First of all, what do I mean when I say "an independent childbirth class"? An independent childbirth class is one that is not associated with the hospital you are planning on delivering at. Most hospitals hold classes for expecting parents that range from Lamaze or Breastfeeding 101 or Newborn Care. The major pro of a hospital-based class is that it is usually more affordable. They are not trying to make a profit solely on teaching classes. Their profit is from patients getting medical care at their facilities. They facilitate classes as a benefit of choosing their hospital to birth in. With hospital-based classes it takes minimal effort to find or choose a class. It's the first place people look and if your provider's office is associated with the hospital, they are provided with marketing materials to give to their patients. Sounds great, right?! While there can definitely be quality childbirth classes facilitated by hospitals, there are some things to conside