It seems as if the moment you become pregnant, you are bombarded with 10 million decisions to make, from deciding the name of your baby and whether or not to have a gender reveal party to what brand of diapers to buy. Then, at some point in the midst of the hustle, it suddenly hits you that you don’t know what you are doing. “Isn’t there a ‘mom’ class where they teach you all you need to know?” you may wonder. While childbirth education classes may not teach you all the secrets of being a parent, it’s the perfect place to start. But how to know which prenatal class to choose? Here’s a basic overview of your options: Decide what your priorities are and align them with the class focuses to see which will work best for you and your family!

WHEN TO START
Each class will vary on its length and frequency of meeting; some will meet one time for a few (or several) hours, and others will stretch out over the course of months. Others, too, will be up to you based on the number of lessons you want in order to practice learning the techniques. Many experts suggest taking classes during your second or third trimester. Once you determine which class(es) you want to attend, be sure to check the class schedule and sign up early—the spots fill up quickly!

HOW MUCH DO PRENATAL CLASSES COST
The price of ​​childbirth education classes varies; some places offer them for free, while others charge a small fee. It often depends on the duration and type of class. Some private insurance providers also cover the cost.

Lamaze Technique
Lamaze courses are popular because they give moms-to-be an overview of their options during labor and delivery, including different ways to position themselves, breathing and relaxation techniques to use when in labor, and pain management. These classes involve 12 hours of instruction (often broken up into a series of classes) walking through what happens after the baby is born, explaining early postpartum care, medical procedures, breastfeeding, and how to cultivate a healthy new lifestyle.

The Bradley Method
The Bradley Method is what you might picture when you think of pregnancy scenes in the movies where the husband is coaching the wife as she pushes through the pain without medication. (Not the movie scenes where the husband passes out and is no help.) It is a 12-session class that prepares you for unexpected situations like an emergency cesarean (C-section) birth. Each class stresses nutrition and exercise as well as how to manage pain. Plus, you get to practice going into labor, allowing your partner to receive guidance on how to coach you when the baby decides it’s time to make an appearance.

Alexander Technique
You can take lessons to practice the Alexander technique whenever you want during your pregnancy, though the more you practice, the more you will learn on how to enhance your balance, freedom of movement, and coordination. The primary benefits include minimizing discomfort during pregnancy, strengthening pushing effectiveness in delivery, and preparing your body for post-childbirth nursing and recovery. (Fun fact: You don’t have to be giving birth to take one of these classes!)

HypnoBirthing
Hypnobirthing, also known as the   Mongan method, is a set of five two-and-a-half hour classes or four three-hour-classes that educate on pre-birthing parenting, the consciousness of the pre-born baby, and how to employ self-hypnosis techniques to have a natural childbirth.

Birthing from Within
Birthing from Within is a relatively new type of educational class, founded in 1998 by a midwife, working to inform parents of the deep psychological and emotional transformations of birth. It seeks to reassure parents of their  self-worth outside of medical outcomes and prepare them to cope with birth trauma.

Home Birthing Class
If you’re planning to give birth in your home, you might find a home birthing class to be of immense value in teaching you the benefits and risks, as well as what to do if something goes wrong. Moreover, these classes train you on how to manage birthing pains.

Waterbirth Class
While less common, certified waterbirth experts lead classes for moms-to-be who are planning to give birth in the water. You can also find free online courses and resources for it as well.

WHERE TO FIND BIRTHING CLASSES
Once you start looking, you’ll be surprised at all of the options available to you. Ask your obstetrician, family doctor, or midwife to start, as well as any friends who have recently had kids. Some classes are online, such as Pamper’s free 10-video course, while others are in-person, such as with Birth Center of Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge General, Baton Rouge Clinic, Maternal Love, and Woman’s Hospital. There are many different places you will find these classes offered, but typically they fall under the umbrella of maternity health providers, whether it be hospitals, charities, a private practice, or even a doula.

Of course, if you need more help after the baby is born, there are plenty of classes out there to aid with newborn sleep schedules and more.

No matter which kind of class you land on, each of these prenatal classes will help you walk away feeling more confident and prepared for your little one to enter the world. Not to mention, they will provide you with a community of women in the same season as you and give you expert teachers who you can ask for advice and answers throughout your entire pregnancy journey.