Best Birthing Classes Compared: Mama Natural vs. Lamaze, Bradley, & Hypnobabies!

Picking a childbirth course can be challenging when there are so many to choose from–especially when there are several tried-and-true options that so many parents LOVE! As always, comparing these options will help you choose the one that is right for your personality, worldview, and desired birthing environment. And while there may be age-old classics in the world of childbirth education, some of these courses may not be easily used in a variety of birth settings, or reflect the latest updates in birth evidence, interventions, and techniques.

It’s no secret that we think the Mama Natural Birth Course is the best online birthing class–and very possibly the BEST childbirth class in general! We have worked long and hard to create a fun and versatile course that you can apply to a variety of birth settings and circumstances, by yourself, with your partner, or other support people. Since 2016, we’ve helped thousands of women have their best, most natural births without memorization, tracks to listen to repetitively, or a specific breathing technique (Don’t just believe us! See what hundreds of parents have to say.)

We LOVE our course, but we want you to make a well-informed decision for you and baby, just like we hope you make for all your birth-related decisions! This means providing you with all the information you need to find your perfect birthing class.

To help you make an informed choice, we’ve created a comprehensive comparison of our childbirth course to some other well-known birthing class options.

Choose a class below to see how Mama Natural compares, or scroll to the bottom for a complete comparison chart of all the classes we covered.

Best Online Birthing Classes Comparisons

Mama Natural vs. The Bradley Method

The Bradley Method® is a 12-week course that focuses on how your birth partner can best support and guide you during a natural birth in a small group class setting under the teaching of a certified Bradley Method instructor. Click for full Comparison.

Mama Natural vs. Lamaze

With its roots in 1950s France, Lamaze was born out of a Russian doctor’s observations of the needs of laboring women. Well-known for the memorization of a series of breathing techniques, Lamaze group classes are now based on Six Healthy Childbirth Principles taught by a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE). Click for full Comparison.

Mama Natural vs. Hypnobabies

Hypnobabies is world-renowned for giving parents the hope of significantly reduced pain during birth by learning self-hypnosis for labor and birth in the virtual classroom setting, or through self-study. Click for full Comparison.

Community

Many parents may seek an in-person class for the camaraderie that comes from group education with other people in the same stage of life. Other parents may seek group classes to have a real-life connection with the instructor for answers to questions specific to their birth. And some people just learn better in the structured class setting!

Online classes are a prime option for many expecting families looking for the flexibility that comes from not having to complete classes on a particular schedule or at a predetermined pace–parents can complete class material together or even separately if needed! However, being motivated to complete coursework without the initiative and “peer pressure” that can come from a group setting may be a barrier to optimizing online materials.

Investment

When comparing in-person and online birth class options, cost and time is always a factor. All brand name in-person birth classes we have identified average $350, while the Mama Natural Childbirth Course is significantly more affordable at just $264.

Total time investment for in-person classes may be more than the 10 hours Mama Natural requires–anywhere from 12-24 hours–but longer is not always better! Time in class may be spent discussing topics or addressing concerns that are not broadly applicable to all births. In addition, hours spent in the classroom may not include the time necessary to effectively practice and apply the techniques or methods outside the classroom.

Accessibility & Comfort

Ultimately, convenience is vital to choosing the right birth class so that everything learned can be helpful during birth! Accessibility can be a big challenge when looking for an in-person class, and all class types are not always readily available in all areas, especially with current conditions limiting in-person interactions in many areas, or requiring masking during events. Locating an instructor and class close by, finding a compatible schedule, and making sure not to miss class sessions can be big inconveniences during pregnancy.

Taking an online class eliminates all of these logistical challenges. Online birth classes may allow participants to return to the material whenever they need a refresher on the information, which can be particularly helpful to retain the material (so it can be applied during the birth!) and compose a birth plan. Choosing an online class also allows parents to learn about a private topic in the privacy and comfort of home, and to pause course work whenever needed for reflection, or to better absorb what is being learned.

One of the best parts of choosing Mama Natural is our special blend of affordability, convenience, comfort, and community.

As a self-paced option that can be done on your time, in your space, we also offer a connected community atmosphere in our Facebook groups where our birth-expert admins weigh in on questions, with one year of access to the course for repeated reference, all for just $264.

The Mama Natural Birth Course