Antenatal classes are mainly geared at educating pregnant women to manage their pregnancy, labour and childbirth better. Classes are designed so that mothers are not frightened and anxious during labour; instructors also explain how to recognise the onset of labour and when they should go to the hospital. They use the language of health professions to explain the processes during childbirth such as managing your contractions, what kinds of relief from pain are available and how to work better with the doctors and midwives in delivering your baby. These are the basic elements of most antenatal classes.
Some antenatal classes cover more ground aside from the basics. There are hospital classes where they give mothers the advantage of being familiar with the names, faces and different parts of the hospital where the labour and childbirth will eventually happen. There are antenatal classes that give a deeper perspective in letting mothers understand the process of childbirth with regards to the female’s anatomy and physiology. These classes also explain why and when medical interventions may be necessary during labour. The best antenatal classes are those which go beyond the process of labour and childbirth and discuss the current techniques in feeding and basic baby care, as well as problems that may arise when caring for a newborn baby. Classes which focus mainly on exercise are not to be considered as substitutes, but rather as extension of these kinds of antenatal classes. Exercise classes are not necessary, but there are number of mothers who enjoy them and find them to be beneficial.
In exercise classes, be sure that the instructor has sufficient supervision on the women. During pregnancy, the ligaments become looser, pregnant women are less able to stabilise their lower spine and need more supervision. This is to ensure that they do not strain or damage their back and abdominal muscles. Exercise is not harmful during pregnancy, but nevertheless needs to be closely supervised by an expert.
There are antenatal classes that focus solely in preparing pregnant women for natural childbirth and other unconventional ways for giving birth. These mainly aim on giving you a short and straightforward labour, something which is quite difficult to predict as the way of childbirth depends largely on your pelvic bones and the position of the baby just before labour. Beware of antenatal classes which only espouse an entirely natural form of childbirth, opposing all forms of pain relief or help from doctors and midwives.
Despite the increasing trend of natural childbirth, studies have shown that there is no significant difference between those who have undergone natural childbirth and those who gave birth with medical intervention. Even if a mother is already sure that she wants a natural childbirth, circumstances such as the woman’s pelvic size and the baby’s position during the onset of labour will still largely determine how she will give birth.
Many parents find support groups in their antenatal classes, that is why it is important for you to look around and find a group in your class whom you will be comfortable sharing your crucial experiences of pregnancy with. |
