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Four Pregnancy Class Options for Busy Moms

Moms-to-be are busier than ever and devoting time to a pregnancy class can be impossible. However, no matter how prepared you think you are from a quick Internet search, a class provides one-on-one information that can't compare.

Why the drop in attendees?

Expectant moms have plenty to ponder. In addition to names and nursery details, there are fears about giving birth. A generation ago, most moms dealt with their concerns by taking a series of childbirth classes, but fewer and fewer women are signing up these days. In fact, a 2009 Parents survey found that just 53 percent of new mothers had attended a childbirth course, down from 70 percent in 2002, according to research conducted for the Maternity Center Association.

What gives? For one thing, women are busier now, says Randi Hutter Epstein, M.D., author of Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth From the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank. "In the past, women weren't working as much. Now we're juggling jobs, pregnancy, and other demands." Plus, the Internet makes it easy for women to get info they think they need. But a few hours spent online won't necessarily arm you with the same knowledge and reassurance that an in-person class can provide, even if you're pregnant with baby #2. Moreover, there have never been quite so many options as there are no, both in terms of course focus and the time you have to commit. Read on to get a quick look at what's out there.

Get Me Out: A History of Childbirth From the Garden of Eden to the Sperm Bank

Parents.com