I run antenatal classes, AMA about antenatal education and preparation

[Happymchappyface]

Just that, I run antenatal classes so AMA about antenatal education.

Who did you train with?

What are your qualifications?

Do you think there is enough education regarding baby development? Or working together?

Parents i see post-partum only recall birth preparation, skin to skin and maybe breastfeeding. Many of them claim to not know about the importance of eye contact, talking to baby, feeding frequency, or the fact babies wanting to be held.

The other thing is that some parents really underestimate how time-consuming and draining babies are. Most partners are helpful in the first few weeks after birth while the mother recovers, but generally its seen as "easy" by society, particularly men. I really dont think expecting parents consider this, hence why so many women struggle with useless partners afterwards.

Do you discuss allergies? My life would have been so different if we had had how to spot cmpa in my NCT group

I went to a couple of classes when I was pregnant with my first child OP and found much of the information offered to be wildly incorrect - heavy emphasis on 'you'll be in labour for hours, only go to hospital when your contractions are 3 minutes apart!" (In my case my labour was 45 minutes from start to end and it turns out this is fairly common and was also true for two subsequent births) I was also told other things that turned out to be inaccurate and found the whole thing vaguely patronizing given that the room was filled with 30+ aged professional women.

I'm sure you're not like this but do you educate women on precipitous labour?

I have university qualifications in pregnancy, birth and infant feeding along with adult education.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but my course is 50/50 birth and postnatal life. I spend a lot of time with parents talking about normal newborn behaviour, connecting with they baby, planning for the postnatal period and how dads and non birthing mums can support their partner.

i also encourage them to go away and have conversations around things like parental leave and finances.

I will say though that sometimes parents aren’t ready to really take onboard some of the postnatal topics. Particularly if their baby is still quite an abstract thought.

Again I don’t know about others but I do mention it as a CMPA mum myself. It’s more about what is normal in a nappy / normal for a newborn and when to seek support and where to seek it.

In the time I have it’s impossible to go into everything or every possibility. Plus I know very little about the parents’ personal circumstances unless they’ve shared something with me.

How old were the youngest and oldest mums you have taught?

Do you teach separate classes for certain groups of people like teenagers, women having c-sections etc?

Do you cover education on lots of different types of births or focus on 1 type?

Are you a midwife?

Have you given birth yourself and did that experience change how you taught your classes?

Again, I can’t speak for others but I do (hello another fast mum here) so when asked how long Labour is I always answer that it can be measured in days, hours or minutes. I also give examples of ‘clients’ (I.e me because I don’t share my birth experiences as me in the group) who had very quick births. We also talk through what to do if that happens. We discuss when to go to the hospital being mindful of how long a journey that is for them and how they are feeling.

I do lots of CPD to keep my knowledge up to date and will always admit if I don’t know something / it’s a question better aimed at their health care team.

A big part of my training was adult education. It’s one thing to know about Labour and birth, but if you cannot communicate that to adults in an appropriate way then you can’t do your job.

Thanks OP, that's great to hear!

Great questions

No idea. I don’t have the parents ages in my notes. I know there hasn’t been anyone under 18 (I’d get told that) but beyond that I don’t ask. I’d guess most of my parents were in their 30s with a few in their 20s or 40s.

no, I could do a specialist young mums version but haven’t recently. I can also offer a separate infant feeding session for couples where breastfeeding isn’t an option (e.g mum has had a mastectomy)

I cover both vaginal and caesarean birth in my courses. With 45% of births being a c birth it’s vital I cover it properly so parents are prepared, especially if that’s not what they wanted.

no, not a midwife but like I said I have relevant university qualifications. in some ways it’s good not being a midwife. I’m not part of the system and can be independent. Also you can be an amazing midwife but not great at adult education.

Yes I have children. Yes and no (see previous answers) but part of my training for this was processing my own births so I didn’t bring them into the sessions. It’s not about me. If I were to say ‘I gave birth like this’ as the ‘teacher’ that’s almost suggesting that the parents need to do as I did. It’s their birth not mine.

That said I do hide my experiences like having a fast birth or my period returning at 6 weeks despite EBF as things that have happened to ‘previous clients’. It’s information that useful (your period can come at that stage) without it being ‘you must do this’ …. If that makes sense ..

Do your clients also have ~45% c-section? Where I live (not UK), rates are more like 20% which is mostly due to better maternal care, a part of which is better education and empowerment of women during pregnancy. When we know what to expect and are taught how to articulate if somethng doesn't feel right, we get help earlier, which means happier and safer births.

I don’t know as we don’t record how clients gave birth. However from what they’ve said in post natal meet ups most of them were induced or had a c birth.

Theres so many factors that influence the c birth rate. Education is a part of it, but there’s only so much informed parents can do.

What is the name of your university qualification? I only ask because DD is interested in similar but she’s not sure she wants to be a midwife.

It sounds fascinating. How long have you been doing it for?

It was called perinatal education and practice at the uni of Worcester. My year was the last year running it :( though it might come up again in another place.

As much as I love my job it’s VERY part time. Eventually I’d like to do further training and become a doula, but it’s not the right time for that now.

Why does so much antenatal education in the UK push a medication free birth (and why is a medication free birth seen by some as a moral achievement?)

What do you think of hypnobirthing?

Good question. In my course we cover all types of pain management from ‘natural’ methods to epidurals.

I think hypnobirthing is great for those who want to do it.

How much do the classes cost?