If you are a planner, then you might do some reading now in case you go into labor earlier than expected. I recommend the book "The Birth Partner." It is appropriate for you as well as a partner. If you are hoping for an unmedicated birth then you will likely want to take a longer class - hypnobabies, Lamaze, Bradley, etc. If so you probably should take the class earlier. My Bradley class lasted 12 weeks (and I felt was unnecessarily long, though it prepped me well).

I didn't find the baby care class useful, but I did like the Breastfeeding Center's free lunchtime prep class useful.

Good luck and congrats!

OP here - it sounds like I might be better off saving our money (of which there is not much right now) and watching a video with my husband. I'll check Netflix and Prime.

I just want him to feel a little bit less freaked out about handling an infant. What we really need is a friend with a small baby who will let him "practice" a bit. Unfortunately we don't know anyone with a baby! (Any volunteers?

Thanks for the all feedback!

Anonymous wrote:I took birthing class, baby care and infant CPR as all-day classes, on back-to-back weekends, 2-3 weeks before my due date at Georgetown, where I delivered. I cut it pretty close but was glad to have the info fresh in my mind. Fwiw, I found the baby care class very helpful, but I'm sure it's dependent on the class and instructor how helpful it is. The birthing class wasn't as helpful, since I ended up with a scheduled c-section, but I knew that was a possibility).

Oh, and I took a breastfeeding class, too; it was a couple hours on a weeknight. I found it helpful.

If you are going to take them, I'd do it in July. I ended up going into spontaneous labor at 35 weeks, and I missed the infant care class. Not a huge deal in retrospect, but one more thing I was stressing out over--the first baby I ever held was my own.

I took birthing class, baby care and infant CPR as all-day classes, on back-to-back weekends, 2-3 weeks before my due date at Georgetown, where I delivered. I cut it pretty close but was glad to have the info fresh in my mind. Fwiw, I found the baby care class very helpful, but I'm sure it's dependent on the class and instructor how helpful it is. The birthing class wasn't as helpful, since I ended up with a scheduled c-section, but I knew that was a possibility).

I am a planner and wanted to get Childbirth and Newborn Care Class done in the middle of the second trimester. I ended up having a c-section a few weeks before my due date because the baby was breech and stopped growing. So while I couldn't have known it at the time, the childbirth one was a waste of time and money. I did find the newborn care/breastfeeding class helpful and actually wished I'd learned more about breastfeeding before the baby came. Bottom line: I wish I'd held off on the childbirth class until later but the newborn class is good at any time. The benefit to taking it in the second tri was that I was putting together my registry and they had a whole segment about what you really need and what you don't. I also felt like I was a lot dumber and more uncomfortable in the third trimester.

I took the a birth class, newborn care class and CPR all within one week around 35 weeks. my husband and I had never changed a diaper, and i will say that newborn care was useless. the rest of it was much more worthwhile. I only made it to 37 weeks, so i realize I cut it close, but in hindsight, only the CPR/firstaid was truly needed for peace of mind.

I have a birth class, newborn class, and breast feeding class scheduled. They are 2-3 months before delivery, only because I think I'll be too tired to go once I'm super fat. I do worry about forgetting things, but figure I can ask ladies on DCUM if I need a refresher on something

On our first, I just rented a childbirth + infant care video from the library. Dh and I watched it together.

It was set up just like a live class. Makes sense right? All these classes are really the same... why reinvent the wheel? A pre-recorded class was just fine.

Only difference is I couldn't ask Qs, but honestly, I don't think any questions came up or would have been valuable to ask in a live class setting.

I say, do whatever you want! You can't go wrong if you feel comfortable. Whether that's paying, or skipping it, or finding an alternative--and whenever it fits in for you--go for it.

Do what suits you, but honestly it is a waste of money.

Sure. Most people wait until mid-3rd trimester to do that stuff. I'm 33 weeks and just did the birth class this week. I never actually did a newborn care class and don't plan to.

I procrastinated on classes and ended up with an unexpected emergency delivery at 34 weeks before we took any. Honestly, it turned out for the best since I needed the c section before contractions started, we got extra attention from the hospital lactation consultants and feeding therapists on breastfeeding and we had a long/slow introduction to parenthood and techniques via the NICU. Not saying this to scare you but just because all the classes would have been a waste for us if we did them earlier so I'm pretty glad we waited and now would advise friends not to schedule one day/weekend classes until about 35 weeks when a baby would be more likely go straight home if born early.

We waited until closer to the end - I think I was 36 weeks. Like you, my hubby had never held a newborn and he found the class both useful and useless. It gave him some frame of reference for what the baby needed and how things were done, but it was really the nurses in recovery that were the most helpful. They gave him great on-the-job training!

I didn't take any classes. Do you!

I want the info to be fresh in our minds - especially for my husband, who has never even held a baby. My due date is 9/22. I could sign up for July classes now, or wait 'til August comes available.

What do others do?