by Lauren Elisabeth

Created on: September 06, 2009   Last Updated: September 07, 2009

I had the best of intentions when I found out I was pregnant. I would eat healthy meals, follow the doctor's guidelines, and do my best to make sure I was prepared to welcome my son into the world. There were a lot of obstacles in my pregnancy, however. It was an easy pregnancy physically, but emotionally it was difficult to say the least. I found out I was pregnant shortly after my long-term boyfriend and I broke up. Although he claimed he would be there for me, he just wasn't and I faced a lot of the pregnancy alone or with my family and friends, who I felt didn't understand the loneliness I was dealing with.

When I had about 2 months left in my pregnancy, my son's father agreed that he would attend childbirth classes with me. At the last minute, he decided against it and to be quite honest, I did not want to go alone. I'd faced everything else pretty much alone and I think I would have broken down and cried to see the supportive partners with the other women. So I decided not to go. I went through it in my mind a million times: Did I make the right decision? Should I just have taken my mom or one of my close friends?

I had to be induced when I was 9 days overdue. I had an idea of what would happen and when I was admitted into the hospital I was still questioning my decision to not attend the classes. I went through 32 hours of hard labor before I delivered and my epidural ran out so I had to deliver almost completely naturally. In the end, I do not regret skipping the classes. Think about it: how long have they had childbirth classes? How many years did women deliver children without those classes? It comes naturally. I didn't even think too much about it while it was happening. I just did what my body told me to do and followed my instincts.

I don't think that childbirth classes are a bad thing. I'm sure they provide good information and tips on how to handle the labor process. Should you feel bad if you don't take them? No. It is a personal decision, like whether you want to breastfeed or bottle feed, give birth naturally or with epidural. I don't think the world will end because you don't take the classes. There are plenty of books on pregnancy which will explain most of what you will go through during labor and delivery, you can ask your doctor or nurse questions at appointments, and you can also ask for tips when you are admitted.

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