Pregnancy Advice : Antenatal Classes

The purpose of antenatal classes, regardless of what form they take, is to prepare expectant mothers and their partners for childbirth and caring for their newborn baby.
Types of classes available will vary. People living close to major cities will have easier access to a wider variety of classes, some of which may charge fees, but classes run by local hospitals and midwives are free. You are entitled to time off work to attend antenatal classes.

Antenatal classes should cover the following:

• information about the process of childbirth and the stages of labour,
• relaxation techniques and physical preparation advice,
• what medical procedures and interventions may occur,
• pain relief options, pros and cons,
• learning about and trying different birth positions,
• practising and asking about all decisions you may have to make during the labour process,
• breathing techniques and massage,
• advice on what changes to expect after the birth of your baby.

As well as reassuring and assisting parents with their possible needs, and methods for coping during the whole process, antenatal classes are a great source of social involvement. Many people find it very comforting and feel they benefit from the atmosphere of mutual support found at these gatherings.

Types of Classes

Free classes are usually run by midwives sometimes with the help of physiotherapists and health visitors. The different types of classes could include:
• couples classes,
• women only classes,
• refresher classes (geared toward people who already have children and sometimes including creche facilities),
• early pregnancy classes (possibly including advice on nutrition, back care, stopping smoking, exercise, preparation and antenatal screening tests),
• hospital classes (at around 34 weeks pregnancy these may be offered and could include a tour of the labour suite)

Other types of classes include aquanatal exercise, and classes which are run by organizations like the National Childbirth Trust (NCT). The NCT is the UK’s biggest network of private antenatal classes.

Active Birth Classes

The aim of active birth is to help the mother to use movement and gravity to labour more naturally. It involves the use of yoga movements specifically designed for pregnancy.

Some expectant mothers will attend more than one set of antenatal classes. It is best to check that any private class involving exercises is taught by someone with a relevant qualification. If in any doubt, consult a health care practitioner.

In any event some form of preparation, both physical and psychological, is bound to be of some benefit.

About Inner-Vision Ultrasound / and who is giving you this advice

Inner-Vision Ultrasound has been set up by a husband and wife team of healthcare professionals, Richard and Catherine Warriner. Richard trained as a sonographer at Leeds in 1996. He worked at Pinderfields hospital Wakefield, Queens Park Hospital Blackburn, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Liverpool Womens Hospital as a sonographer before joining General Elecctric as an ultrasound applications specialist. In this role Richard travelled throughout the north of England demonstrating and teaching the latest ultrasound techniques to sonographers and doctors in obstetrics and general ultrasound. It was with his time at GE healthcare that Richard was introduced to the Voluson 730. It is the class leader in 3d/4d technology and as such the only choice for Inner-Vision. Richard has lectured to ultrasound students at the universities of Liverpool, Leeds and Lancaster. Catherine is a Midwife, gaining her degree in Midwifery from Newcastle University in 1996. After working in the north east for a short while after qualification, Catherine returned home to Lancashire and has now worked at Queens Park hospital, Blackburn, for the last eight years. She has been a community midwife, worked in an antenatal clinic and has had extensive experience on the antenatal wards.