Childbirth Classes

Not all childbirth education classes are created equal.  Prepared childbirth offered by a hospital, birth center, or physician's group is typically a class teaching physiological changes during pregnancy and labor as well as information to prepare the couple for delivery in that particular setting.  It does not necessarily mean instruction in birth options.

There are three different types of childbirth educators that I am aware of:  the independent educator; the educator employed by a hospital or birth center; and the educator employed by a physician or group of physicians. 

You will get different things from each of these different types of classes, just as you will get different philosophies based on the method of childbirth with which your instructor is affiliated.

First, lets talk about the hospital employed educator.  Because of her position as employee, it would not be wise for her to speak out against medical procedures which bring money into the hospital but may be counter-productive to a laboring women.  There are many controversial obstetrical options routinely performed on women during hospital deliveries.  A woman should be allowed informed consent with regard to making these decisions, and in a hospital class it is likely that only the benefits of obstetrical interventions will be explained to pregnant couples while the potential risks and side-affects of that procedure will be downplayed.  An educator employed by a birth center is much more likely to be giving accurate information on the risks and side-affects of obstetrical intervention, however, you will still be exposed to the bias of the the midwives and physicians associated with the center as well as birth center policies.

Then there is the educator employed by a physician or group of physicians.  This type of educator has the same limitations.  She will teach a class that is in agreement with the physicians in that practice.  If this is a practice of high intervention OB's who routinely use fetal monitoring, pitocin, perform episiotomies and have a high cesarean rate, then it is likely that the needlessness and risks of these procedures will not be adequately explained to the pregnant couple.  On the other hand, if this is a physician or group of physicians who have a very low intervention and cesarean rate, then you will likely get more information on natural childbirth and what an unmedicated mother can expect physiologically from labor.  It may be a crap shoot though, depending on the birth attendant you have chosen.

Finally we have the independent educator.  By remaining independent of an 'employer' she has maintained her ability to be objective and to give her students information regarding both sides of a procedure.  Classes offered by independent instructors are typically smaller and more intimate, with fewer than 10 couples, and instructors are able to give more of their attention to various student concerns and questions.  This is, in my opinion, the best situation.  Even if you plan to have a medicated birth, you deserve the right to informed consent, the right to weigh the various risks with the various benefits.  It is unlikely you will be given this opportunity if you are not informed of both sides of the procedure.