- General Childbirth Class/Prenatal Class: Most hospitals offer a general childbirth class that covers hospitals policies and procedures (like being admitted when you're in labor), discomforts of late pregnancy, stages of labor, recovery, some breathing and relaxation techniques, breastfeeding support, postpartum care, and infant care. These classes usually don't teach a specific method of childbirth (like lamaze or Bradley). Most hospitals will also give you a tour of the labor and delivery unit, the Neonatal Intense Care Unit (NICU), and the mother/infant recovery unit so you can become better acquainted with the hospital you will be delivering at.
- Lamaze Class: These classes focus on the philosophy that birth is a natural event and that women should be free to progress through the process of labor without medical intervention, should they choose to do so. If you want to have a natural birth, free of medication, a lamaze class is a good option for you. They will teach certain breathing and distraction techniques to help mom manage pain during labor. There is also a focus on empowering women to make informed decisions about labor and birth, including what to expect if certain medical interventions need to be performed.
- The Bradley Method: Similar to the lamaze philosophy, the Bradley Method teaches that birth is a normal and natural process and that with proper education and preparation, most women can give birth naturally. This method highlights the importance of the husband/partner as an active coach throughout the labor process. Through the means of proper nutrition and exercise during pregnancy, and a combination of education, breathing, and relaxation, the Bradley Method advocates for medication-free birth. This method is taught by certified instructors and usually lasts about 12 weeks.
- Hypnobirthing Classes: These classes teach women to use deep relaxation and visualization techniques in addition to self-hypnosis, to manage pain during labor and create a calm, comfortable, and serene birth experience. While these techniques are often used for women who want to have a natural birth free of pain medications, it is also used for women who do choose pain medication or have to have other medical interventions during labor.
- Other Classes: Prenatal Yoga has become increasingly popular as it is something you can practice throughout your pregnancy (from formal classes to DVDs you can do at home) and that you can modify to accommodate the different stages of your pregnancy. The breathing, stretching, and meditation techniques (including kegel exercises) can help prepare mothers for the birthing process. There are a variety of other options using lesser known birthing techniques. However, because they are less well known, they may not be as widely available in your area as the classes listed above. Some of these include Birthing From Within, BirthWorks, the Alexander Technique, etc.
How to Find a Childbirth Class in your area
You can take a variety of prenatal classes from area hospitals or from private providers in your community. Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, for example, offers 1-day breastfeeding classes, 4-week lamaze classes, and prenatal classes (4-week, 2-week, or 1-day). Husbands/birth coaches are encouraged to attend all prenatal classes (yes, even breastfeeding classes) with the expecting mom so they know what to expect and can be a good support and advocate for mom during labor and delivery. If you know what type of class you would like to take and it isn't offered by your local hospital or birthing center, type the name of the class and your location into a search engine to find a class in your area. For people with limited funds or tight schedules, there are also online birth classes offered through websites like BabyCenter.com that are taught through video clips and reading excerpts.
Sources: www.babycenter.com, www.lamaze.org, www.bradleybirth.com
Disclaimer: The "Pregnancy, Babies, and Birth" blog series is meant as a source of general information only. It's intended use is to encourage women to further consider and discuss reproductive and birthing decisions themselves with their partners and with their medical care providers. Information included in this series is not intended to be professional medical advice or a substitution for a relationship with a licensed physician or practitioner. Any serious questions or concerns about reproductive, prenatal, and/or perinatal health should be directed to your primary care physician or other licensed specialist. Women's Services and Resources does not promote any particular brand, medical provider, birthing location, or any other specific birthing decisions. We strongly encourage women to become as educated about their choices as possible so they are empowered to make educated decisions for themselves and their babies. ADSENSE HERE