Usually there will be baby dolls to practice with.
Infant CPR/First Aid: The Red Cross usually teaches and regulates these informative classes. The information you learn will prepare you for emergency medical situations that you could encounter with your baby. You can also earn a certificate from the Red Cross when taking these courses.
There are also other more specialized classes. Lamaze and Hypnobirthing focus on helping you through your contractions using breathing techniques and visualization. You can find these classes by asking your doula, midwife or OB what they recommend.
The Gist
Taking a childbirth class in the third trimester of your pregnancy is an ideal way to prepare yourself for childbirth. You and your partner will learn about what to expect and how to respond to different scenarios. In my experience as a doula it has immensely benefited myself and my clients to be as prepared as possible.
Taking a childbirth education class will bring understanding and enlightenment about the birth experience, reduce the risk of unwanted intervention. It will help prepare you for the different stages of labor. You will be empowered to take charge of your own birth story.