Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

I never took one with DS. I rented some DVDs and just prayed lol. The nurses all coached me through what to do and it was fine. Just remember to breathe deeply, keep your eyes open during a contraction, and find something to focus on. Thats the basics.

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

I wanted to take a class, but was hesitant because of the cost. Well, DS came 12 wks early, so I had no classes. I didn't feel unprepared because I had no classes, I felt unprepared because the baby was early.

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

Skipped it.
SO glad I did.
That kind of stuff is just not my thing.

So when it came time to push, the nurse asked- did you do birthing classes?
I said no.
She said ok- this is how you push.
And taught me in less than 5 minutes.

I have a feeling that anything I had learned in a class would have gone right out the window once I was delivering- as it was my DH almost went out the window!

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

i took it the first time around, and don't think it helped much. When the time came, I did whatever came naturally.

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

The lamaze class we took was interesting and did give us some info we didn't already know. But the thing is, if you are planning on getting an epi or c-section you don't need to practice breathing or different positions for labor, etc. And if you want to go drug free all natural, a basic lamaze class probably isn't going to provide the best preparation.

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

i watched http://www.laughandlearn.com!

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

i didn't take 1 class. IMO there is nothing you can prepare for. You just have to let happen... what happens.

With my 1st the nurse asked if i took a class and i said no. She said good, they were pointless anyway.

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

I didn't take any classes. I did read some of "The Birth Book" which gave me some pointers. It was a little out dated. But it helped. I delivered both of my kids in under 10 minutes. So you don't NEED to take a class.

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

I wish I did, there was a lot of time where I would have been lost with our my mom in the delivery room. ( she teaches L&D nursing) I was not prepared at all. I wish I knew more about the process, about when to ask for drugs (i missed the window of opportunity, ouch), about how to focus pushing, more of a description on how the different stages of labor felt, what to expect immediately after and hours after.

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

I didn't take any classes and had my baby in November. I had an ultra easy (no pain meds at all) delivery. It honestly just comes naturally in my opinion.

Re: Anyone skip the lamaze and/or birthing class?

Agree with the ladies who say classes aren't necessary and that you'll probably just forget everything anyway once you're at the hospital.

1/3 of women end up getting a c-section anway so if that's what you're opting for, the class really isn't necessary.

Laugh and Learn is also a great learning dvd if you can get your hands on it.