7 Questions to Help You Find the Right Childbirth Class 

A childbirth class or two (or four) can be the best first step toward a successful labor and delivery. But with such a wide array of classes to choose from, it may be challenging to pick the right one for you. Here are seven questions to guide your decision-making around birthing education:

1. Why should I take a childbirth class?

You may have read a few pregnancy books, but in order to feel prepared for when you’re actually in labor, you’ll likely feel more secure if you’ve taken a class that actually shows you what to do and helps you practice it.

“No matter what kind of birth you’re planning—medicated, nonmedicated, or a planned cesarean [section]—solid education provides a family with realistic labor and birth expectations and helps them feel more in control and positive with their birth experience,” says childbirth educator and doula Care Messer, of San Diego.