Do I Really Need Childbirth Education?
There’s usually a moment in the second or third trimester when it dawns on you that you have to give birth. That one way, or another, the baby you’re growing on the inside has to… get out. If it hasn’t hit you before, it’s at that moment, you might look for resources to help you sort out how to prepare for labor and delivery.
Childbirth Education or “birth classes” don’t always have the best reputation. While some people are excited to practice breathing techniques, others worry that sitting through a local a class will be a waste or time and money. So, when it comes to childbirth ed do you really need to take a class? And, if so, what options are out there.
WHY SHOULD I TAKE A CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASS?
I’ve been teaching childbirth education classes since 2013. I’ve taught in small boutiquey settings and at major metropolitan hospitals. I’ve taught thousands of families preparing to give birth with the epidural in a hospital setting and those hoping to give birth without pain medication either in a hospital, birthing center, or at home. As a doula, I’ve seen awe-inspiring births and gut-wrenching challenges. My own birth, in fact, was far from what I had hoped it would be. And, through it all, I’ve learned two things.
Your birth story matters. How you welcome your baby into the world (and I don’t mean vaginally or via cesarean birth), how you welcome your baby into the world – meaning how you’re treated throughout the process and therefore the story you tell yourself about your body, your ability to care for your baby, and your position within institutional power dynamics – is woven into the fiber of your identity for the rest of your life. Knowing this, Dr. Neel Shah, a U.S. - based obstetrician who’s leading the charge to improve Maternal Health Outcomes, said, “Safety during labor is the floor of what people deserve. What we should all really be aiming for is the ceiling: care that is not just safe, but also supportive and empowering.”
You have more control than you think. It’s easy to feel powerless going into someone so big and unpredictable. And it’s true that you can’t guarantee a short, easy, vaginal birth (or your hopeful equivalent). But, as Megan Davidson, author of Your Birth Plan explains “Even with the possibility of being let down, we make plans. We do this because making plans ultimately reduces the chances of having those disappointing experiences.” You can think of making plans for childbirth like we make plans for travel adventures. Davison writes, “we book airline tickets, even though flights are sometimes cancelled, delayed, or overbooked. We reserve hotel rooms and rental housing even though we’re occasionally disappointed by the quality or cleanliness of our lodging.” And, the powerful reality, that often goes overlooked, is that the work we do to prepare for labor can help us become better versions of ourselves in the long run, regardless of how labor unfolds. Birth physiology and labor coping preparation teach us about hormonal health, postural alignment, pelvic health, and stress management. Understanding the societal context of birth invites us to learn how to navigate power dynamics in the medical system and advocate for ourselves and loved ones. I can say personally that I am in a better emotional, physical, and professional state - not just after having kids, but because of it.
So, in short. I would say yes! I think it’s worthwhile for everyone to prepare for this monumental experience. When you think about it: we take Driver’s Ed before getting our license, enroll in continuing education to become almost anything “professional” these days like a teacher, doctor, or a plumber. There are endless online videos and platforms that will teach you how to master the art of caramelizing onions or play the ukulele, but having a baby… literally getting a human being out of your body (not to mention keeping it alive) - there are for sure going to be resources that can help you prepare.
That said, between all the big name childbirth education companies (think Lamaze, Hypnobirthing, Bradley Method etc) and individual doulas or labor and delivery nurses teaching classes, how do you know what to look for?
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASS?
When comparing childbirth education classes you might consider weighing basics like convenience and cost, but given the sensitivity of the topic and variability in quality, I would urge you to explore a bit further to avoid an underwhelming experience.
We recently conducted a study of postpartum families who attended their basic hospital childbirth education class and one woman, Jessica (pseudonym), shared “It was kind of like, this is the service that my hospital recommends, and I did it. I thought upfront that there would be some specific information about like, ‘this is our hospital policy. This is like how this is what we have on hand to help you with the X thing.’ They didn't really have as much of that, as I thought they would, because they just used somebody else’s curriculum.”
Reading Google or Yelp reviews is a wonderful way to get a sense of what a class and instructor offer. The three elements I would absolutely look for in a childbirth education class are
The curriculum and approach being unbiased.
The course being taught by someone who knows how to teach (and understands the science behind how people learn)
The information being practical for you and your partner (if applicable)
Given the unpredictability of birth and the likelihood that you’ll assume a personal failure “if things don’t go according to plan” good childbirth preparation classes should walk you through what to expect and how to optimize for each and every kind of birth without glorifying or vilifying certain interventions. Essentially you want something that will make you confident, while staying flexible.
To make it worth your time, you’ll also want to make sure you’ve found something that’s not simply a regurgitation of information you could have googled. There’s a huge difference between learning from an expert and an educator. While knowledgeable, experts are often not skilled at communicating information in a way you’ll be able to retain and, more importantly, recall.
And, lastly, make sure the course will offer practical take-aways. While birth history and birth physiology are truly fascinating to study, this is not an arm-chair learning moment. You will not use what you do not practice, so take a class that forces your hand!
We, of course, would love to have you take class with us at Birthsmarter. We have classes in-person in NYC and SLC, UT, on Zoom, and On-Demand.
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Written By: Ashley Brichter
Ashley Brichter is birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, lactation counselor, certified Fair Play Facilitator, speaker, and entrepreneur. She launched Birthsmarter in 2019, to provide practical wisdom and guidance to the next generation of families. Ashley is an advocate for interdisciplinary understandings of wellbeing and is dedicated to modeling critical, creative, and compassionate thinking as a way to thrive in a binary system. Born and raised in New York City, she's currently living in Salt Lake City, UT with her husband and two, quickly growing, children.