Pregnancy & Baby 

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Should I book into some antenatal classes? Where? When? How?

On the whole, antenatal classes are a good thing. Even if you think that you:

• can’t face it
• haven’t the time
• know enough already
• think ignorance is bliss
• plan to have a Caesarean Section

So what’s the point?

1. Source of information. Knowledge will mean it is more likely that you will enjoy your labour and will not be frightened.
2. Going to classes helps focus your mind on your baby. (Believe it or not, this has been shown to be important.)
3. Meet other women in the same boat. With any luck, not only will you share your pregnancy with them, you will make life-long friendships.

Having a baby is venturing into the unknown and most of your girlfriends who have been through it will tell you it’s better to know what’s in store. Being pregnant and giving birth is a very important time in your life, a time you want to enjoy and remember feeling good about. You certainly don’t want to feel frightened.

Being prepared for a new experience depends on knowing what will happen, of course. Unfortunately, as soon as you become pregnant, you will discover that there is no shortage of advice and some very alarming tales of other people’s birth experiences. At least formal classes will give you some accurate information.

Antenatal classes familiarise you with the basic anatomy and physiology of childbirth so that you are able to understand what is happening. Fear is a powerful contributory factor towards pain. If you know what to expect, you are obviously more likely to enjoy your labour.

Classes should also teach you:

• to recognise how labour starts
• when it is important to go to hospital rather than stay at home
• how to breathe through contractions in order to conserve your energy
• the different types of pain relief on offer
• how to help your midwife deliver your baby

Honestly, ignorance really isn’t bliss when it comes to having a baby. Knowledge is power and you will feel less helpless in labour and much better equipped to make decisions if you are reasonably clued up.

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