Your due date is just a few short months away, and you know that you want to be well prepared for a natural birth. The question on your mind now is, “Should I take online childbirth classes or local, instructor-led birth classes?”
Here are 5 reasons why online childbirth classes might be the best fit for you:
1. Inhibition Free
Labor and birth preparation is an intimate journey that some couples find to be be uncomfortable to share with complete strangers. You can view online childbirth classes in the privacy of your own home, or anywhere that you and your birth partner feel comfortable. If the idea of watching birth videos or practicing squats with strangers makes you feel uneasy, online childbirth classes may free you from inhibitions that can arise in a group setting.
2. Ultimate Convenience
Do you and your partner have busy, conflicting schedules? Online childbirth classes offer couples maximum convenience and can be viewed anytime, anywhere on a computer, tablet, or phone. Online childbirth classes eliminate the need for babysitters, long commutes, and scheduling conflicts. And best of all, there’s no need to sacrifice convenience for quality. Online childbirth classes can offer high-quality, comprehensive instruction for natural birth that rivals the best group classes.
3. Rewind Button
For some learners, repetition of coping techniques and other class material is essential. In a group class setting, important details can be lost in the moment. Online childbirth classes, on the other hand, provide the luxury of a rewind and pause button. This feature enables you to review the lessons over and over as needed, or to take that quick refresher course a week before your due date. We recently heard from a couple who reviewed their breathing technique videos in the hospital as a distraction activity at the start of a labor induction! Now, that’s getting the most out of an online class!
4. No Bed Rest Blues
It’s not uncommon for moms on bed rest to feel like their lives are on hold. However, bed rest doesn’t have to mean an end to your plans to attend a childbirth class. Online childbirth classes offer couples the chance to prepare for birth, even while they’re temporarily stuck at home. You can fill your newly-found free time by practicing your coping tools, such as deep relaxation through guided imagery. As an added bonus, partners will also learn skills such as effleurage and massage, which they can then use to help make your time on bed rest more comfortable.
5. Grab Some Popcorn
If the traditional classroom setting bores you, online childbirth classes offer an engaging alternative. Online childbirth classes can be fun and compelling to watch, and will likely replace Netflix for a while. Kopa Birth® online instructor, Katie Griffin, is witty, energetic, reassuring…and pregnant with baby #5! Virtually join Katie as she guides, teaches, and then gives birth to her own baby – an opportunity unique to those who enroll in Kopa® online childbirth classes.
Are you still torn between the choice of taking that local class with your best friend who shares the same due date or enrolling in an online childbirth class? Whatever route you take, knowledge is power. You can never have too much knowledge when it comes to the labor and delivery process. Online childbirth classes and local classes each have their different benefits, so do your homework and make the best choice for you and your partner!