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Antenatal care and antenatal classes A NTENATAL CLASSES Think about what you hope to gain from antenatal classes so that, if t<strong>here</strong> is a choice, you can find the sort of class that suits you best. You need to start making enquiries early in pregnancy so that you can be sure of getting a place in the class you choose. You can go to more than one class. Ask your midwife, or health visitor, your GP, or the local branch of the National Childbirth Trust (see page 147). ‘My midwife told me about a class specially for teenagers. It was great being with girls my age.’ ‘It really helped me to make up my mind about how I wanted to have my baby.’ Antenatal classes can help to prepare you for your baby’s birth and for looking after and feeding your baby. They can also help you to keep yourself fit and well during pregnancy. They are often called parentcraft classes and may cover relaxation and breathing, and antenatal exercise. They’re a good chance to meet other parents, to talk about things that might be worrying you and to ask questions – and to make new friends. They are usually informal and fun. You may be able to go to some introductory classes on babycare early in pregnancy. Otherwise, many classes will start about eight to ten weeks before your baby is due. Classes are normally held once a week, either during the day or in the evening and last one or two hours. Some classes are for expectant women only. Others will welcome partners, either to all the sessions or to some of them, or you can go alone or with a friend. In some areas t<strong>here</strong> are classes especially for women whose first language is not English, classes for single mothers and classes for teenagers. The kinds of topics covered by antenatal classes are: • health in pregnancy; • what happens during labour and birth; • coping with labour and information about pain relief; • exercises to keep you fit during pregnancy and help you in labour; • relaxation; • caring for your baby, including feeding; 64
Antenatal care and antenatal classes • your own health after the birth; • ‘refresher classes’ for those who have already had a baby; • emotions surrounding pregnancy, birth and the early postnatal period. Some classes will try to cover all these topics. Others will concentrate more on certain aspects, such as exercises and relaxation or babycare. The number of different antenatal classes available varies very much from place to place. Classes may be run by your hospital, by your local midwives or health visitors, by your own GP or health centre. The National Childbirth Trust also runs classes, usually in the evenings and in the leader’s home. The groups tend to be smaller and may go into more depth. Antenatal classes may give you the opportunity to get to know some of the professionals involved in your care and to ask questions and talk over any worries you may have. You can find out about arrangements for labour and birth and the sort of choices available to you. This can help you in thinking about making your own birth plan (see pages 37–8). You’ll usually be able to look round the labour and postnatal wards. You may also be able to meet some of the people who will be looking after you when the time comes for your baby to be born. Classes can give you confidence as well as information. You’ll be able to talk over any worries and discuss your plans, not just with professionals, but with other parents as well. Speak to your community midwife if you can’t go to classes. The midwife may have videos to lend you or you may be able to hire or buy one. ‘It was great meeting people who were going through the same things I was.’ ‘It was brilliant having classes in the evening because it meant Phil could help me during labour.’ ‘Being shown the delivery suite helped us – just knowing what to expect made it less scary.’ Classes may be available in your area for specific groups, such as single women and teenagers. Ask your midwife for details. 65
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Pre the nancy gbook Your complete g
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Pre the nancy gbook Your complete g
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11 LABOUR AND BIRTH Getting ready f
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Your pregnancy at a glance 16-20 we
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Introduction Every parent is differ
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Your health in pregnancy • Eat pl
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Your health in pregnancy VEGETARIAN
Page 15 and 16: Your health in pregnancy S MOKING W
Page 17 and 18: Your health in pregnancy P HYSICAL
Page 19 and 20: Your health in pregnancy Foot exerc
Page 21 and 22: obstetrician. If you do catch toxop
Page 23 and 24: 2 Conception To understand about co
Page 25 and 26: Conception T HE WOMAN’ S MONTHLY
Page 27 and 28: Conception T HE BEST TIME TO GET PR
Page 29 and 30: Conception K NOWING THAT YOU’ RE
Page 31 and 32: How the baby develops WEEKS 4-5 Wee
Page 33 and 34: How the baby develops WEEKS 15-22 T
Page 35 and 36: 4 Deciding where to have your baby
Page 37 and 38: Deciding where to have your baby HO
Page 39 and 40: Deciding where to have your baby B
Page 41 and 42: 5 Feelings and relationships From t
Page 43 and 44: Feelings and relationships WORRYING
Page 45 and 46: Feelings and relationships FAMILIES
Page 47 and 48: Feelings and relationships C OPING
Page 49 and 50: 6 Mainly for men Some pregnancies h
Page 51 and 52: Mainly for men PRACTICAL SUPPORT Yo
Page 53 and 54: 7 Antenatal care and antenatal clas
Page 55 and 56: Antenatal care and antenatal classe
Page 65: Antenatal care and antenatal classe
Page 69 and 70: The feeding question B REASTFEEDING
Page 71 and 72: The feeding question Support contac
Page 73 and 74: The feeding question HOW OFTEN AND
Page 75 and 76: The feeding question B OTTLE FEEDIN
Page 77 and 78: The feeding question The temperatur
Page 79 and 80: 9 Problems Your body has a great de
Page 81 and 82: Problems FEELING HOT IN PREGNANCY D
Page 83 and 84: Problems can empty it properly. The
Page 85 and 86: Problems VAGINAL DISCHARGE Almost a
Page 87 and 88: 10 What you need for the baby This
Page 89 and 90: What you need for the baby O UT AND
Page 91 and 92: 11 Labour and birth This chapter de
Page 93 and 94: Labour and birth PAIN RELIEF IN LAB
Page 95 and 96: Labour and birth • your contracti
Page 97 and 98: Labour and birth AT THE HOSPITAL Go
Page 99 and 100: Labour and birth • The heartbeat
Page 101 and 102: Labour and birth You can have your
Page 103 and 104: Labour and birth treatment takes ab
Page 105 and 106: Labour and birth A vaginal breech d
Page 107 and 108: When pregnancy goes wrong been due.
Page 109 and 110: 13 The first days with your new bab
Page 111 and 112: The first days with your new baby c
Page 113 and 114: The first days with your new baby b
Page 115 and 116: Babies who need special care I NCUB
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The early weeks: you L OOKING AFTER
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The early weeks: you T HE ‘ BABY
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16 The early weeks: your baby The b
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The early weeks: your baby Sadly, w
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The early weeks: your baby CHANGING
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The early weeks: your baby WASHING
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The early weeks: your baby W HERE T
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as green, leafy vegetables and brea
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Rights and benefits How much is it?
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Who gets it? Pregnant women and new
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Rights and benefits You must have n
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• your baby is born before your M
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Rights and benefits (MAT B1 form),
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Rights and benefits Giving notice f
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Rights and benefits If you return t
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• state that this is an applicati
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USEFUL ORGANISATIONS Some of these
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In Northern Ireland: Northern Irela
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INDEX A abnormalities tests to dete
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The Pregnancy Book “It contains e
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