Gloria Steinem has aptly said, “Childbirth is more admirable than conquest, more amazing than self-defense, and as courageous as either one.” Birthing classes, or antenatal classes, are the classes to help you and your spouse prepare for labor, the baby’s birth, and new parenthood.
They focus chiefly on birth, and labor and help you sail through newly acquired parenthood with ease and finesse. They help you with your newborn’s requirements and how to handle the baby. Giving birth is a miraculous phenomenon, but a less complicated one. Birthing classes can help you overcome all your hidden fears and apprehensions. In birthing classes, the experts give you information, about issues related to childbirth, cesarean birth, breathing techniques, vaginal birth, etc.
In This Article
- Are Birthing Classes Necessary?
- What Will I Learn From Birthing Classes?
- Top Benefits of Birthing Classes
- When to Start Taking a Birthing Class?
- Choosing the Right Birthing Class
- Types of Birthing Classes
- How Can I Find a Childbirth Class in My Area?
- FAQs
Are Birthing Classes Necessary?
The antenatal or prenatal classes are important as they prepare the expectant mother both mentally and physically to cope up with labor and the process of giving birth. It evades all the misconceptions associated with pregnancy and delivery processes. You will be given insights on vaginal and C-section birth, potential complications, coping tips and techniques, and how your partner can help you in this hugely transitional phase of your life.
What Will I Learn From Birthing Classes?
A childbirth class would help prepare you for labor and birth. You will be provided with information on labor, birth, and parenting and your fears would be addressed. Especially if you are a first-time parent, you would find these childbirth classes, especially useful as your questions, expectations, and worries would be addressed.
Techniques and basics, covering labor, breastfeeding, newborn care, early parenting, healing, etc., are covered, which would help you make informed decisions. Not only will you be equipped with information from experts, you will also know a lot of facts from hearsay when it comes to labor, birth, and newborn care.
[Read: What Are The Differences Between Vaginal And Cesarean Deliveries?]
Top Benefits of Birthing Classes
The benefits of birthing classes are enlisted below. The birthing classes provide you with a platform to get answers to your various queries and help you explicitly understand the main issues related to your baby’s birth.
They disseminate information about the following:
- The growth and development of your baby.
- Warning signs if something is seriously wrong.
- Making pregnancy, delivery, and labor easy and comfortable.
- Relaxation and breathing techniques.
- Recognizing labor pains.
- Signs of labor.
- Normal advancement of labor and birth.
- Techniques for dealing with pain.
- When you should call a doctor.
- What all your partner can do to help you in labor?
- Pain relief alternatives during labor.
- Role of an assistant during labor.
- What to avoid during pregnancy.
In a nutshell, everything related to pregnancy, labor, and delivery is covered under the curriculum of these classes.
They also tell you about the ways to handle newborns, breastfeeding, and tackling the emotional aspect of being a parent.
[Read: 10 Simple Ways Husbands Can Help In Labor]
When to Start Taking a Birthing Class?
You can start taking a birthing class in the first trimester itself. Birthing classes offered in early pregnancy tell you about the changes occurring during the first trimester of pregnancy while some offer information about late pregnancy is aimed at issues related to labor, delivery, post-delivery issues, breastfeeding, etc.
Choosing the Right Birthing Class
Choosing the right type of class depends largely upon your beliefs and personality. If you are a social person and love to meet and share with others, then a small and intimate class is good for you. If you are not fond of talking and sharing too much, then a large class is ideal for you.
Before actually joining a birthing class, you should try to find out what it encompasses and its underlying philosophy.
Ask Your Instructor the Following Questions
- Teacher’s background and what sort of training has she/he taken?
- Whether the teacher has any professional certification from a nationally recognized organization?
- Is there any particular method that they follow?
- What are the topics of discussion, lectures, and practicing techniques?
Types of Birthing Classes
The choice of childbirth classes would depend on your needs and the location where you are. If it is pain management by natural means that you want to know, then you should enroll yourself with an instructor who can teach you breathing and comforting techniques. In the other case, you might not want someone who is a strict antidrug instructor.
1. Lamaze Classes
These classes are offered by corporate hospitals in Indian metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, etc.
The Lamaze philosophy is “birth is normal, natural, and healthy” and that “women have a right to give birth free from routine medical interventions.” Lamaze empowers and educates expectant mothers so that when the need to give pain relief medication arises, they are ready to give their consent and are well informed.
Lamaze classes enable the would-be mothers to rely on their inner wisdom and intelligence and make their choices wisely about their own health as well as the betterment of the baby
2. Bradley Method Classes
With the philosophy that childbirth is a natural process and an emphasis on diet and exercise during pregnancy, the Bradley classes teach women to manage pain with deep breathing techniques. They also involve the partner as an integral participant to help women through labor. Bradley classes are also called as “Husband-Coached Birth” classes
3. CAPPA India
CAPPA India provides comprehensive professional training institutions based in Mumbai. It aims at providing information and education to expectant mothers regarding childbirth, lactation, pregnancy, fitness during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum issues.
CAPPA empowers, advocates, and connects with childbearing women and aims to forge a productive and positive association between organizations supporting healthy and well-informed families
Several other types of birthing classes are also available, based on the above-mentioned methods or on yoga techniques to deal with pain. Hypnobirthing courses that use deep relaxation and self-hypnosis as pain management techniques are also available at many places.
How Can I Find a Childbirth Class in My Area?
Finding a birthing class is not a tough task. You can ask about them your family doctor, obstetrician, friends, or midwife. You can find antenatal classes offered by:
- Private teachers
- Hospitals
- Midwives
- Videos and DVDs
- Health care providers
- Community health institutions
- National childbirth education institutions
Many maternity Hospitals in Hyderabad and Chennai offer prenatal classes for pregnant mothers. Antenatal classes are also offered by hospitals in Mumbai.
Pain is the most important and deadly fear of a pregnant woman, and antenatal classes can help you overcome this fear, help you cope with pain, and make the process of giving birth easy and comfortable. Nevertheless, it was a memorable one.
“The pain of childbirth is not remembered. It’s the child that’s remembered.”
FAQs
1. Are Childbirth Classes The Same As Lamaze Classes?
Childbirth classes help you plan and reduce your worries about labor and delivery. These classes can help first-time parents identify labor. Lamaze classes emphasize safe childbirth and intervention timing and reasons.
2. What Should I Wear To The Birthing Class?
Childbirth classes require comfortable clothes. Wear non-itchy clothes. Dress comfortably. If classes involve activity, wear elastic yoga pants.
Read Also: How To Choose Lamaze Classes?
