doing the class and having DH there made all the difference - yep, you could probably teach yourself how to relax, how to breathe, how to "escape" - but i found the most helpful thing was having DH there learning the same thing - it meant he could properly support me throughout a rather trying labour and birth. everyone learns differently, and i know my DH would have taken bugger all on board if we'd done it at home - not cos he didn't want to, but due to work commitments, and the constant distractions of stuff to do at home... at the course, it was all about the calmbirth - and was a great relaxing experience after the stress of bushfires at home the week before (our yard was burnt it was that close) and the black saturday fires impacting family that day