When is the best time in pregnancy to take classes?

In general, the later the better. Most expectant parents aren’t ready to absorb this information yet in early to mid-pregnancy. Also, if you take the class too early in your pregnancy, you may forget the information over time!

Plan all your classes so that they will be complete by two to five weeks prior to your due date. The ideal would be to complete them three weeks before baby is due. This means they’re late enough for the information to all be fresh in your mind, but early enough that you’ll most likely be able to attend all of them.

Be aware, though, that the sooner in your pregnancy you call to register for your classes, the better! Registering early will help you ensure that you have a class that fits into your time schedule well. Most places recommend registering for classes around week 20 of your pregnancy.

The only exception to this I have seen is Birth Works. They say “Families are encouraged to take Birth Works^® early in pregnancy, or even prior to pregnancy, as this is an optimal time for identifying and exploring beliefs about birth, interviewing caregivers, and choosing a birth place that feels safe.”

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Janelle Durham, 2003