Preparing for Ante-natal classes


Many women/couples, especially those expecting their first baby, book to attend childbirth preparation classes.
Childbirth preparation classes can be helpful if this will be either parent’s first baby or if you are hoping to feel better prepared and more actively involved in decision-making during your labour and birth than you were during your previous birth/s.
It is a good idea to book into Birth and Parenting Preparation Courses before you are 20 weeks pregnant. Most providers aim to have women and their partners start attending classes when they are approximately 28 – 30 weeks pregnant and finish before they are full term i.e. 37 – 38 weeks pregnant.
There are several different sorts of Childbirth Preparation Courses available.
The most commonly available courses are 12 – 14 hours long and usually consist of 6 – 7 evening sessions. Some providers offer Saturday morning classes or even compressed courses that are held over a single weekend.

Potential benefits of attending childbirth preparation classes
You and your husband/partner/support person have an opportunity to learn about the process of labour and birth and some parenting skills together.
Childbirth Preparation classes complement the information you get from your LMC during your pregnancy check-ups. Classes should provide you with information and allow you time to ask questions that will expand your understanding of labour and birth and parenting a newborn baby. They should also assist you to make informed choices about your care during pregnancy labour and birth and the early weeks after you’ve given birth.
You have the opportunity to ask questions that you either forget to ask your LMC or there isn’t time to cover at your pregnancy check-ups.
Your husband/partner gets information about the process and the role of a partner in labour and father without having to plough through the mountain of books you have on the bedside table.
You meet with other pregnant parents and can form new friendships andsupport groups with people who are also experiencing the joys and challenges of pregnancy and parenting.

Choosing an Antenatal Course

Although many courses cover the same topics, the way that these are presented will be different depending on the beliefs and style of the Childbirth Educator who is teaching them.
Beliefs about Birth and Parenting
You should ask the organization running the course or the childbirth educator teaching the course about the beliefs underpinning the information that will be provided in the course.
Some courses will prepare you for how birth is usually managed in your area; others aim to assist women/parents to experience birth with the minimum of medical assistance. Some will prepare you and your partner to be active participants in decision-making during labour and birth and when you are parenting, encouraging you to pick and choose from the information provided and adapt it to meet your needs, while others will support you to accept the recommendations of your Lead Maternity Carer. 
If you’ve already made choices about how you’d ideally like to give birth, especially if you’ve decided to give birth at home, you need to make sure that the childbirth educator will be able to provide you with accurate information that will support your choices.
You should decide what information you need and try to find a class that will provide this information e.g. there is no point in going to a class that focuses on teaching labour coping skills if you are planning to have an epidural as soon as you arrive in hospital or an elective caesarean section.

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