When I was expecting my first baby, I attended a wonderful, informative childbirth class with my husband. We enjoyed getting away from our busy schedules and having time set aside to focus on this new little one that would be joining our family. It felt like a date night every week. My favorite part about the class was the unbiased information that we received. When I was in labor, we faced a lot of unexpected decisions. As a result of everything that we learned in class, we were prepared to face these decisions and felt confident in our birth.
I love childbirth education. I loved it when I was expecting my first baby, and I love it now, four years later. Birth is an incredible process, and learning the ins and outs of it is fascinating and empowering. However, I also love childbirth education because of what it does for a community. The fear of birth dissipates and makes way for an ultimate respect for ourselves and each other when we come together and begin to see how our bodies function so perfectly, in such a complex way.
It is a common myth that labor support and childbirth education are only beneficial for parents who plan to have an unmedicated, intervention free birth. In reality both of these resources are beneficial for every variety of birth and growing family because labor is an unpredictable process. No matter the style you desire for the birth of your baby, being aware of your options and understanding the process of labor will serve to calm your nerves and help you to make informed choices. Because every labor is different, you won’t know ahead of time what you will experience. Having all of the information at your disposal aids you in having a birth experience that works best for you, and your baby.
Another certainty that comes from joining a childbirth class is community. Having a community of support during this time of great transition will build your confidence in the midst of unpredictability. Childbirth classes are a great way to get to know other people in the same stage of life as you, who may prove to be your greatest allies and confidants. You will leave class with new friends who can understand and share the joys and the perplexities of life as it is now, with a new baby.
Parenthood is much more fun when you have people around who understand all of these huge feelings: the good, the bad and the messy.
Third Coast Birth Services offers a variety of childbirth classes and new parent groups, but they all share a common theme: unbiased information, and an abundance of time to answer your questions. Our goal is for you to get the facts so that you can make the choices that are right for your family. You can see a full listing of our classes and groups here.