How to Choose a Birthing Class

The arrival of your baby is one of the most exciting times in your life. You are understandably a little frightened of the birthing process, however, and you want to select a quality birthing class that will help to make the delivery process less painful and more enjoyable. There are many birthing classes available so all you have to do is to select the one that is right for you. Read on to learn how to choose a birthing class.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Register for a general birthing class from your hospital, OB/GYN practice, community center or birthing center. These classes focus more on what to expect during the birthing process. Topics may include vaginal deliveries and Cesarean sections, general breathing exercises, complications that may arise, the recovery process, hospital check-in process and basic newborn care.
2. Sign up for a Lamaze class. This philosophy centers on the so-called "normal birth" and discourages routine interventions such as artificial rupture of membranes, fetal monitoring, restrictions on eating and drinking, epidurals and mroe. Key Lamaze philosophies are that labor should begin on its own; women should be free to move throughout labor and not be forced to have their babies on their backs; continuous support should be given; and mother and child should not be separated after birth but should be free to bond and breastfeed.
3. Consider a hypnobirthing class. This philosophy encourages you and your partner to use self-hypnosis, guided imagery and special breathing exercises together. The hypnobirthing philosophy discourages the use of drugs during delivery and states that women should be awake, alert and fully in control during the birthing process. Hypnobirthing training should begin early in the pregnancy. Most classes last several weeks or months.
4. Study the Bradley method of natural childbirth. Through a 12-week series of classes, couples learn about how to use the body's natural mechanisms to have a lower-pain, drug-free birth. The birth partner plays a very strong role in the Bradley method. He or she helps the mother to focus on natural breathing, relaxation, nutrition, exercise and education.