Prenatal Classes

Prenatal classes are a great way to prepare for the birth of your child. They can also give you pointers on taking care of your baby and help with developing relaxation techniques that may be used during labor.

Prenatal classes can teach you and your partner how to relax during delivery.

Prenatal classes, also known as childbirth classes, provide a lot of valuable information for expectant parents, especially if this is your first pregnancy. Typically, most classes cover:

• Pregnancy nutrition and health. Although most women take prenatal classes during the second half of their pregnancy, this is still a good time to make sure you are eating a proper diet for pregnancy.
• Labor signs. Many women worry that their water will break at an unexpected moment or that they might not recognize the beginning stages of labor, but your instructor will go over some of the early warning signs to put you at ease.
• Pain management. Most prenatal classes will teach you breathing techniques that may ease the pain of labor. They might also teach you focusing methods or offer tips on how to distract yourself from the pain. Your teacher should also discuss medication options, like epidurals.
• Baby care. With so much focus on the pregnancy, you may forget about the responsibilities that come when you have a newborn. Good prenatal classes should provide basic information about taking care of your baby, like how to take his/her temperature, when to call a doctor, and how to feed an infant.
• Your partner’s role. Your partner will hopefully be an active part of your labor and delivery, and prenatal classes can provide him tips on how to help you. From foot massages and back rubs to being a supportive coach and leading breathing techniques, women often find that it helps to have an extra set of hands.
• The Video. At some point, all prenatal classes offer The Video. Although there are many different versions available, the idea is to show a woman going through the actual stages of labor and delivery. This is too much information for some women, however, so viewing the video should be an option that you can avoid if you want.

There are several different types of prenatal classes that you can choose from.

Lamaze is a child birthing style that focuses on breathing techniques to lessen the pain of delivery. Moms-to-be also learn about labor positions, massage, and birthing balls. Lamaze encourages women to work through the pain of childbirth using these methods, but it doesn’t preclude the use of medication.

This technique also focuses on breathing and relaxation methods during labor and delivery, but it discourages medication. Also known as natural childbirth, practitioners believe that a woman’s body instinctively knows how to have a baby. With the right knowledge and support from the father-to-be, practitioners believe women can deliver without any need for pain medicine.

Many hospitals offer their own prenatal classes. This can be a great opportunity to meet other moms who will delivering around the same time you are. These classes can provide pregnant women with specific information about their birthing facility, such as medication usage and visitation policies.

Many times, these classes will also include a tour of the labor and delivery unit as well as the nursery. Seeing the actual room, or a model room, where you will deliver can be a great way to ease anxiety since you don’t have to wonder what it will look like.

Some women prefer to take their prenatal class in the comfort of their own home. This is often a great help for women who are on bed rest or who want to discuss the labor process in private, rather than in a room with strangers. Your doctor’s office may able to recommend a group in your area that conducts in-home classes.

Prenatal classes are not expensive. In fact, many insurance companies reimburse families who attend a certain number of classes. If you are concerned about the cost of a class, talk to your insurance company or your OB/GYN to see if there is any assistance available. These classes are so valuable that you should try not to miss them.

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