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Antenatal classes

Antenatal classes can help to prepare you for your baby’s birth and for looking after and feeding your baby. They can also help you to keep yourself fit and well during pregnancy. They are often called parentcraft classes and may cover relaxation and breathing, and antenatal exercise. They’re a good chance to meet other parents, to talk about things that might be worrying you and to ask questions – and to make new friends. They are usually informal and fun.

 

You may be able to go to some introductory classes on babycare early in pregnancy. Otherwise, many classes will start about eight to ten weeks before your baby is due.

 

Classes are normally held once a week, either during the day or in the evening and last one or two hours. Some classes are for expectant women only. Others will welcome partners, either to all the sessions or to some of them, or you can go alone or with a friend. In some areas there are classes especially for women whose first language is not English, classes for single mothers and classes for teenagers. The kinds of topics covered by antenatal classes are:

  •  health in pregnancy;

  • what happens during labour and birth;
  • coping with labour and information about pain relief;
  • exercises to keep you fit during pregnancy and help you in labour; relaxation;
  • caring for your baby, including feeding;
  • your own health after the birth;
  • ‘refresher classes’ for those who have already had a baby;
  • emotions surrounding pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period.

Some classes will try to cover all these topics. Others will concentrate more on certain aspects, such as exercises and relaxation or babycare.

 

The number of different antenatal classes available varies very much from place to place. Classes may be run by your hospital, by your local midwives or health visitors, by your own GP or health centre. The National Childbirth Trustalso runs classes, usually in the evenings and in the leader’s home. The groups tend to be smaller and may go into more depth.

 

Antenatal classes may give you the opportunity to get to know some of the professionals involved in your care and to ask questions and talk over any worries you may have. You can find out about arrangements for labour and birth and the sort of choices available to you. This can help you in thinking about making your own birth plan.You’ll usually be able to look round the labour and postnatal wards. You may also be able to meet some of the people who will be looking after you when the time comes for your baby to be born.

 

Classes can give you confidence as well as information. You’ll be able to talk over any worries and discuss your plans, not just with professionals, but with other parents as well.

 

Speak to your community midwife if you can’t go to classes. The midwife may have videos to lend you or you may be able to hire or buy one.


 ‘It was great meeting people who were going through the same things I was.’

 ‘It was brilliant having classes in the evening because it meant Phil could help me during labour.’

 ‘Being shown the delivery suite helped us – just knowing what to expect made it less scary.’  

 

 Information provided by Health Promotion England.