“Knowledge is power.”
Francis Bacon
I know it’s terribly predictable to use that quote but I had to because it’s true! It doesn’t matter if the topic is childbirth, space exploration or the tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons – if you have knowledge of the topic, you have power. Power to educate others, to correct assumptions and to pique their interest, thus drawing them in to play the healing cleric your party so desperately needs… Wait, no. Well, yes, because you seriously need a healer and potions are hella expensive but no because this isn’t the right blog for that talk.
Ahem. Back to childbirth.
If knowledge is power, first you need to get that knowledge. There’s always the options of talking to the parents in your family or reading things online but you’re likely to come away from that experience with conflicting information and absolute terror at the very idea of birth. That’s really not a great start to your pregnancy journey. Taking a childbirth class in-person or online is going to set you up way better with vital and accurate information, reasonable expectations and maybe even a friendship with a couple other new parents. You really have nothing to lose and everything to gain. (And there I go again with another cliché. 🤷) A class will give you vital and accurate information so you can make informed decisions.
Those very same informed decisions give you back the power. When you know what to expect and what you want from your birth experience, you won’t give blind obedience to anyone who acts as an authority. Your care team can discuss the options with you and your partner(s) if the labor isn’t going as desired and with the knowledge from your childbirth class (and your doula!) you can make your choices. You have the agency to create a birth environment where you feel empowered and to have a positive birth experience.
An additional benefit to taking a childbirth education class is that while you, the pregnant person, are receiving at least some information during your appointments your partner(s) generally aren’t. They’re left relying on whatever information you remember to tell them or what they can find online… And the Internet can be a scary, scary place. A class that you can take together brings everyone on to the same page and ensures that nobody is going into birth blindly. When your partner(s) have knowledge they can confidently discuss things with you and your care team, and support your choices much more emphatically.
In your birthing space you want people who are supporting you. You don’t want to be petting and soothing your partner(s), other support people, family, or somebody on your care team because they are freaking out. They need to be calm and focused, holding space for you, not screeching because they saw something they didn’t like or weren’t prepared for. This applies to everyone who is in that sacred birthing space! Taking a childbirth class can lower your fears, especially if you have anxiety or trauma, which allows you to be present and supportive.
And finally, if you’re a new parent there’s a massive plus to taking a class with your partner(s). You will ALL know how to take care of that baby. No excuses, less worry, more love and bonding for everybody. It’s a win all around. The main takeaway though? A little knowledge and a lot of love will go a long way.
The quick recap is this:
A class will give you vital and accurate information so you can make informed decisions.
You have the agency to create a birth environment where you feel empowered and to have a positive birth experience.
When your partner(s) have knowledge they can confidently discuss things with you and your care team, and support your choices much more emphatically.
Taking a childbirth class can lower your fears, especially if you have anxiety or trauma, which allows you to be present and supportive.
A little knowledge and a lot of love will go a long way.
Don’t hesitate and don’t wait too long. Take your class sometime between 25 and 32 weeks if you can, and virtual is fine but in-person is better. And never forget, this is your birth and you have the power.