Prenatal Classes
For San Francisco, here is a list of prenatal class options (please contact me with any good additions!)
What kinds of prenatal classes should I consider?
The most common classes are:
Childbirth: physiology of birth, stages of labor, pain management, etc.
Newborn Care: bathing, burping, diapering, swaddling, sleep, etc
Breastfeeding: breast anatomy, position and latch, reading baby's cues, etc
CPR/Safety: learn and practice the techniques specific to infants; Safefy includes responding to accidents and illnesses
There are many other more unique classes - on twins, on mindfulness/emotional aspects of parenting, preparing for changes to your relationship with your partner, fatherhood in particular, etc. I don't list them on the SF Classes sheet to keep it simple, but you can find them all on the providers' websites
How necessary are these classes?
You can get as deep into this stuff as you feel like! The only one that is truly necessary is the Infant CPR class . Everything else, you could get a sufficient overview from reading the relevant pages of the Glow Guide.
There is also plenty of free information available elsewhere online, but you need to discern what’s trustworthy and have the self-discipline to devote time to it
If you have a doula, a Childbirth class may be overkill because she will likely cover similar content; but it could also be an opportunity to get other perspectives and bond with more pregnant couples
Newborn care is helpful if you have very little experience around babies or just want to boost your (or your partner's) confidence, but if you've hired a postpartum doula and/or have "practiced" with friends' babies, it might not be needed
Breastfeeding could go either way - if you have the time/money, it can't hurt to invest in learning more; but if you're feeling maxed out, just read my Breastfeeding pages (plus you can always hire a lactation consultant if challenges arise once you have the baby)
What factors should I consider in selecting a class?
Timing:
It's best to take these courses early in 3rd trimester so that the content is fresh in your mind for the big day, but not too close to due date that if baby comes early, you will miss it!
Format:
In-person classes promote the most bonding with other parents, virtual pre-recorded are the most convenient (anytime, anywhere), and virtual live are maybe the best of both worlds
Most providers offer either intensive workshops (lots of content over 1 or 2 days) or series (spaced out over multiple weeks). Series may be better for information retention, but can be harder to ensure you're available for every class
Provider:
Most hospitals offer classes for patients - the advantage of these is they will cover policies specific to your birth location; the downside is they are sometimes lighter on the comfort measures/coping strategies portion (and can be a bit dryer) compared to non-hopsital providers
If you're giving birth at a hospital, definitely take the "Pain Relief" class that most offer free of charge - it will tell you more specifically what is available to you
Most providers offer class packages where you save when you take all the core classes from them
