What Kind of Birthing Classes
Should You Take?

The vast majority of couples who take a class are taking hospital-based Lamaze classes. The remaining minority seek out independent classes offering a variety of natural birthing methods.

No matter what type of class you take, all childbirth classes have the advantage of a group dynamic with the opportunity to form relationships with other expectant couples. Other aspects of a structured class, like accountability through homework and assignments, appeal to many.

But you must choose your class carefully and understand the differences between independent and hospital-sponsored birthing classes.

Let's look first at hospital-based Lamaze classes:

• These typically average 6 weekly sessions, though many hospitals also offer a Saturday or weekend intensive "crash course."
• You have the opportunity to become familiar with your birth place, including their typical policies, routines and procedures. This information can be freely obtained, however, by taking a hospital tour.
• The term "Lamaze" is often used generically as a catch-all to describe any hospital-sponsored birthing class. While the Lamaze International organization may be grounded philisophically in normal birth practices that are friendly to both mother and baby, you can't necessarily make this assumption about a class advertising this label.
• Hospitals must take a "one size fits all" approach to accomodate their diverse patient population. As an institutional entity, they also have policies, routines and procedures they promote. All of this results in classes that lead women toward a typical rather than individualized experience.
• Since U.S. hospitals across the board have high medication and intervention rates, you can assume their sponsored classes either actively support this or have been ineffective in teaching alternatives.

Now let's look at independent childbirth classes:

• These are anywhere from 6-12 weeks in duration, depending on the method and instructor, and may also offer weekend intensives.
• Classes tend to have a more narrow focus, centered on natural methods of childbirth.
• Since instructors work privately, without ties to a particular institution or provider, they can more objectively focus on informing and empowering birthing couples to achieve their individual desired birth outcomes.
• Independent birth classes boast low medication and intervention rates for their students, and high rates of couples feeling informed, prepared and satisfied with their birth experiences.

Can you tell which I'm biased toward? As my midwife told me during my first pregnancy:

Even if you have to travel some distance (like we did), make every effort to find an independent class. If hospital-based classes are the only ones available in your area or that fit your schedule, you'd actually be better off with a quality online childbirth class like Birthologie.

Here are links to some of the more well-known birthing methods:

• Bradley Birth
• Brio Birth
• Birthing from Within
• Birthworks
• Hypno Birthing

Other resources for finding good birthing classes include asking around at local La Leche League meetings or yoga studios. You may also contact area doulas or midwives for their recommendations.

Learn more about the different childbirth methods

Learn about Northwest Indiana birthing classes

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