Thinking about taking a hospital birth class? Today I am going to share a few reasons why NOT to take your birth class there, and give you some alternatives that I think you’ll find pretty appealing instead.
But, why do I know so much about birth classes?
Hi, I’m Hilary — many people know me as The Pregnancy Nurse®. I’ve been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of labor and delivery experience. I’m also one of the top prenatal educators online since The Pregnancy Nurse® started in 2018. In ADDITION to that I have taught birth classes for my hospital, so I have a unique perspective on all SORTS of ways to learn about birth. I think you’ll find this very helpful!
Before we get going — if you want to know my BEST tips for labor join in here:
Hospital Bias
This one is tricky. I think most hospitals do try to do a nice job with prenatal education. We understand your time is valuable and we want nothing more than satisfied patients after going through the class.
However, doctors/providers may request that we not emphasize certain things. We’re also not really able to give honest opinions on certain hospital interventions…. if you catch my drift.
Ultimately, you’re being taught by someone who works for the system that may want you to do this XYZ way. Even if that person doesn’t entirely agree with it — they’re sometimes required to teach things a certain way.
In all honestly, there were very few things we weren’t allowed to talk about in the classes I taught for my hospital. I wasn’t a fan of the curriculum, so I changed it for myself….
I should say that they also don’t often come-up with evidence to base practices or choices on — many providers aren’t a fan of patients looking at the information for themselves. I’m not a fan of that way at all — I think evidence should only back-up our plans for you!
Real quick, are you in your third trimester? Now’s the time to do kick counts — grab my cheat sheet on how to do them here:
Mindless Teaching
Most nurses don’t have the effort in them to change up the curriculum they are given. I was given a power point to use to teach my classes. There was a fair amount I didn’t like and changed-up the slides, the order, and honest took a fair amount out that did NOT need to be taught.
But, most nurses just go in the room and teach the power point. Honestly, it’s hard to find nurses to teach these classes at all. To come into the hospital for just a couple of hours of teaching at our hourly rate often isn’t worth it (and it’s often at dinner time with our families).
My own prenatal class with my first baby entirely glossed over postpartum life, and the curriculum I was given talked a bit about it, but not much — and I expanded a LOT (and then eve more for my own class).
Unknown Entity
You honestly don’t know who you’re going to end-up with. And, if you have multiple nights of classes, sometimes there is teacher A for night one, and then you switch to teacher B for the next nights.
You have no choice of teacher, and you will have no idea if they’re any good. Or, honestly how experienced they were.
Many of the teachers had left labor and delivery years ago (I’m talking 20 years ago), but just taught the curriculum. They clearly weren’t up to date with current practices, or studies.
With a class of your choosing you should know:
- Who the instructor is (often you can get a sense of them online before even joining them for the class)
- How much experience they have
- If they’re up to date on current practices
- Reviews — see if other couples liked them (HUGE fan of this — read some here)
Hospital Timing
Hospitals have times for classes. This is just how it works for in-person classes.
This often increases stress for couples who’d like to take a class together but have a hard time meshing schedules.
There’s NOTHING wrong with picking a virtual class that allows you to take it together in small bite-sized pieces of information you can integrate without being overwhelmed.
Most often the times are right at dinner and my students always apologized for eating during the class and I would assure them that food was WELCOME for all of us. They were always relieved I didn’t mind at all.
At home, you can have all the dinner, snacks and treats to enjoy the class together without worry about bothering someone else.
I hear really frequently that couples worked hard to make a hospital class work only to find-out they were disappointed by the information given and wished they could review it later on. There’s no reason you need to “make them work” when another options is more convenient and other people like better!
Hospital Location
Hospitals are a pain to navigate. No one knows this more than nurses. It’s called a “campus” for a reason.
Finding parking, finding the room, all to be on time for the class can often add to couples already increased stress levels.
If you need to add a babysitter to all of that, it’s definitely an increased cost. Just something to think about.
Some hospitals have really easy ways to do a birth plan too — let me help you fill it out!
Can’t Review
This is a big one — you can’t review it.
Who doesn’t love a good review as you get close to the final — except in this case, your final is your delivery!
Many times people have to start their class around 20 weeks in order to get into the hospital classes (you have to take the date you can get). That means they’re going a few months before the actual delivery happens.
I’m such a fan of reviews that I have key point videos included in the Bump to Bassinet Bundle — like the cliff notes of labor!
Honest Opinion
If you’re getting prepared for birth I’m thrilled. SO, the class you actually do and get something from (remember, sitting through something isn’t the same as learning) is the class I want for you.
Check out my post on what studies show about taking a birth class! It improves outcomes — which is awesome.
The most important parts of birth class, in my opinion (after helping new parents for almost 30 years):
- Know when something’s wrong and when to contact your provider/go to L&D
- How hospitals work so you’re not caught off-guard by how it happens (it’s like a foreign country in some ways and most people haven’t been to the hospital before)
- Learn about common interventions, so when they happen you’re not surprised or stressed-out (including inductions and C-sections)
- How to get the information from providers to make choices on your own
- Be empowered to know that EVERY choice is up to you — not your birth team.
- What to expect from your body during labor & delivery
- How to get the most out of your hospital stay (especially postpartum)
- What to expect from life after baby is born (including baby, your body, and emotions)
- Get your partner involved in ALL of this learning so they’re on the same page as you.
If a birth class is going to cover all of that, I think you’re golden. That’s why I love how online classes can easily share what’s included so you can be sure those are in there!
I recommend The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. It was one of the first (if not THE first) hospital-based birth class online — started in 2016. Since then it’s been continuously updated, added to and enhanced to make the best birth class online. The reviews don’t lie.
Have ANY questions about it? Feel free to contact me, or ask them in the comments. I’d love to chat about it to make sure it’s the right choice for you!
Don’t miss my great big post on everything you need to know about birth classes << for more information this important subject!
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