Early registration is recommended, with a starting date in your seventh month. It is suggested that you plan on finishing a series of 4-6 classes several weeks before your due date. The earlier you sign-up, the more options and flexibility you have regarding class dates and times. Classes run 2-2 hours in length and are very informal. Many health insurance companies will reimburse you for childbirth education classes.
Some hospitals even offer a single, eight-hour class, which is a condensed version of the series.
Ask about the qualifications of the instructor for any class you register for. You especially want a childbirth educator certified by a national childbirth education organization. The majority of programs use a combination of all three in their teachings. These three teach breathing and relaxation, the role of the labor support person, the process of labor, and skills to cope with the discomfort of labor. Pregnancy and labor are normal, healthy occurrences.