What is Antenatal Education
Women have been going to antenatal classes for many years now - in fact, I remember going with my mum in the 1970's. At that time, She was pregnant with my little sister. She did not even call them antenatal classes but would refer to them as her "breathing" classes.
In the past, they've been called "parentcraft" classes - which seems to imply it is about being a Mum and Dad, rather than learning about the birth itself, but that is not the case.
Take How Birth Works, for example; our antenatal classes cover stages of labour, preparing for your baby's birth, pain management, breastfeeding and caring for your newborn baby. We definitely talk about your role as a parent, but this is quite specific to what you need to know about caring for your newborn baby and how partners can support the mother.
Most parents-to-be want to have the support of a professional to learn the ropes, know what to expect and prepare themselves - the content is key.
In-person lessons
For some parents-to-be, the emphasis of antenatal classes is not on the lessons: they want to meet others due to birth in their area at around the same time, so they can meet up with them and make friends. Having a social circle also helps reduce pregnancy stress.
However, working as a midwife during the pandemic, I saw that this social need is getting harder to meet - with social distancing measures and stress over in-person commitment. There were many impromptu changes with antenatal class appointments, where you'd have to rebook or reschedule.
Of course, in any case, you should tell your midwife or maternity team if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or any concerns attending appointments! Also, check out NHS's guide before you decide.
Online & On-Demand
Many pregnant couples already have their group of friends who may or may not already have children. Some of my past students often say that making new friends might not be their top priority, mainly because they have full-time work and want this learning process to be flexible from a timing perspective. They often say they're looking for honest, non-threatening, comprehensive education and guidance to help them get ready for labour, birth, and become a parent.
Which option sounds more comfortable for you? At How Birth Works, we really want to help parents-to-be make the most informed and confident decisions for them, whether you prefer the in-person or on-demand style. But if you feel like many of my past students, who have limited time to commit and wants an efficient preparation process, I promise How Birth Works will suit your needs. In fact, this is why we created the course in the first place.