Especially if you plan to go natural, I highly recommend a class. (Though maybe not a hospital class... They tend to be all about the drugs) Learn some methods for coping with the pain and speeding up your labor and set yourself up for success!! :)

yes! it was so helpful with me for my labor. and they teach you comfort things you can do to relieve pains before you're even in labor

personally with the way things went with my labor GOD I should've listened to my OB and took classes myself. literally I'm taking them for my second child . then again it probably won't have been as bad if she was aiming straight down which she wasn't she was horizontal.

Honestly, I highly recommend taking the class. Everyone told us that it would be completely pointless and a waste of time and we walked away with so much insight. I felt so much better about giving birth after our classes. And my boyfriend left every class so excited from what he learned. If you plan on doing a natural birth, I'd still recommend it. As well as watch the movie Business of Being Born on Netflix. That's all about natural birthing. Really opened my eyes to how cool that is.

That's great! For my first, I just told myself that the epidural was not an option and then I wasn't tempted ;) that and I did research on the cascade effects of interventions during birth and that about made up my mind lol. I truly believe I progressed so well and so quickly due to being able to move, rock, bounce and sway and labor in whatever position felt comforting. I wasn't restricted to a bed. Good luck mama you can do this!

@kmally, ooh, smart! I'll look into it. My hospital is supportive of natural birth and they barely started doing epidurals in the past two years, so their classes may be good. They have midwives and alternative labor options like a peanut ball and different positions. So I might look into their classes of I can't find anything. I want so badly to do this naturally but I'm worried I'll give into the pain and get an epidural even though it's not what I want for me and my baby.

:( that sucks! I wonder if there's some sort of online version you could take?

@kmally, I wish I could find something like that locally! I live in a shitty area.

I didn't take the ones through the hospital. I took a natural birthing class through a local group that was a million times more helpful.

I took mine because they were free if you delivered at the hospital and I loved the ones that I took my teacher was hilarious and answered a lot of questions I had and will come around when I'm having baby but it's your preference. She went more into detail than just breathing and pushing that's not all they talk about

Honestly , I didn't take them either and I just had my baby few days ago, n I was perfectly fine. Just work on your breathing.

I never took them either... I think if you are really nervous and want to be prepared then maybe but they tell you when to push and to breathe...

I never took them and I was fine. its all your preference