Advice on timing of a one-day lamaze birth class

[Anonymous]

Looking for some advice here. I'm due November 15th with my first baby. We've decided to do a one-day intensive lamaze class.

Because of my husband's job (revolves around the November 4 election) planning a day to do the class between September 1 and the election is near-impossible. He won't be working every Saturday or Sunday in that time period, but if he does need to work, there will be no flexibility. And he won't know he has to work the upcoming weekend until a few days before.

As far as I can tell we have the following options:

- do a class in August and hope that we don't forget it all by mid-November
- do a class the weekend of November 1/2 and pray that the baby doesn't come early
- take our chances and not sign up for anything, and attempt to sign up a few days in advance of a weekend class when we know he won't have to work.

Moms who have delivered before, what would you do in this situation? Any advice? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

If you are deadset on Lamaze, I would recommend you do it in August. You could actually then practice some of the techniques in the meantime. I would have concerns that you could truly fit a full Lamaze class into 1 day. My friends who have done Lamaze seemed to spend multiple weeks of prep, but I am sure someone will probably offer a class for those of us in this area who have packed schedules pre-baby!

We had similar scheduling issues. My husband travels extensively and I had a busy job, too. I would have liked Lamaze, but the schedule did not work out. We went to a 2-day childbirth class at GW Hospital. I thought it was very well done. I think a company called Momease actually does the class. To be honest, though, 1 day would have been enough. We delivered at Inova, but it didn't matter that we had not done the class at "our" hospital. The techniques are equipment is all the same. I am glad that we did the class, because it did mentally prepare both of us, but the second day was a bit much (for my husband mostly - he got bored).

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If you really have your heart set on taking a lamaze class then go for the august one. You'll be 6 mo. preg. then, correct?
I doubt you'll forget that much to effect your L&D. In fact, we also took one of those lamaze "express" classes and, although it was informative as to what to expect for L&D, I actually forgot everything when it came time to push. All of it went out the window. Good thing for L&D nurses and a supportive DH, but otherwise I found the class not that critical.

Also, did you check out hospitals' lamaze schedules - Inova, WHC, etc.?

[Anonymous]

We did the one-day Lamaze class and found it helpful. If I were you, I'd go ahead and take the August class. The information is not going to fall out of your head, and it'll be good peace of mind knowing you're that much more prepared heading into the home stretch. Good luck!!