Labour and the birth of your child will be one of the most physically arduous events
of your life and will give you the greatest prize of all, your baby. Preparing for
this event both mentally and physically will help you through the moments when you
want to pack your bag and go home because you don’t feel that you can do it any
more.
By attending the ante-natal classes for exercise, relaxation, yoga, pilates
and childbirth education you will be armed with the knowledge you will need to get
through this phase of your pregnancy. We also suggest you look at the exercises
in
The Pregnancy Centre website for some great information on how you can prepare
yourself for labour.
Antenatal Classes
Going to antenatal classes helps you prepare for the labour and the birth, and for
being a parent. It’s also a great way to meet other new parents, and to share support
and information with them.
Most classes are run over a 6-8 week period and are usually conducted in the evening
to allow both of you plenty of time to get there after work. If this time does not
suit you and your partner there are some classes that cover all the information
in an intensive format over a weekend.
Topics that are usually covered by these courses include:
- Pregnancy health.
- Advice on eating and staying fit.
- What to expect from the labour and birth.
- The sort of pain relief you might choose.
- Coping with labour and birth.
- Possible problems.
- Caesarean section.
- Information on feeding your baby.
- Looking after your newborn baby.
- Many courses will incorporate a tour of your Hospital or Birth Centre.
Attending an Antenatal Class provides you with a great opportunity to ask questions
in an informal environment. Don’t be shy; most of your fellow “parents to be” are
probably wondering the same things as you.
