As your labor and delivery gets closer, one important thing you ought to do is take a birth class. I know, I know. There are so many things that need to be done in preparation for baby! However, I think being prepared for birth itself is a crucial part of preparation.
Although birth is a natural process, it can be very intimidating—especially if it’s your first time. Fear of labor and delivery frequently haunts first time moms. And sometimes, childbirth ends up being a traumatic experience for one reason or another.
One simple way to help calm your fears and prevent a traumatic experience from occurring is by taking a birth class. I truly believe that being informed and educated about the process helps to drastically reduce any fear first time and new moms might be feeling.
Taking a birth class can help you to feel empowered and in control of your labor and delivery, even if things get a bit hectic or don’t go as planned. In my opinion, it’s really something you can’t afford to miss out on if you hope to have a successful birthing experience.
This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
The Best Online Birth Class
Recently, I had the opportunity to go through Liesel Teen’s (Mommy Labor Nurse) online birth class, Birth It Up (both the natural series and epidural series).
Let me just say, it was fantastic! I wish I had known about it back when I was pregnant with Elijah—I definitely would have taken it then.
Before we get into specifics on why I think Birth It Up is a great birth class for first time moms, let’s take a minute to talk about birth classes in general.
What is a child birth class?
If you’re a first time mom, you might be wondering what a childbirth class even is. Basically, it’s just a class that teaches you everything you need to know in order to be prepared for your labor and delivery.
For many, if not most, new moms, labor and delivery is often a scary and nerve wracking event. The point of childbirth classes is to help inform you as much as possible about the process and common possible outcomes so that you can be prepared.
Truly good birth classes will educate and empower you, so that you can have the best experience possible. Some common things you can expect to learn in a childbirth class are:
- How to know if you are in labor
- Stages of labor
- Pain management techniques
- Breathing techniques
- Labor positions
- And more!
Do I really need to take a birth class?
You might be wondering if you really need to take a childbirth class. Personally, I would recommend that in most cases, yes, you really should.
Here’s the thing. Childbirth is a natural thing. Your body is absolutely able to give birth to your baby.
I did not personally take a childbirth class while I was pregnant with my son, Elijah. I do not recommend doing the same. The reason I didn’t was because my hospital did not offer one and I had no other access to one.
At the time, my husband and I had been married for less than a year, and for most of my pregnancy we didn’t even have internet at our apartment. It had occurred to me to check online when we finally did get internet, but I was unable to find one that was even remotely affordable.
In place of taking a class, I spent hours every day on my phone researching every possible thing I could think that related to pregnancy and delivery. And there still ended up being things that surprised me about my labor and delivery.
Don’t do what I did. Don’t wing it. You don’t need to spend hours obsessively researching everything that could possibly happen.
Definitely invest in a birth class to educate yourself on everything you need to know, from a reliable source. I personally love the course Birth It Up, and wish I had found it back when I had Elijah!
Where can I take a birth class?
If you prefer in person classes, you can check with your hospital to see if they offer one. If not, ask your doctor for local recommendations.
Either way, definitely consider taking an online birthing course. Unlike when I had my son, there are now extremely affordable online options.
Even if you are able to take a class at your local hospital, it’s still fairly likely that you’ll have to pay for it. That can get pricey. An online course such as Birth It Up, however, can be a far more affordable option.
Also take into consideration that a lot of online classes will give you access for far longer than an in person class—and you don’t have to worry about missing one!
For example, Birth It Up gives you lifetime access for one low price. It also allows you to easily access it across any device. And since you get lifetime access, you can review it anytime and use it for multiple pregnancies.
My honest thoughts on Birth It Up
Recently I enrolled in Liesel Teen’s childbirth class, Birth It Up. And let me say, it is amazing! I honestly wish it had been around when I had Elijah, but I’m so glad I have it now for future pregnancies.
I’ve followed Liesel on her Instagram for a long while now, and in my opinion she is one of the best when it comes to birth education.
She’s very fun and relate-able, and does an awesome job with her educational posts. And her two birthing courses are no exception.
Let’s go over a few of the reasons I think Birth It Up is truly the best online birth class, and why you need it in preparation for labor.
Taught by a labor nurse
First off, Liesel is a labor and delivery nurse—she truly does know what she’s talking about. I also appreciate that she not only gives you medical facts, but also real life personal experiences.
It’s important to be sure to get education from sources you can trust to avoid misinformation. Having your instructor be an actual, legitimate labor nurse does helps to instill that necessary trust!
Comprehensive birth education
Going into the course, I had a fairly good idea of what it would cover and what I could expect from it. However, it ended up covering way more than I had expected. And that’s a very good thing!
Liesel covers so much in Birth It Up, including complications and interventions. I really felt like there was no stone un-turned when it came to labor and delivery.
I also really appreciated that Liesel included valuable information on after delivery and postpartum.
Postpartum education is often neglected in favor of the actual delivery, so I love that she took the time to talk about important things you need to know postpartum.
All about empowering you
I absolutely love that Liesel is all about empowering you through your birth process. Whether it’s going natural or having an epidural, she’s got you covered in every aspect.
Childbirth can be scary, but it can also be extremely empowering if you are informed and educated about the process.
It’s amazing what our bodies can do, and it should be celebrated! Liesel goes out of her way to empower you through your birth by educated you, and ensuring you have all the tools an knowledge you need for the birth experience you want.
Great format
If you’re looking for a birth class that’s easy to access across any device, anytime, Birth It Up is for you.
I’m not a fan of all course platforms, but I love the one that Birth It Up is built on. It’s easy to access, and easy to use, and very visually appealing.
Personally, I think it’s the best platform for courses and classes.
And of course, Liesel does an excellent job of dividing lessons up into easy to find sections. If you need a refresher or want to review a specific lesson, you’ll be able to find it easily without scrolling through the whole course.
Get Birth It Up For 10% Off
A birth class really is an essential for a positive childbirth experience. Taking one should be at the top of your third trimester to-do list, and will certainly help you through your labor and delivery.
If you’re interested in enrolling in Birth It Up, you can use the discount code MOMCORNER and get 10% off today! Head on over and enroll now—don’t forget, you get lifetime access and go through it at any time.
Have you signed up for a childbirth class yet?
Let’s hear from you now—have you taken a childbirth class yet?
If so, what did you learn that was the most helpful to you? If you haven’t taken a birth class yet, be sure to sign up for Birth It Up and get 10% off!
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