Childbirth Education Classes.

When should I register for childbirth-education classes?
Plan ahead. Before you are 20 weeks' pregnant, begin looking into classes that are offered in your area. You and your partner should be signed up or just beginning classes by the beginning of the 3rd trimester, or about 27 weeks. It's a good idea to plan to finish the classes at least a few weeks before your due date.

Why should we take these classes?
It's a good way to prepare for this very important and exciting time of your life! You will find that other people have the same concerns you have.

Where are classes held?
Classes are offered in various settings. Most hospitals that deliver babies offer classes. They are often taught by labor-and-delivery nurses or by a midwife. Ask your doctor about which classes would be best for you. Friends can also be good sources, or you might look in your yellow pages under "Childbirth Education."

Are classes only for first-time moms?
No. Classes are recommended if you have a new partner, if it has been a few years since you've had a baby, if you have questions or if you would like a review of labor and delivery.

Do many couples take childbirth-education classes?
Yes. Nearly 90% of all first-time expectant parents take some type of childbirth-education class.

How do these classes help?
Studies have shown that women who have taken classes need less medication, have fewer forceps deliveries and feel more positive about the birth than women who do not take classes.

What kind of things will we learn about in childbirth-education classes?
Classes cover many aspects of labor and delivery, including breathing techniques, vaginal birth, Cesarean delivery, hospital procedures, ways to deal with the discomfort and pain of labor and delivery, and the postpartum or recovery period.

Does insurance cover classes?
Some insurance companies and a few HMOs offer at least partial reimbursement for class fees. Classes are usually reasonably priced.

CHOOSING A CHILDBIRTH-EDUCATION CLASS
How will you know a class is right for you? There are quite a few ways to evaluate a class.
•   Find out what is available in your area.
•   Talk to friends and relatives who have taken various classes.
•   Decide whether you want a drug-free birth or whether you are willing to consider pain relief if it becomes necessary.
•   Learn about the qualifications of the instructors in various programs.
•   Visit some classes or talk to the teachers of a class in your area to choose the best one for you.

What are Lamaze classes?
Lamaze is the oldest technique of childbirth preparation. It emphasizes relaxation and breathing during labor and delivery.

What are Bradley classes?
These classes teach the Bradley method of relaxation and inward focus, using many types of relaxation. Bradley class members are typically people who have decided they do not want to use any type of medication for labor-pain relief.

What are Grantly Dick-Read classes?
The Grantly Dick-Read method attempts to break the fear-tension-pain cycle of labor and delivery. These classes were the first to include fathers in the birth experience.