here - Health Promotion Agency

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.
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