BTDT mommies...

I need advice. How many of you took lamaze classes? I am looking into them at my hospital. The time commitment is tough with work...I need to know what you all think. I am hoping to have this itty bitty naturally. Will I be so lost without training?

What really happens in there?

unfortunately I am in Jersey! thanks though!!!

i recommend BRADLEY method as well - HIGHLY... I think my instructor was in roselyn heights....she was wonderful. Took sat evening classes...7-10p. WAS WORTH IT...the knowledge you gain in class is SOO worthwhile. No fear on the unknown...

I delivered Julianne vag*nally....completely drug free..and not induced.

let me know if you need any further information

Although I pretty much knew all along I was going to have a c-section, I did take the lamaze / childbirth class offered through my ob/gyn's office. It was run by one of the nurses, one night a week for 4 weeks.

In addition to breathing exercises, it reviewed many of the things you could expect to encounter, such as signs of labor, when to call the dr, what to expect at the hospital, who all the players were at the hospital, medication options, etc. Although I had read about much of this, it was comforting to have someone in the know review it all (and she used to work maternity at the hospital I delivered at).

Regardless of what birthing method you choose, you need to prepared for other alternatives and for what to expect. I'm sure all the classes offer this other information.

I found it well worth the effort of getting there (and the effort of staying awake for it! The classes were from 7-10pm -- well past my 9:30 bed time during that 7th month!)

jcndd - BTDT=Been There Done That

Jenny, like Kaycee said the class really does go over a lot of other things besides just breathing techniques. We found the class to be very helpful especially for DH since he's not into reading up on what to expect. This gave him a chance to get the info and ask questions.

If you are having trouble with scheduling the classes try to talk to them about it...our instructor was nice enough to come to our house one weekend for the classes since we couldn't go to the classes they had scheduled.

IMO- you NEED a class. Fear is one of the main reasons that labor is painful. When you don't know what to expect, of course, your body begins to get nervous and afraid. That is counter productive to what your body needs to be doing.
I am taking Hypno-birthing classes and it is very similar to Bradley. I feel soooo much better every time I leave the class. You and your husband both need to understand what will be happening at each stage of your labor and birth.

I also recommend the Bradley method...although, my own classes were a combo of Lamaze/Bradley...DH and I really used the Bradley techniques while I labored at home. It really did help.

Jenny
If you want a recommendation on a woman for Bradley method classes let me know--my hairdresser (Palisades Park) used someone that she loved and I was eventually going to get the info from her
Let me know
Laura

My previous OB (when preggo with JA) gave a number of prep classes for the preggos for free. Which was really great (one each trimester, and a few more). (thats the one thing I LOVED about them!) I got so much info at these classes, and I skipped the Lamaze.
IN my experience, and in my opinin, its really unnecessary. Being in labor and giving birth, is not something youre going to write a TO DO list for and follow through with it. LOTS of mommy's 'birthing plans' fly right out the window with their labor pains (didnt mean to scare ya! )
But seriously, depending on how educated and 'comfortable about this' you feel (have lots of your friends given birth and given you advice?) Its really a personal choice of whether or not to take this course.
I used the $150 for a few other things.



ETA: There are quite a number of great books on Lamaze and Bradley!