Are Birth Classes Worth It for Dads?

Daddy Clay: If someone told you, you should take a class in pole vaulting, would you? Daddy Brad: No. I will not. Daddy Clay: That's bad example. How about if someone said, you should drive across town once a week in order to take a class in time travel? Daddy Brad: Oh! Yeah. That sounds funny. Daddy Clay: Well, in that case, you are really good candidate for birthing classes. Daddy Brad: Today's show is brought to you by BabyBjorn. You are carrying, your part of the load is easy with the BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Original Spirit, BabyBjorn. Daddy Clay: Maybe at this point, I should disclose that I'm a little biased when it comes to birthing classes? Daddy Brad: That's obvious. Daddy Clay: See my oldest was a preemie, he was born one week before. We were supposed to start our birthing classes. And with the other one it seemed like we kind of a new - we were doing already, so I never take it one. Daddy Brad: I get it. You're bitter. Missed out. Daddy Clay: Yes and I will definitely own that. But somebody still has to explain to me the importance and validity of a man taking a class in giving birth. Daddy Brad: Now it seems like a great time for some expert interviews. Male Speaker1: Joddy (ph) and I with Ardon (ph) first born, we took a birthing within course. Male Speaker2: We decided not to take the birthing class and we watched the video that was so bad. Female Speaker: I don't think anything can prepare you for which you have to go through. Male Speaker1: We actually got a chance to talk about pregnancy, talk about what we expected at the birth. Male Speaker2: Well, this was like some birthing video with this really annoying woman, I don't know who it is, could be one of the sponsors. Male Speaker1: At one point, the papa wolves had just around the mama wolves and howl? Male Speaker3: I think there is a place for it, but I don't think there is a place for me in them. Male Speaker4: One think I liked about a birthing class was all the glowing pregnant women. Male Speaker1: It prepared you for the necessity of being out of your comfort zone in labor. Daddy Brad: So you need to tell me that you are going to tell your wife that you are not going to birthing classes?! Daddy Clay: No. No. I didn't say that. Don't put those words in my mouth. Daddy Brad: You want to be there man. You want to be there! Daddy Clay: Yes. Daddy Brad: As the first time dad, you need all the information you can get. Information about the hospital, information about what is going to happen, information about caring for the baby. Daddy Clay: Yes. I get it. I'm not saying, I wish I had gone to birthing class. Okay! I am jealous. That's where this is all coming from, adjusting if there is a few schools of thought in the whole birthing class world, that overemphasize slightly the dad's role. Daddy Brad: Overemphasize. Daddy Clay: In my opinion. Daddy Brad: The dad is critical. The dad -- Daddy Clay: You are critical. You have a uterus. Show me your uterus. Daddy Brad: The dad has to know - the dad needs to know what mom wants and he has to be ready to present that and defend that. These classes they teach you about where to go. They teach you about where to park. They teach you about -- You are a huge proponent of the birth plan. They teach you about all this stuff. Daddy Clay: You are hugely pregnant right now. Daddy Brad: You got to go. You've just forgotten. Daddy Clay: It's written on your face. Daddy Brad: You've forgotten. Daddy Clay: I am a pregnant dad. Daddy Brad: You have no idea what you're saying. You wouldn't tell your wife -- Daddy Clay: What kind of benefit would you hope or carry through for dad, his winter birth class and the delivery. Marcela Billig: I really hope to normalize the intensity of it, because it's a quite intense experience and I just want dads to know that, that's completely normal and okay and expected. And if they are worried about any part of it, they know what questions to ask and who to ask. Actually you kind of fill in some information about what's going to happen during a child birth process. Not to make the daddy now, a birth professional but to just outline what the process is going to look like and also how he can help. Daddy Clay: Okay, okay. I'm convinced. Don't make the same mistake that I did. Get to a birthing class, soak up all the information you can. And then buy our DVDs. This is Due Dads, the Man's Survivor Guide to Pregnancy and Labor and Delivery available on Amazon. Daddy Brad: We'd like to thank our sponsors, BabyBjorn. You know Daddy Clay, you don't need a class to know quality European design, BabyBjorn. Daddy Clay: If you have got some ideas birthing classes, whether or not they were valuable to you, what kind of classes you thought were the best, please join the conversation at DadLabs.com. It's the best dad's forum online anywhere. We'll be there. We want to hear from you. DadLabs.com.