I'm Pregnant: Which Birthing Class Should I Take?

If this is your first pregnancy, we know you might be sorting through a million options right now: what to name the baby, what to eat, what not to eat, doula or no doula, water birth or home birth or hospital birth, regular diapers or cloth, making your own baby food or buying it, nursing or formula, the list goes on. We’d like to make sure this blog helps you with as much of that as we can! So let’s tackle ONE thing at a time – and this week, that one thing is Which Birthing Class Should You Take? There are a variety of childbirth classes, but we’re going to focus on three of the most popular ways to prepare for your little one’s arrival. If you’re a mama who has already been through her first pregnancy, we’d love for you to comment and share with us which, if any, birthing class you took, and what you liked or maybe didn’t like about it. Share the wealth – us mamas need to stick together!

Lamaze: The oldest one in the book, and maybe the one you’d heard of before you even knew what it truly was. Lamaze is the most popular childbirth method. What originally started as a class based on focused breathing techniques to use during labor, this technique developed by French obstetrician Ferdinand Lamaze has since grown to cover a large variety of coping skills. Additional components such as massage, walking, position changes, and hydrotherapy are taught to ultimately equip women to take control of their birth, manage their pain to the best of their ability, and have a positive birthing experience. This class also teaches communication techniques to the partners, so they know how to properly support the woman during birth. Lastly, it informs the expecting mother of potential birthing complications, and all her options so that she will feel empowered to make decisions should any issues arise. It discusses medications and other medical interventions they could take advantage of so that they can make fully informed decisions. You can visit https://www.lamaze.org/ for additional info on this twelve-week course and to find a class near you.
Bradley Method: This birthing method is similar to Lamaze but has one fundamental difference – it is strictly for women wanting natural childbirths. This twelve-week course (that comes with a workbook) will also cover breathing and calming techniques. It focuses on prenatal eating and exercise to facilitate a healthy delivery. In the Bradley Method, the husband is known as the birthing coach, and is equipped to support the woman through the entire delivery process. This class is known for its small classes and well-rounded education on the topics of pregnancy and delivery. Lastly, this class aims to give the mother confidence in her body’s ability to give birth naturally. To learn more, visit http://www.bradleybirth.com/.
Hypnobirthing: There are classes that offer hypnosis techniques to create a peaceful, relaxing childbirth experience. This class is slightly different than most. Instead of teaching how to manage pain, the course is designed to show moms how to avoid pain altogether. The premise of this birthing technique is that if the woman doesn’t fear the pain, then she won’t experience it. Research has shown that this course has not effectively eliminated pain from the birthing experience. However, it has fully equipped the students to not fear the pain, thus reducing the discomfort of labor. This is a five-week course, and more information can be found at http://www.hypnobirthing.com/.

While there are several other birthing methods, some more niche than others, we believe these three can help you on your way to figuring out exactly what it is you’re looking for in a birthing class. Some focus more on the science of birth and literal ways to make it comfortable, while others focus on the mental and emotional journey a mother goes on while giving birth. Whichever it is that you choose, remember to consider one more part of your birthing preferences: banking your child’s newborn stem cells. These precious stem cells are only available at the time of birth. Call one of our experts now or visit our website to learn more about banking with AlphaCord. Additional Sources: https://www.mamanatural.com, https://www.thebump.com THE CONTENT OF THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. If you have a medical emergency or question, immediately call your doctor or dial 911 for assistance.

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