What Expectant Mothers Learn In Antenatal Classes

As a mother-to-be, you want to provide the best care for your baby. Taking antenatal classes online or in person can give you the head start you need as you embark towards motherhood. We look into the topics they cover and how they can benefit expectant mothers like you.

What are antenatal classes?

First-time expectant parents typically don't know the first thing about childbirth and pregnancy. Antenatal classes are tailored lessons for expectant parents about everything they need to know about pregnancy, labour, and early parenthood. While these classes are not mandatory, they are worth considering for mothers-to-be and their partners.

Antenatal classes online come with several lessons that take a few weeks to a month to complete. Antenatal courses occur weekly and take a couple of hours per lesson. Although if expectant parents need more information, they can take additional classes. More often than not, expectant mothers invite their partners to join the courses. You can also find antenatal classes for single mothers or in different languages.

What topics do they cover in antenatal classes?

Antenatal classes tackle various subjects relating to childbirth and pregnancy, from feeding to maintaining optimal health during pregnancy. These are only some of the topics you can expect to learn in antenatal classes online or face-to-face:

• What happens during childbirth
• Maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy
• Exercises and workouts that are pregnancy-friendly
• How to cope with labour and the different types of pain relief
• Information about various types of birth and interventions
• Feeding and caring for your newborn baby
• Assessing your health after birth

Antenatal classes may cover all these topics or focus on specific aspects. It's a good idea to check your prospective antenatal course to verify if the lessons suit your expectations as an expectant mother. The scope of topics antenatal classes cover may vary from place to place.

What are the benefits of antenatal classes?

While it's a given that antenatal classes can equip you with the knowledge to prepare you for childbirth and early parenthood, there are other advantages to taking antenatal courses. Here are the other benefits:

Meet fellow expectant parents

Antenatal classes are the perfect avenue to meet and communicate with expectant parents like yourself. Pregnancy and early parenthood can be overwhelming. Being around people going through a similar path will make you feel more assured and not alone. The people you meet can also become friends who support you during and after birth. As first-time parents, building a trustworthy network of similar friends is worth it.

Ease your anxiety

While it can be hard to admit, pregnancy and childbirth bring many uncertainties. The good news is that it's normal for expectant parents to feel overwhelmed and anxious about the future of raising a child. While antenatal classes won't take out 100% of your worries, your newfound knowledge will give you confidence in your decisions and the road ahead.

If you don't have time to have face-to-face lessons, taking antenatal classes online can help you learn all the topics you need at your own pace. You can also join a virtual community of expectant mothers to communicate your woes and excitement while coming up with baby names in NZ. Good luck on your parenting journey!