Childbirth Class Options

Childbirth class option facts

Like painting the nursery or stocking up on disposable diapers, attending childbirth classes is often part of a couple's preparation for a baby's arrival. Although such classes differ in their focus and philosophy, they typically provide education about labor, delivery, and postpartum issues along with non-medication methods of managing the pain of childbirth, such as relaxation, breathing, and imaging (natural childbirth).
Most expectant parents begin birthing classes when the mother is about seven months pregnant. Other classes begin early in pregnancy and focus on all the changes through pregnancy. Unless you know the type of class you want to take, you may want to spend some time checking out the options in your community and discuss the different options with your doctor.
The most common methods in the U.S. are the Lamaze technique and Bradley method. Following are the basics on these and other techniques offered in childbirth classes.

Lamaze Technique

The Lamaze technique is the most widely used childbirth method in this country. Lamaze classes support birth as a natural, healthy process and help women explore all of the ways they can find strength and comfort during labor and birth.
Small classes, with no more than 12 couples, consist of at least 12 hours of instruction time. Lamaze class content includes instruction or information on the following:

• Normal labor, birth, and early postpartum
  
• Body positioning for labor and birth
  
• Massage and relaxation techniques to ease pain
  
• Support during labor
  
• Effective communication skills
  
• Medical procedures
  
• Breastfeeding
  
• Healthy lifestyle choices

Lamaze courses neither support nor discourage the use of medications and routine medical interventions during labor and delivery. Instead, they inform moms-to-be about their options so that they are prepared to make decisions for their own labor and delivery.

The Bradley Method

The Bradley method, also called husband-coached birth, is an approach that prepares the mother to deliver without pain medications and prepares the baby's father to be the birth coach.
This comprehensive 12-session course covers the following:

• Importance of nutrition and exercise
  
• Relaxation techniques for pain management
  
• Labor rehearsals
  
• How to avoid a cesarean birth
  
• Postpartum care
  
• Breastfeeding
  
• Guidance for coach about supporting the mother

Although the Bradley method prepares the mother to give birth without medications, it also prepares parents for the possibility of unexpected situations, such as emergency cesarean sections.

Alexander Technique

The Alexander technique is a method for improving ease and freedom of movement, balance, flexibility, and coordination. Although the technique can be used by anyone, for expectant mothers its goals include the following:

• Improve comfort during pregnancy
  
• Increase pushing effectiveness during delivery
  
• Aid in recovery from childbirth
  
• Ease the discomfort of nursing

Ideally, a woman will take weekly lessons while pregnant. Because the Alexander technique is an educational process, the more you practice its principles in your daily activities, the greater the benefits.

HypnoBirthing

HypnoBirthing, also called the Mongan method, is a relaxed natural childbirth education approach enhanced by self-hypnosis techniques. Emphasis is placed on pregnancy and childbirth, as well as on pre-birth parenting and the consciousness of the pre-born baby. It is presented in a series of five, two-and-a-half-hour classes or four three-hour classes.