Are lamaze classes really beneficial?
ByI am 38 weeks pregnant and my Dr. today asked if I had taken any classes. I said “yes, Newborn Care Basics and Breastfeeding.” He then told me I should really try to take a lamaze class before the baby comes–which I have heard mixed reviews about.
Honestly, I am not going to spend 3 hours at a Lamaze class at this stage in the game, but I am curious what other people think. Are lamaze classes worth it???
Thanks!
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8 Comments
April 9th, 2010 at 9:04 pm
I don’t know too much about Lamaze… but I know the hee hee hoo hoo breathing technique with a tight jaw and mouth is not helpful…
My midwife suggested Birthing From Within, I haven’t taken it yet but I plan to… it looks fantastic and very empowering!
I also took HypnoBirthing which was AMAZING… but you may be too far along to catch one of those.
April 9th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
I just think it is a beneficial class if you plan to go natural. I plan to get an epidural so I didn’t take lamaze.
April 9th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
i asked the same question and i regret not taking one.
i couldve really used it during my labor.
April 9th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
I didn’t take Lamaze classes and I got through the labor just fine with my first. It is beneficial for some people, but if you have a family member around who can give you a gist of how to breathe, you’ll do just fine. Some people don’t know how to breathe under pressure and they need the classes to show them how not to hyperventilate.
April 9th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Unfortunately, Lamaze classes run about 6-8 weeks, so if you’re 38 weeks, it’s a bit late. Why didn’t the doctor mention this like 6 months ago?
If you can squeeze one in, I would recommend at leaset the basic hospital-based class, so you can know what to expect at YOUR hospital. I’m guessing that you are planning on a medicated birth with all the high stuff, so you can manage without a class — but some basic info is always helpful.
April 9th, 2010 at 11:02 pm
Any class that teaches you breathing, focus and coping techniques couldn’t hurt. Learning how to keep your focus and control during contractions is a GREAT thing to learn. Slow breathing is good when you stub your toe!
I took a childbirth class with my first baby and had a really good, experienced coach for my deliveries so even if I didn’t remember everything I had clear headed people there to help.
April 9th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
YES, very beneficial, but I doubt if you’ll get into a class at this late date! My classes, which I took for each of my 3 pregnancies, lasted about 8 weeks and started when we were all about 6 or 7 months along. It involves a lot of daily practice and toning- so you don’t have time for it now. Maybe with the next one!
April 9th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
There is a lot of misinformation in your post and the responses you’ve received so far.
First, a good thorough childbirth class takes 6-8 weeks, once a week, with each class being about 2 hours long. You can get a “crash course” in an 8-hour course, but you won’t get as much out of it. You’re more than a little late in getting a thorough class, but you should probably try to get into a crash course.
Lamaze classes do NOT teach the old-school breathing techniques. In fact, Lamaze is a philosophy, not a method, so what you learn beyond the basics has a lot to do with the instructor. Lamaze does not recommend special breathing techniques anymore because it turns out they don’t help and can sometimes be a hindrance.
At this point, you’d be best off finding ANY childbirth crash course before you give birth. You might even want to just find an instructor who is willing to come to your home and give you a quick idea of the basics, if you can’t find any classes in the next week or two.
Even the CDC (Center for Disease Control) says that all women should take a childbirth class. You’re less likely to need unnecessary interventions and have realistic expectations of your birth. You and your baby are more likely to have a healthy labor and early postpartum if you know what’s about to happen to you and what your options are for labor and birth. You’re also less likely to have postpartum depression.
Even if you’re planning on getting an epidural or other pain medications, you won’t be able to get them until you reach a certain point in labor and you’ll need to use your own relaxation and personal resources to get to that point. Many women have their epidurals wear off before they push and it can help to know what to expect. You don’t want to be panicking because you don’t know what’s going on or why things are happening like they are.
If you really can’t get to any type of class, I would recommend reading “Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth” by Ina May Gaskin or “Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth” by Henci Goer. You may be able to pick these up at your library, if you don’t feel like buying them. Ina May’s book is probably a quicker, easier read than the Henci Goer book, but they’re both good to read.
I took a 4-week class from a Lamaze instructor before my first birth and it made all the difference in the world. I’m pretty sure I would have had a completely different, in a negative way, birth if I hadn’t taken that class.