Are childbirth classes a thing of the past?

[Ohiogal]

Like so many other things I did when I was younger?

I was chatting with my best friend’s daughter today, who is expecting her first baby in January, and I asked her if she and her husband were going to childbirth classes, and she replied, “Nah! I’m gonna just wing it.”

Granted, once I experienced childbirth, I realized what a waste of time they were. Maybe things are different today?

[mysteryowl]

1. Education is never a waste of time.

Yes, there still are childbirth preparation classes. Clinics and hospitals do them. There are of course natural and home birth preparation classes. There are many classes to meet ones needs.

Frankly, it is ignorant not to take some form of prep class, she is only hurting herself not doing it.

[VarryOn]

2. They are still a thing...and probably more a waste of time...

Nowadays than ever. We have the internet and Youtube if anyone really needs to know anything.

When my son was born, they bugged the hell out of my wife and me until we went to the half-day class. It was a total waste of time. I guess the hospital gets paid something for it from the insurance companies.

The breast-feeding class was probably worth it. Breast-feeding is a little more involved than we thought.

[Ilsa]

7. Yeah. Childbirth lasts a day, maybe two depending

on circumstances. Breastfeeding goals recommended by WHO are exclusive bf for 6 months, followed by 1-2 years of bf (last time I checked).

Any education on childbirth can help reduce stress and fear and help the mom and her partner make better decisions.

[MyOwnPeace]

3. A "Wow!" from here..........

My wife and I did them over 30 years ago - and I can't imagine NOT doing them. It really did help us know what to expect and what to do (hey, it's not like this is the kind of thing you do every day!).
I was fortunate enough to be in the delivery room to actually help with the delivery of both of my kids - and it'll be a special thing for me for the rest of my life. I still have the "scrub" shirt that I wore for the birth of my first - a son - and I wear it to his birthday party every year - and I wore it for the birth of HIS son - sitting there in the waiting room!

[Laffy Kat]

4. No, they're still going on.

The medical office where I work is attached to a hospital and on certain nights when I walk to the cafeteria for dinner, I see pregnant couples going to the childbirth classes in the meeting/conference room area. I remember those days myself.

[woodsprite]

5. Brings back fond memories of pillow classes in Christiana Hospital in DE.

We would do dinner in the cafeteria, then head over to "pillow" class. We went to the regular classes before we had our daughter. They just touched on induced labor and c-section, both of which we ended up having. For our son, we went to a c-section class because we had scheduled a repeat c-section and our daughter went to a sibling class - ended up having an unmedicated VBAC. My husband never did help me with the breathing during labor like the coach in the class movies. The breathing and the mother being all dressed in a pink bed jacket who just sighs and pops out a baby are all I remember from the movie 26 years later

[benld74]

6. Our's was 27 years ago,

We felt like the old timers in the class. 37&41 rest of class 19 thru 25.
One being adamant in getting epidural since she was only in this class to please her parents. Her husband rolled his eyes.
My wife was also furthest along. Our child moved. ALOT. One class with Miss Epidural sitting next to us, our child began moving.
My wife nudged me, I saw this look of horror on Miss E’s face as she watched my wife’s pregnant belly undulate from movements within.
I could only ask her, Are you alright?
No answer,,,,
Hilarious

[yonder]

8. They were helpful for us some 32 years ago.

An anecdote:

I had recently finished an annual, local half-marathon known as Race to Robie Creek. The theme that year was rock and roll with the souvenir t-shirts emblazoned with the words "She's a Screamer" on the front.

I thought it would be fun to wear that t-shirt to our first Lamaze class. As I remember, that t-shirt amused neither my wife nor the other participants, although the class itself was worthwhile. The folks there WERE a bit serious.

I would recommend some kind of class, especially for first-time parents, though I'd likely leave that t-shirt at home. Maybe.