What Classes Should You Take Before Having a Baby?

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It may make you feel excited and nervous as your due date approaches. If wondering what classes should you take before having a baby to ease your concern and gain confidence, read on.

“Knowledge is power’’

I truly believe that ‘more you know more prepared you feel’.

Specifically, when you are having a baby knowing what to expect at each stage of pregnancy, childbirth process, and caring for a newborn is very important to empower you.

Let’s face it, journey from getting pregnant to giving birth to taking care of newborn is life changing for parents-to-be.

When I was pregnant with my second one, initially i thought i do not need to take a childbirth class. But i was having my second baby after a decade (almost!!) and i didn’t remember any of it except the thought of childbirth being a very painful experience.

And as my due date was approaching, I felt very nervous and anxious. I had no clue about what to expect second time around.

Soon I realized that I needed to take a class to be prepared. But I did not have enough time to go to series of in-person childbirth class as my due date was very close.

After looking through internet, I found this amazing online prenatal class for couples.

It helped me tremendously in easing some fear of childbirth process and empowered me to take an informed decision when I needed to.

Getting through childbirth was half the battle. Real struggle started when baby was home. Breastfeeding was way harder than I thought in first few days and caring for a baby was overwhelming.

I felt like taking only one class was not enough after all even after second time!!

Here I have listed three online classes that expecting moms should consider taking. These online classes are developed by trusted professional in the field. I can reassure that, taking these courses will not only prepare you for your childbirth or breastfeeding or newborn care but also empower you.

You may not need to take all the classes depending on your circumstances, but I do think pregnant women should at least consider looking into it before their baby arrive.

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Pregnancy Classes to take Before Having a Baby

1. Preparing for Delivery

What Classes Should You Take Before Having a Baby-pregnancy women on a exercise ball

When you are going through something for the first time, it is expected to get nervous and anxious. You have no idea about what to expect. Every first-time mom going through labor has these feelings. The Easiest way to get rid of fear of unknown is to prepare for everything that lies ahead.

Whether you are giving birth in a hospital, birth center, or at home, I think it’s important to have a good knowledge of what to expect during the labor and delivery process. This is the least you can do for yourself to ensure you have a smoother experience.

There are many types of childbirth classes including the Lamaze Method, The Bradley Method, and HypnoBirthing. In these days and age, you have an option choosing the method of learning from online classes, in-person group classes, or private classes.

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The Online Prenatal Class for Couples by Pulling Curls

This fun and educational class was developed by Hilary Erickson- a labor and delivery nurse of 18 years and counting. She has helped thousands of moms delivered their babies in-person and educated millions of moms on internet about childbirth since the conception of this course.

Hilary designed this class specifically for busy couples that needs to know essentials of birthing without spending five hours  for in-person childbirth class.

Uniqueness about this class is, it is direct, and Hilary only shares what you absolutely need to know about it without any bluff.

The Online Prenatal Class for Couples provides everything you need to know about your big day.

  • How to know if you’re really having contractions vs false alarm
  • When to call your doctor
  • Pain control (epidural or no?)
  • What to expect from labor and delivery ward
  • How to prepare for actually delivering your baby
  • Understanding vaginal delivery versus cesarean delivery
  • Overview of postpartum care

What I most like about this online class is that it is very straight forward and more like a workshop with practical application. Here is the sneak peak of the class;

This online prenatal class comes in three different versions which you can learn about it HERE.

If you want a test drive for childbirth class by Hilary, she offers a free beginning childbirth class HERE.

PROS:

  • Straight forward and Covers everything you need to know about childbirth
  • Covers pain management techniques including epidurals and others
  • Includes discussion questions
  • Includes helpful exercise
  • Sections for partner
  • 9 months Access
  • With Deluxe version of course – you have access to private Facebook group and access to eBook
  • 30-day money back guarantee

Cons:

  • Minimum visual aid
  • Minimum Labor exercise tutorials

Is Birthing class necessary?

Yes

Best thing you can do for your labor and delivery is getting educated about it. I couldn’t imagine going to labor and delivery without attending a basic childbirth class.

There are lots of unknowns that goes into labor and delivery and if you are not prepared it can stress you out. Without taking birthing classes you don’t know what your options are, and you have to trust and rely on people caring for you at the hospital.

Taking childbirth class will empower you and get rid of any fear you have about labor and delivery. I highly recommend taking childbirth class. If you don’t want to take THIS childbirth class (I hope you do), take in-person or other childbirth class but do take one.

2. Preparing for Breastfeeding

what classes should you take before having a baby-infant latched onto breast

When I had my first baby, I did not even think about taking a breastfeeding class. I was under impression that breastfeeding is so natural, and you don’t need to learn something that nature intended it.

I realized I was wrong when my baby did not latch for first ten days followed by common breastfeeding mistakes. We had to go to lactation consultant every other day for learning how to latch on correctly.

Fortunately, things worked out for us with the help of lactation consultant and countless hours of researching on internet.

The Biggest mistake that I made was ‘leaving it to nature’. Breastfeeding comes with steep learning curve for both moms and babies, and for most moms is it very hard in the first few months.

In fact, 60 % women do not breastfeed as long as they intend to it. Statistics from CDC shows that only 25% of moms are exclusively breastfeeding their babies for six months – the recommended duration of exclusively breastfeeding by most health organizations.

Main reason of not reaching breastfeeding goal is lack of support and lactation education, among others.

If you are planning to breastfeed your baby, taking a breastfeeding class is imperative.

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class by Milkology

what classes should you take before having a baby - best breastfeeding class by milkology

The online video-based class was created by Stacey Steward – a lactation consultant and educator. She is passionate about educating and helping moms discover benefits of breastfeeding. She has educated millions of women online on how to breastfeed.

For first time moms, I highly recommend taking this online breastfeeding class. This course is professional quality, dirt cheap (for less than $20) and it will teach you how to breastfeed in 90 minutes.

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Class by Milkology covers everything you need to know about breastfeeding before your baby arrives.

Here are the topics covered by this course

  • Benefits of Breastfeeding to mom and baby
  • How your breast produce milk?
  • Latching and Positioning
  • Expressing and Pumping
  • How to boost your milk supply
  • Breastfeeding Challenges
  • What to expect (first month and beyond)
  • Amazing Bonuses!!

As a bonus, course includes two eBooks, printable guide on most common breastfeeding issue and free breastfeeding gears and discount coupons. Also, you get a lifetime access to the course, so you can use it for your second baby too.

Pros:

  • Professional quality with lots of really helpful information
  • Online, self-paced, 24/7 access
  • Covers how your breast makes milk
  • Covers how to master your milk supply
  • How to tell if your baby is eating enough
  • Section on pumping
  • Lifetime access and great bonus
  • 30-day money back guarantee

Cons:

  • Not interactive

In my opinion, the Ultimate Breastfeeding Class by Milkology is an excellent resource for expecting moms at only $19.

If you want a sneak peek at the course, Stacey offers five-day email course for breastfeeding for FREE which covers preview of the full course.

Read my honest review about The Ultimate Breastfeeding class by Milkology HERE.

P.S., If you’re a working mom, you’ll also want to check out  Back to Work Pumping class that is also available from Milkology.

Related readings 

Are Breastfeeding Class necessary?   

Yes

If you are first-time mom and want to seriously improve your chances of success, breastfeeding class is must.

Yes, you can learn everything about breastfeeding free on internet, but it requires lots of investment of time in researching and most of the time you are not sure what to look.

Taking breastfeeding class prepares you for everything you need to know about establishing and maintaining your milk supply.

3. Preparing for Newborn

what classes should you take before having a baby-infant crying

While it is important to learn about labor and delivery and how to breastfeed when you are pregnant, but it is also equally important to learn as much as you can about how to care for little human being.

If you are first-time mothers and you have NO help for when you bring baby home – I mean someone who has experienced it before you,- taking care of newborn can be exhausting and overwhelming.

The newborn phase was the hardest for me when I had my firstborn as I was ‘figuring it all out’ when baby arrives – kind.

It turned out to be big bummer when I had no idea how to calm a gassy, colicky, fussy baby who wouldn’t stop crying for hours in the evening and wouldn’t sleep at night!!

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Babies do cry a lot and figuring out how to calm them when you have crying baby in your arm can leave you stressed and worried.

There are many videos available on you tube about how to care for newborn. So you probably can get away without taking newborn care class.

However, if you are first time mom and never cared for a baby, taking newborn care class will ease some of your fear. In that case, you may want to consider taking in-person class with lots of hands on experience.

The benefit of taking in-person instructor-led class is, you get to practice to hold the baby, swaddling, diaper changing and other fun stuff. If your class does not have a hands-on session, you are better off taking an online newborn care class.

But in current COVID-19 pandemic if you don’t have access to in-person class, I have listed few trusted FREE, online resources that are taught by trained professional for learning about caring for newborn. Click HERE  to learn more.

I have listed below, very comprehensive and super affordable online newborn care class.

Newborn Basics 101

This comprehensive course is designed by Liesel Teen – a labor and delivery nurse in addition to her prenatal Birth it up! childbirth classes: Natural series and Epidural series. This course is for first time parents looking to gain education about what to expect when bringing baby home.

The Newborn Basics 101 course covers,

  • Getting ready for the baby- baby gear and essentials
  • Newborn characteristics
  • How to hold baby
  • Diaper changing
  • Feeding a baby -Breastfeeding or formula
  • Gas, spit-up, burp, reflux and dairy allergies
  • Hygiene care (umbilical cord care, bath, snot removal)
  • Baby sleep
  • Safety consideration (SIDS prevention, Shaken baby syndrome, car seat safety, choking prevention)
  • Postpartum body care
  • Plus, much more

The course covers everything you need to know before bringing baby home so you can fear less begin your first step into motherhood.

This course is video based and sells for only $29 and great thing about this course of completely risk free as course creator offers LIFETIME money back guarantee. You have nothing to

If you still haven’t decided on your childbirth class, you have an opportunity to bundle Newborn Basic 101 + Birth it Up childbirth class series just for $49.

Read my review on Birth it Up series below.

Pros:

  • Very comprehensive
  • Super affordable
  • 24/7 access
  • 100% life time money back guarantee

Cons:

  • No hands on activity for your to do

Infant CPR

Learning the basics of infant CPR and choking is very important when your baby becomes mobile around 7 to 8 months of age. At this age, babies will start putting tiny things in their mouth.

You may be proud seeing your baby learning new skills but at the same time it increases the risk of chocking for babies.

Although, most of the chocking hazards resolves by themselves, Infant CPR comes in handy when they have serious accident.

Infant CPR class typically covers first aid, breathing, and cardiac arrest situations and these skills will prepare you for real emergency in case it arises.

They are plenty of you tube video to show you these essential skills if you are comfortable learning by watching video. There are plenty of online Infant CPR classes available. The Red Cross offers an online Infant CPR class.

However, if you are like me who need to practice this essential life saving skill, you need to take instructor- led Infant CPR class. They usually offer dummies to practice on. These classes are usually inexpensive.

Many hospitals offer in-person Infant CPR classes. Check with yours.

Baby Sleep Made Simple: 21 Days to Peace and Quiet

You will have lots of sleepless nights for first six months of baby’s life. You call yourself lucky if you get to sleep for straight five hours of sleep at night.

My firstborn was not a good sleeper until he was year old. We had been nursing to sleep but reached a point where my son didn’t want to settle at all, and I had to rock him to sleep and even after than he would wake up frequently at night. I was sleep derived,tired, exhausted  all.the.time.

I wish, I knew about Baby Sleep Made Simple program when I needed the most.

21 Days to Peace and Quiet sleep program designed by Jilly Blankenship – a pediatric nurse, lactation consultant and mom. She provides in-home sleep consulting services for babies and toddlers since 2009.

If you visit her website, Baby Sleep made Simple, you will find wealth of information for tired, sleepless parents including this FREE baby sleep survival kit  which walks you through the first steps of teaching your baby to sleep well.

Her 21 Days to Peace and quiet program includes:

  • A personalized approach to sleep training based on age, development, your belief, parenting style.
  • 4 methods of sleep training choosing from
  • Access to Jilly by message or call for all your questions along the way
  • One-year access to all videos and resources
  • Access to private Facebook community
  • 30 days 100% money back guarantee
  • Plus, much more

You can find lots of free resources or course on sleep training out there but what sets this program apart from others is the personalized support from Jilly.

Check out the 21 Days to Peace and Quiet program from Baby Made Simple for more information.

Read my honest review about 21 Days to Peace and Quiet program here

Pros:

  • Personalized support for tired parents
  • You can choose sleep training method to your liking
  • Access to Course creator for questions and support

Cons:

  • Success is based on age of the baby, temperament, the method used and your dedication.

Is Newborn class necessary?        

It depends

As mentioned earlier, you are first-time mom and never cared for baby before than newborn care classes are worth for gaining confidence about caring for a baby. Otherwise, you can get away without taking any newborn care classes as there are free resources available as mentioned above.

I do recommend taking an Infant CPR class. It is a life saving skill in case of a serious emergency.

If you ask me, if taking sleep training class necessary?

I would absolutely say YES, but not when they are newborn.

When you have a newborn, they need you by their side. Babies need your physical energy and signals from your body’s systems to learn to self-regulate and that can only be given to them by physical touch.

So I wouldn’t try to sleep train them until they are four to six months old.

That’s being said, I would ensure that I lay good foundation with sleep routine, so it won’t be too hard when you are ready to sleep train them.

Taking sleep training class will help you minimize stress, anxiety and tears at bedtime when you and your baby are ready for it.

Remember, Tired parents are cranky parents and if you don’t want to be one then you need to take a 21 Days to Peace and Quiet program.

When to take Pregnancy Classes?

You can take these classes anytime during your pregnancy. But usually doctors recommend it around 6 to 7 month of pregnancy.

Taking class during this period will ensure that you retain all the information you learned, and you are not too close to your due date.

You don’t want to take these classes at very close to your due date as you might have baby early.

But it is a good idea to decide and schedule pregnancy classes that you want to take and most of the online class have a long time access or lifetime access.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for a birth and bringing baby home can be very exciting, stressful as well as daunting for first-time mothers. Most of the fear and stress that first-time parents-to-be has is because of not knowing what to expect. But not anymore!!

Educate and empower yourself – from comfort of your own home – with the help of these three fantastic resources before having a baby – so you can enjoy your parenthood from day one!!

How about you?

What classes did you before having a baby? Please leave your comment below.

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Reference:

Featured Image: Photo by Suhyeon Choi on Unsplash

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