Though this class provided us with some knowledge we might not have known to access otherwise and we met some nice people there, overall our experience was bittersweet.
First, it was really overcrowded. There were a total of 15 couples in our class -- no way to get to know even half of them and no time to answer everyone's questions. I was hoping for an intimate experience and to get to know some other couples, and it just felt like they were packing us in.
Second and more importantly, the tone from the instructors was very specific. I took this class with the understanding that they would be non-judgmental about an individual's preference for childbirth. From the beginning, there was a very heavy emphasis put on natural childbirth with no interventions, including epidural use. The tone from the instructors and materials (elk video -- if you know what I'm talking about, you know) was condescending -- rather than being honest about their preferences, they pretended to be OK with various choices while clearly preferring their "Business of Being Born" approach. The reasons they gave for avoiding any interventions or pain relief options were outdated, but scary enough to seem credible -- i.e. once you get started on one (pitocin, epidural, etc.) it's a slippery slope toward more and more and an eventual c-section, which no one wants. There was very little talk of why a person might need a medical intervention, and when it was mentioned (a vacuum was passed around at one point), it was clearly with a very negative slant.
I tried as hard as I could to avoid interventions at my birth (we are talking DAYS of "natural" laboring) but in the end, for reasons beyond my control, I had to have an emergency c-section. A doctor later told me that had I started pitocin right away, I might have been able to avoid the outcome I had, but who knows. It all matters a lot less now that I have a healthy, beautiful baby.
What I do know is that while it would be crazy to blame the class for what happened during my birth, I really wish that they could have discussed the very real reasons for needing certain interventions. I wish they would have been less judgmental, in an effort to make it less scary for those of us who WILL end up needing some of these, regardless of how hard we try to avoid it. I wish they had pointed out the increased risks that older mothers face for complications (the docs told me that being over age 32 was a risk factor in what happened), given that well over 3/4 of the class was in that category. But mostly, I just wish the tone had been a little more honest.
P.S. I'm editing this to add that though I had complaints about the class, most of the doulas I met through this network were/are wonderful, warm and supportive women that I would highly recommend if you are looking for a doula to support you in your childbirth experience. read more