Fantastic to see people having a really great conversation about all this.
I can say that I did Calmbirth (and by the sounds of it was taught by the same person as you BabyQ) and my birth did not end up as the all natural, intervention free birth that we all hope for, but I still look at it as a positive experience which I am sure I wouldn't have had it not been for these classes. You can read my birth story via the link in my sig.
My baby wasn't in position when my waters broke which meant that I was on a time limit and had to be induced. The calmbirth techniques and philosophies helped me through that, as anyone can tell you, when you are induced it is full on labour from the get go, so no build up. I don't know if this makes any difference to those that get the build up but it does come as a bit of a shock. I got through 9 hours of just breathing and going with it, without any drugs and with a difficult midwife.
In the end I knew nothing was happening and I made the concious decision to go with a
c/s. But I fully believe I would not have handled it at all well had it not been for the Calmbirth. I was fully alert in theatre, I knew my rights so I wouldn't let them take my baby away while I went to recovery (believe me this is a big one to remember!! If there is something wrong and bub needs to go to special care or something then fine, but otherwise do not let them take the baby away, it is not necessary) and I knew I made the decision to be there.
The next day I was up and about and by the day after I was on no painkillers apart from panadol, and even that was just to keep the nurses happy. And the honest truth is I really didn't need them. I can only attribute that to the positive thinking and calmness that surrounds you by taking this approach. My obstetrician told me I looked well and said that I was right to drive in 2 weeks. I had the same
ob as my SIL who also needed a
c/s and she was told not to drive for 4 weeks. She didn't do Calmbirth....
So enjoy your classes and if you open yourself up to it you will be able to handle any situation you end up in. Plus the added benefit is that you aren't afraid to go through it all again, even when you have just given birth.