Preparing for Childbirth? Take a Prenatal Class

As a couple embarks on the journey through pregnancy, it usually comes with many surprises and lots of unknowns. One of the best things first time parents can do to prepare themselves is to take a childbirth or pre-natal class.

The best time to take a class may be different for each couple. My local hospital recommends taking a class so that you finish it 3 to 4 weeks before the baby's due date. My husband and I followed this recommendation and I found it to be very beneficial. Taking the class at this time has allowed us plenty of time to finish the class in case our baby decided to come early, but it is also close enough to the due date that we will be more likely to remember what we learned.

Though it may not be required, I would recommend attending a childbirth class with your spouse or whoever will be your main support person during delivery. Mommies-to-be aren't the only ones with questions and anxieties. You may find that many men are not very familiar with the birthing process, so a childbirth class can be especially educational for them. Each week my husband leaves our class asking me different questions and being excited about the new information he has learned. It has really helped him feel more a part of the pregnancy.

Obviously, childbirth classes will differ from hospital to hospital, but most will probably go over the same basic information. The class my husband and I took met once a week for 4 weeks. During the first week our teacher, who was a registered nurse working the labor and delivery unit, talked with us about different things women may experience during pregnancy. Some of these symptoms included varicose veins, swelling feet, back aches, headaches, and many others. The class came up with a huge list of different discomforts and our teacher took us through each one and explained the causes of each and many times offered suggestions to relieve some of the discomfort.

A Cute Baby

Credit: Carin Araujo

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