Why Take a Childbirth Class?

with our Doula and Childbirth Educator, Vera Kevic

Why take a childbirth class?

Most people get pregnant and birth their baby without ever taking a class on childbirth, and without doing any formal prenatal prep at all! 90% of first-time parents will not take any prenatal classes, BUT babies will come out one way or the other. So, why is anyone bothering to pay for a class to learn about a process that has to go to completion anyway, whether your brain knows about it or not?

Doesn't my body know what to do?

Can't I just leave it up to the birth pros to do their work to deliver my baby?

Here are 3 reasons to consider a class: 

1. A childbirth preparation class outlines a variety of birth scenarios, all the pathways and your different options. This gives you the chance to figure out what you want and how you will achieve it for your birth based on knowing what all is available. 

REAL TALK: After taking my childbirth class, I’ve had multiple partners report back that they caught their own baby at birth, and this would never had been an idea that was possible if they hadn’t learned about it from taking a class. It’s not generally offered by your doctor or your nurse if you don’t know to ask for it!

2. Taking a class has you and your partner show up on the same side of the choices you are and will be making. It gives you a chance to hear about the birth options together so that you can be on the same team prepping for this precious event. 

REAL TALK: After participating in the exercises in class, couples end up finding out things they didn’t know about what their body can and cannot do - like can you birth upright supported by your partner? Try it standing up and see what could be a good supported position. The actual trying out of positions has people discover what your strong areas are and are not - and this will make for a more realistic birth plan.

3. Even when you KNOW so much about childbirth, the emotions in pregnancy and the increasing hormones can make for a very anxious third trimester. Being in a group setting class where you can ask questions and hear what other couples are questioning and contemplating can be so SO EASEFUL and ease equals MORE OXYTOCIN. 

REAL TALK: MANY anxious parents-to-be start my class with a binder full of research and questions. They come to class and fill their toolbox with ways to cultivate joy in their body preparation, and comfort in early labour, and confidence in the birth itself. They hear ideas from others that make sense and use it for themselves.

The 10% of people who ARE taking a childbirth class while pregnant don't have extra guarantees that they will avoid surgical birth, they can't get guaranteed outcomes that will follow their birth plan, either. What you get with the experience of taking a class is to know what you might want and what you absolutely do not want for your birth. You can always just download a birth plan template, do some research on terminology, and fill it out yourself - much like choosing menu items for food delivery. You can. And, it might be okay. And, you can get more confidence in your choices by joining a class.

In a childbirth class, you learn all the options available in our current environments for birthing and you will develop strategies for how you are going to navigate the system to have your desired, beautiful birth. Your plan becomes your own, based on what brings you calm, takes you on the best path, and makes sense for you. 

Birth plans are not one-size-fits-all. In a class, you hear all the options, the ones you want and the ones you want to avoid. You hear and see the pathways that sometimes make sense to take when you're on the path, but don't make sense to agree to ahead of needing it. You learn to trust your body, your birth team, and the process. You connect with your partner and baby to work together to complete your pregnancy. A class can also connect you to a community of parents who are doing what you're doing - an instant playgroup!

Vera Kevic, Childbirth Educator and Doula