Just got back from spending a wasted hour at a MW led PC class - ended up being a biology lesson without the structure of what we got when studying biology for GCSE, with silly exercises like matching cards to pictures - on the floor!! Great for all of the pg women there who couldn't bend down!
I am really disappointed. I expected a sort of how to plan your birth, what to expect class, not to be labelling bits of anatomy. I understand yes, before anyone says anything, that they have got to accommodate everyone, but surely most of us know where our vagina is - if we don't by now then we must be very surprised at how we got pg in the first place. It was more suitable for the only 15 year old girl (ok, she may have been a bit older, but certainly looked 15) in the room, rather than for the rest who were all mid to late 20s.
It didn't help that the room was hot and stuffy, and that there were over 20 of us in there, with school chairs that ARE designed for 14 year olds and not for pg women.
We left early, my dh who is the most sqeamish guy going, the sort that leaves the room when casualty or holby is on - was very put out that a lot of the comments were preceded by, dad probably wont know this. How condescending?! The TMI moment for the MWs was describing the "show" or the mucus plug that comes away when your waters break. They actually apologised for describing it in advance. I know that for a fact I have had to talk to my dh about stuff like that already, surely by 6months pg, the dads-to-be in the room would have an awareness that birth has a bit of gore and bodily fluids involved somewhere??
Sorry, rant over, probably a bit unreasonable, but feel so patronised and like we waste our time.
I was a trainer before I stopped work, and could see that these were lovely MWs trying to help their patients, but they obviously didn't have the skills needed to deliver that sort of content. It was disjointed, unplanned and the exercises were very childish and unsuitable.
What about your experiences? Am I being a bit unfair?