I am currently 34 weeks pregnant and I have a couple of questions on this topic. One, I thought that at this point the Dr. or nurses would have offered me these classes by now and they haven't. How far along are you usually supposed to be when you take these classes?
I have also gotten mixed opinions about taking the class. I have friends who thought it was helpful and worth it and some who thought it was a waste of time and you don't need to take it. I am open for opinions on this subject. I am assuming that it is too late for me to take them, so if it is what are some helpful hints or things that you may have learned in these classes? This is my first child and I have no idea what I am in for. HELP ME PLEASE!!!

Hmmmmmmm i can't remember if my doctor's office set me up with my Lamaze class or if i called and got signed up myself. If i were you i would call the dr. office and see what they say.

I loved my Lamaze class. The breathing techniques helped me have a drug free birth. If i hadn't had the breathing i don't think i could have. It helped me ease the pain so much.

I say take the class for the first pregnancy at least.

__________________
Jodie....Wife to Andrew (1995)
Mommy to Riley (2000) and Wyatt (2003)

I took a child birth class, it covered some lamaze and breathing and your pain medication options. It was very informative and helped me to understand what was going to happen. Some people go in with a plan, I looked at all of the options and then left it in God's hands. You never know until you're there. Thank goodness I had this laid back approach, I was induced because of PIH, so many of my options were not available (I was hooked up to IV's and a fetal monitor so I couldn;t walk around or anything and had an epidural).

I don't plan on taking another class with #2 (whenever that happens ), but hopefully I can use some of the suggestions I learned. Definitely the class was not a waste of time or money. (just for peace of mind and knowledge, it's always good to be well informed, the instructor answered any question I had)

add: It;s not too late to take it, there will be folks from 30 weeks to 38 weeks there, you're being closer will give you priority with getting into the class.

__________________
Doing my best to raise a GEEK- Genuine Enthusiastic Empowered Kid!

If this is your first pregnancy.......you should take the classes. They offer alot of information...what to expect, different medication options, they give you different scenarios as to what can happen while you are there, they answer any and all questions you may have. You may not need to do it for your second child....but I would recommend it for your first. At my doctor, I had to make the arrangements myself.

My doctor mentioned the class and urged me to sign up. But I found out that it was $180 at my hospital and said, "no way!" You need to call your hospital right away to get in. I learned a lot about labor and childbirth from books and information online and knew my medication options (I had an epidural, so that was pretty straightforward).
If you decide against the class, the nurses will guide you through everything while you are in labor and are very helpful. One thing several people suggested I do is read up on C-section, because they had to have it unexpectedly and didn't know about it. So just in case. Good luck!

I think you're supposed to sign up early as they fill fast. Mine were offered through the hospital, I had to go to their website for the info.

Since I was having too much fun in the hospital at the time I should have been considering signing up, I didn't get it done. The cost was about $180 here too. I later talked to my doc about it - what would I miss etc, and she said it was more for breathing techniques and what happens - things I've already read about in the gazillion preggo books I've read.

I also do not have a "birth plan" - I've had so many issues so far, all I want out of labor is for both of us to make it out alive. If I can get an epidural, great. If I end up with a C-section, fine. I figure the nurses have done this a LOT more than I have, so I'll go with what they say. I've only helped horses give birth!

__________________

I have been told that the nurses guide you through everything that you need to know so I am not super worried. I do know that if it costs that much money here there is NO way I can afford to take it! That is way too much money for something I don't HAVE to have! Thanks for all the advice!

I had a normal (unmedicated) birth and I took classes specifically geared toward that. The classes helped somewhat. They were actually most helpful because of the people I met in them! I am still in contact with most of the moms in my childbirth classes and they are a great support group.
What really helped me get through labor though was my own mind. I read lots of positive birth stories and realistic ones. I also read books by the midwife Ina May Gaskin. By the time I went into labor I had no fear and felt completely prepared emotionally. I knew what to expect. Labor was not as bad as I expected it to be. I hope the same is true for you! HTH

I took the class with our first and I won't say that I couldn't have given birth without it but it was helpful. For me, probably the most important part, was the touring the hospital which you do not need the class to do that, other than I wouldn't had thought of it. Just call the hospital and I'm sure they will set something up for you. To me, as a first time pregnancy, that helped at least knowing where we were going.

I would call the hospital you plan to deliver at and see if they offer a class. The class I took cost $25 and our insurance covered it. We also got a great tour of the hospital, and the nurses showed us the delivery rooms and the nursery. We got a couple of bags of baby goodies-free bottles, diapers, ointments, formula-and a ton of related coupons. I am pregnant with my second, and I might take the class again just to see the changes the hospital has made. The nurses that taught the class gave a lot of advice, but not all of it was good. Our teacher said to labor at home 4-6 hours before going to the hospital. If I did that, I wouldn't have made it to the hospital!