Childbirth Classes - How To Pick The Right One For You

The first thing you want to do before signing up for childbirth classes is to know what type you are looking for. Depending on your needs and personal preferences, one might be better than the other. Some methods are more informative when it comes to pain medication than others. Others offer the “all natural� approach and stay away from modern medicine. One must know what they are entering and if it will work for them once they get to labor and delivery. Also find out about your instructor. The instructor's personal belief will most likely come out in the class and so to get the maximum benefit one should choose a like-minded person. You don't want to pay all the money for classes that will hold no benefit when the time comes. There are well known methods for childbirth. Both are similar but have different views on medication during labor.

What is Lamaze?

Lamaze is supposed to help women feel more confident about labor and delivery. It is designed to help a woman know what her body was made for this and there is nothing to fear. It should prepare a woman for the rigors of labor and what to do to distract her from the pain of the contractions. Lamaze teaches that birth is natural, healthy, and normal and medical intervention is not necessary. Women and their partners learn how to use breathing techniques as coping mechanisms. Lamaze is not as strict on pain medication intervention and does discuss what types of medicinal relief is available and when one should ask for such drugs. Lamaze's main focus is making the women comfortable with her body through out labor and delivery and realizing what she is going through is normal.

Most classes are either held on a weekend or during the evening and in total are about 12 hours. Most classes have twelve or less couples at most. Labor, birth, and early postpartum issues are covered. Usually the instructor will show a birthing video so couple can know what to expect. You are taught to be an active participant in your labor and birth, and many breathing techniques are covered to help be in more control. The coach is taught how to do some pressure points and massage to help ease his laboring wife. Lamaze also discusses the importance of walking in labor, position changes, and the benefits of hydrotherapy. They talk about what to ask your health care team for and pre-registration to the hospital and a birth plan. Most teachers will also explain what to bring with you to the hospital, the importance of early interaction with your baby, and breastfeeding.

What is Bradley?

With the right preparation, most women can have an unmedicated and intervention free labor and delivery. Even the simplest routine procedures such as IVs and episiotomies are considered unnecessary. This method embraces the idea childbirth is a natural process and that most women can easily accomplish and manage, if taught to trust their bodies. Diet and exercise during pregnancy are area of focus. Breathing techniques are also taught, but not for a distraction, but as a focus point. Most women who use this method have a 100% natural unintervened vaginal birth. The program lasts 12 weeks and usually only have about eight couples. The classes are more intense than other childbirth classes. Bradley technique teaches that it takes months to prepare for childbirth and parenting to be fully ready emotionally, physically, and mentally. The course also addresses many pregnancy and postpartum issues and how to teach the partner to be an effective coach. The course will address nutrition and how it affects a growing fetus, the importance of exercise (when appropriate) during pregnancy, common pregnancy symptoms and complaints, and how to cope with them, techniques for relaxation during labor and birth, with an emphasis on breathing methods to help you "tune-in" and manage your pain, rather than trying to distract you from it. It will also discuss methods to help your partner be an active participant and a skilled coach on the day of labor, the stages of labor, and how to cope with the changes your body will experience during each one. How to reduce your risk of having a c-section, and what to do if it becomes medically necessary, making a birth plan and how to communicate effectively with your medical team, and breastfeeding are also part of the curriculum.