Ask your obstetrician or call your local hospital to find out where and when childbirth classes are held. Some places charge a nominal fee for these classes; others offer them free of charge. Either way, you need to have some education before embarking on a birthing journey for the first time; it may be called “natural” childbirth, but for first-timers there is often the feeling that nothing is going to happen naturally.

Choosing a class that suits your needs may seem like a daunting task at first; recognize that what's most important is that ultimately you feel comfortable with the teacher and the methods being presented.

Different Approaches to Childbirth

Most good childbirth instructors teach a little bit of all of the childbirth methods, to give first-time parents a good base from which to choose. These methods include:

• Lamaze. This method stresses relaxation techniques and conditioning to combat labor pain.

• Grantly Dick-Read. The originator of the idea of including fathers, this method relies on a combination of relaxation technique and mental preparation to get through labor.

Essential

Though you may feel silly panting and blowing with a pillow up your shirt and a roomful of other couples doing the same, these types of exercises can actually help alleviate your delivery-room fears well in advance — not to mention give you and your partner something to joke about on the way to the hospital.

• The Bradley Method. This childbirth method employs diet and exercise as a sensible way to work through the pain in a medication-free manner.

Some classes take bits and pieces of each method to combine the best advice available; you can decide what will work best for you. Whatever you choose, you should sign up early in order to begin the class no later than your seventh month. You want to make sure you'll finish the course before the baby arrives.