Antenatal Classes can be very useful and helpful. They help you during your pregnancy and also help you to prepare for the birth of your baby and those early days as well as teach you how to care, look after and feed your baby, wther you are breastfeeding or formula feeding. You also get the chance to meet some of those people who will help you during your pregnancy, labour and afterwards and you will also get to meet other pregnant women or couples who are due the same time as you.
Antenatal classes come in many forms and run by many different agencies.
The NHS provide free antenatal classes, your midwife will ask if you are interested in attending these classes during one of your early appointments with her, and the classes usually start at around your 32nd week of pregnancy. They usually involve approximately 6 weekly sessions and there is time for talking to a health professional or to other pregnant women over a cup of tea after each session. These sessions vary depending on area but most classes are for the pregnant woman and their partner can also attend if they wish.
Antenatal classes may cover a large amount of information including:
- How to eat healthily
- Helping you to decide where to give birth
- Writing your birth plan
- Packing a labour bag ready for your baby’s birth
- What you need to buy for your baby
- How you are going to feed your baby and what you need to buy
- Breastfeeding
- Preparing your body for birth
- Pain relief for labour
- Relaxation techniques
- Positions for labour
- Types of birth – Home birth, water birth, hospital birth
- Caesarean sections
- Assisted birth
- Recovery after birth
- What to expect from your baby
- Letting your baby sleep safely
- How to dress your baby
- How your baby will grow and develop
- Your emotions and feelings
- Type of support available to you
Often a get-together session will also be arranged for a few weeks after your baby has been born.
You can also attend antenatal classes which you can pay for and these are available from several different agencies or groups including the NCT (National Childbirth Trust), Lazy Daisy Birthing and similar private groups. These courses are very similar and normally held in the evenings or weekends so that it is easier for both parents. The group sizes for the NCT antenatal classes are often much smaller than the NHS ones and allow more time to look at specific areas in more depth and allow more time to practise any practical aspects. These classes do tend to book up very quickly and therefore if you wish to attend these sessions it is vital that you research and book as early as possible during your pregnancy.
There are also other organisations that may run antenatal classes in your area and your midwife may be able to help you to identify them or you could use the internet to research your local area. There are also antenatal courses run on-line, many of which are free of charge and send you information on a weekly basis. There is no limit as to how many different courses you partake in and many people do both paid for ones as well as the free NHS ones.
If you are unable to attend any antenatal classes, speak to your midwife who may be able to suggest books or DVD’s for you to use to understand your pregnancy, labour, birth and new-born better.
by Jenny, mum to William and James
