Birthing and Babies Prenatal Classes
Preparing you for childbirth and bringing baby home
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When should I attend Birthing and Babies Prenatal classes?
A. In general, the later the better. Most expectant parents aren't ready to absorb this information yet in early to mid-pregnancy. Also, if you take the classes too early in your pregnancy, you may forget the information over time.
I recommend that you plan to attend prenatal classes between 28-36 weeks in your pregnancy, and ideally completing the classes 3-4 weeks before your baby is due. This means they are late enough for the information to be fresh in your mind, but early enough that you'll most likely be able to attend all of the classes in case baby decides to come early!
Q. When should I register for Birthing and Babies Prenatal Classes?
A. The sooner you register for your prenatal classes, the better! Registering early will help ensure that you have a class that fits your time schedule as well. Also, because the classes sizes are much smaller and intimate compared to others, you will ensure a spot in the classes if you register early. Ideally, I recommend that you register around week 20 in your pregnancy, however, it is never too late to register if there are still spots left in the classes of your choice.
Q. What methods or childbirth education philosophies are taught in Birthing and Babies Prenatal Classes?
A. There are many childbirth education philosophies and methods out there, and Birthing and Babies does not just focus on one specific method. It is important to realize that some methods are more aimed at women wanting an unmedicated birth( Hypnobirthing, Bradley and Birth Works) and others are aimed at encouraging women to make informed choices about all aspects of birth, including pain medication and medical interventions ( Lamaze, ICEA, Birthing from Within)
Birthing and Babies Prenatal Classes does incoporate information from several of the above mentioned methods, while the emphasis is placed on using a broad variety of techniques to teach women how to cope with labour, and teach partners how to best support a labouring woman . Also discussed in the prenatal classes are the medical interventions/options in birth, and how to make informed choices. Emphasis is on "freedom of choice based on knowledge of alternatives" and your role as an informed patient.
Q. Which is the best class format to attend? What are the options?
A. Birthing and Babies offers two class formats: a weekend series and a weeknight series. There is no better class format to attend because they both cover the same information and include approximately 12 hours of prenatal education. The weekend series is held on a Saturday and Sunday from 10-4:30pm, while the weeknight series is held on four consecutive evenings from 7-10pm. They are both held in a casual and interactive environment either in my home or at a larger facility based on the number of people registered for any particular prenatal series .
Q. How is the Prepared Childbirth Workshop different from the regular prenatal classes?
A. The Prepared Childbirth Workshop is different than the regular prenatal classes (2 day weekend series and the 4 evening series) in that it is an intensive 2 evening workshop held from 7-10pm- giving couples a total of 6 hours of prenatal education as opposed to the traditional 12 hours offered in the other formats mentioned above. This is otherwise known as a "crash course" and is a great option for those who cannot attend the regular classes due to busy schedules/scheduling conflicts, those who are expecting their second child and want a refresher, or those who prefer a more intimate small group setting (the workshop has a maximum of 6 couples attending as compared to the regular classes that have up to 12 couples attending)
The workshop topics cover all of the essentials that both first time and second time parents need to know, but the information is more condensed. The emphasis is that couples are encouraged to practice and review the strategies and information at home as there is less practice time alloted in the workshop.
Q. Why should I attend prenatal classes? Expectant parents sometimes wonder why they should bother taking childbirth classes and parenting classes when there are so many excellent books, websites, and videos out there with an abundance of information about childbirth and early parenting. Here are some benefits:
A. You are getting the BIG PICTURE: Because there are so many sources of information, and it's possible to find out any little detail you want to know with a web search, it's sometimes hard to know what information you most need to know. Birthing and Babies Prenatal Classes helps to filter the information, and helps you understand the essentials
A. You are remembering the information: Typically, students remember 20% of what they hear, 30% of what they see, 50% of what they do, 90% of what they say and do. Birthing and Babies Prenatal Classes uses a mixture of lecture, visual images, demonstrations, discussions and hands on practice sessions. This will greatly increase your understanding and how much you remember of what you have learned. In contrast, let's say you decide instead to do some extensive reading about labour, birth and parenting, it is commonly said that people only remember 10% of what they read. This means you may have retained a very limited amount of theorectical knowledge.
A. You are getting Hands-On Practice: While attending Birthing and Babies Prenatal Classes, many different comfort techniques for labour such as back massage and relaxation will be demonstrated, and you will also get a chance to practice them. Also, this means you get a chance to ask questions and get feedback on how you are doing. This hands-on learning is important for everyone, but especially the kinesthetic learners who learn best by doing.
A. You are getting Education Materials: Birthing and Babies Prenatal Classes offer a wide variety of visual aids, DVDs, comfort tools, and other materials you otherwise wouldn’t have access to. Watching DVDs of labor and birth can be an excellent tool for preparing for the experience of labor. (Class DVDs are generally more accurate, realistic, and less sensationalized than birth shows on seen on TV!)
A. You are getting social interaction and peer support: Birthing and Babies Prenatal Classes provide a great place to meet other expectant parents and share experiences.
A. You are learning from your instructor's experience: In class, you will benefit from Lorraine Merson's wisdom gained through both her professional and personal experience. As a labour and delivery nurse and mother of two young toddlers, she can offer examples of which specific comfort techniques have really helped her labouring patients in the past, share the many lessons she has learned about parenting, and offer personalized answers to any questions you may have.
A. You are getting your anxiety level reduced: Most students find that attending prenatal classes helps to reduce their fears and concerns as they learn more about what to expect, and thus have less fear of the unknown.
