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Did you attend birth classes even though you have had children prior?
theres no way in this world I could forget how to give birth, but it will have been over 4.5 years since I've last gone through it.
My other reason as this is my partners first baby, so more of a guide and insight for him.
I'd go even just for your partner. I didn't learn much in our birth classes, but DH definitely did - even though most of it was stuff I'd been telling him anyway :lol: Depending on where you are, there are father-only birth support classes like Beers n' Bubs, so you might not even need to go!
I did hospital birth class for DD1 and then sought out a more informative, well rounded birth class for DD2 - a privately offered course (even though it was only 2.5 years between).
I can highly recommend Di Diddle's 'BIRTH' class in Melbourne. She did her classes over 4 nights, and had Rhea Dempsey speak on one of the nights about birth options and birth outcomes and it was amazing and she also had other guest speakers such as a lactation consultant. Both DH and I got a lot out of the sessions and I was so glad I signed up for them. Non biased, relaxed information with references to back up what she said and a literature pack to take home. I remember the hospital birth classes paled in comparison.
I was just about to reccomend Di Diddle too!! BRILLIANT stuff. I'd do it again even though I've birthed twice, I enjoyed them that much. Really informative and empowering.
if you are having a hospital birth, attending their classes gives you an opportunity to find out any hospital policies so you can see how they fit with what you want.
Where are the Di Diddle classes held? I must be blind and can't find it on the site lol
Google 'Di Diddle birth education' (sorry, don't think I'm allowed to post a link to it as its a commercial site)
ETA. Sorry! Just realised you might have meant that you can't find the location on HER site rather than her class details on THIS site!
Ummm, Northcote ish? Inner northern suburbs.
Double ETA. Hubby says they were in Nth Fitzroy. He would know. He was driving. I was snoozing!
Yes sorry, I didn't explain myself well, I meant location of the classes on her site!
In that case (of it being north fitzroy), I doubt we will be going there, it's over 50km from us!
Think it will be hospital ran classes still for us
Mayby go for your partner lol I learnt stuff but when it came to action time forgot it all anyway but dh remembered it and reminded and guided me so if ur partner hasn't done it before mayby take him
I also recommend the Beer and Bubs session for your DH. The doula that we had, runs some of these sessions in Melb and she's awesome. The guys get a lot more useful info than from the hospital sessions. We paid for our hospy sessions with DS1 and then wagged half of them b/c they were so poor. They gave the men a knitted boob and a doll and showed them how to put the dolls face onto the boob. That was how us mums were taught to breastfeed. I s%t you not. The woman clearly didn't like her job and we paid for it! Both in monetary, our time and lack of knowledge/wise :(
Her details are in our birth education article:
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/pregna...irth-education
Highly recommend you do them or at least him, as he's supporting you and needs to know this stuff. It'll be good practise if you do the exercises together.
We went to a 'refresher' antenatal class run by our hospital, it was aimed at those that already had birthed before. As our kids are 3y3m apart it was good. It actually bought all the memories back and really got me ready again and empowered about how I wanted to birth. Even things like 'when to come in to the hospital' etc were good to hear again so we were prepared and had a plan of action once labour started
Another one who loved Di Diddles classes if you can make it. We lived in Footscray and got there via PT in the middle of winter lol, by it was well worth it. I didn't learn much but felt supported and affirmed in myself, and DH got a lot out of it too.
I'd recommend Beer and Bubs too and their book Cheers to Childbirth.
Also Ina Mays Guide to Childbirth Is fab. We also found our Calmbirth class fantastic Too.
I've looked into the beer and bubs classes now... Grr they are all held no where near us they. Seems unless you live on the other side of the city, there's not much around. I don't fancy Travelling either, nor the expense most of the places seem to charge!
Think I'll stick to the hospital basic class, at least then my partner can check out the rooms and be a little more familiar with the surroundings too