Top 10 Reasons to Take In-Person Birth Classes
So listen… we could start a blog post like this with a pros and cons list for online birth classes vs in-person birth classes. But I’m guessing you already have some reasons that online classes could make sense (do them when you have time, stay home, maybe cheaper?), and I don’t want to do pros and cons.
I want to tell you why you should take an in-person birth class if at all possible!
So here are my top ten reasons to take an in-person birth class! (And if you live near New Braunfels or San Marcos, TX you should come take one with me!)
1. You’re going to actually do it
When you and your partner both have birth classes on your calendar for a certain place and time and you have a real person waiting there to teach you, you’re going to show up. No excuses like “I just got so busy today I forgot to fit it in” or “My subscription is almost over and I haven’t done any of the classes yet! We have to cram it in this weekend!” With live birth classes, you know you’ll get them done!
2. Trying out real positions and techniques
You and your partner will get up and learn how to use your bodies in labor. You won’t just sit there and say “Oh yeah, that makes sense, I should do that in labor.” No, you’re going to try everything out and see how it actually feels, you’ll be able to talk about what you want from your partner in a safe practice space with a trained instructor there to guide you through any confusion.
3. Accountability to practice at home
You don’t just leave the learning at class, but you go home and practice on your own. I’ll check in with you every week to help you stay on track. You’re not doing this alone! (And when your homework is “practice deep relaxation,” well, you can hardly say it’s unpleasant work!)
4. Meet up with other parents in the same stage of life as yourself
It feels really good to hang out with people who get what you’re going through! And lots of times the students in my classes are able to help each other problem solve a situation or make personal recommendations!
5. Make friends with other students!
When you are hanging out with people who are in the same life stage as you (and who also care about having an amazing birth), it’s easy to make new friends! I often have students exchanging numbers at the end of class and I’ve had some create lasting friendships with playdates after their babies are born!
6. Get your questions answered
You’re going to learn a lot in any kind of childbirth class, but only in a live one can you get your questions answered on the spot. And only in a live class can you even bring up additional questions, unique to your situation, that you want more information about. You can ask questions of your doctor, but you know how short those visits can be and the purpose of your appointments is not really to teach you about childbirth.
7. In-person birth classes are personalized
At in-person birth classes, your instructor takes time to get to know you and your unique situation and desires. When that is the case, she can tailor the class to your interests. For example, while I teach about induction to all my students, if you know you have a medical reason to definitely have your labor induced early, I can spend extra time discussing with you how that could look for your own situation and how to make it feel amazing to you based on your birth goals. Plus, as a live, local instructor, I can provide you with referrals for great resources in the area.
8. Get out of the house – it can even be like a little date!
With an in-person birth class, you’ve got somewhere special to go with you partner every week! Something you get to do together to invest in your relationship, your child, and your life as parents! And you’ll have plenty to talk about on your way home as you think about what you learned. Stop for dinner together beforehand and instead of “dinner and a show” you’ve got “dinner and a class!” If you’re a single parent, then think about how great it will feel to get out of the house and do something empowering for you and your baby. (Plus I definitely want you to have your main support person in class with you, so consider it a great time to connect with that person too!)
9. It’s real
Honestly, don’t you spend enough time looking at a screen every day? Hoo boy I sure do! Phones, computers, TV… my eyes feel tired just thinking about it. Rather than spending more screen time on your birth class, enjoy a real, non-virtual experience.
10. In-person birth classes are fun!
You better believe it’s more fun to get together with other parents to talk about the stuff on your mind, move your body, learn through (sometimes goofy) activities, and prepare for your birth and baby with someone who cares about you personally rather than to just watch a video. It’s honestly such a good time!
Bonus Tip: Take an Independent Birth Class
While just about any kind of birth preparation is better than none, I highly recommend taking an in-person birth class from an independent instructor rather than through the hospital if you can. There’s a lot of good stuff to learn in the hospital class, but sometimes there’s more focus on hospital policy rather than on helping you achieve your goals. Some of my students enjoy taking both my classes and the hospital class, but if you’re only going to do one, take the independent one to get the most thorough education!
You ready? Go check my class info page so you can see which of my birth classes works best for you!
