What was the most valuable thing you and your partner learnt at antenatal classes?

[AliBaby]

Karina- what you wanted to learn about is exactly what I want to know.

[Karina]

Well I wanted to learn it, but it seemed that no one else really did! So we learned about epidurals, pethidine, gas... a little bit on massage which DH didnt seem to retain in his brain, rupture of membranes.... and a little bit on induction.

Acually, I did learn something new at the class! - to have lots of sex late in your pregnancy because it can bring on labour because theres something in sperm similar to whats in the drug they use for inductions... or something like that!

[Kitt3n]

Karina- what you wanted to learn about is exactly what I want to know.

in that case hun forget the hossy classes!

read

new active birth
hypnobirthng - the mongon method
men at birth

gosh i cant remember the other one i read....

check out belly belly's on line store, i am sure you can get most of them there

GL hun, you really can do it without drugs

[BeautifulMadness]

that nothing ever goes to plan and that its ok

[AliBaby]

Thanks Kitten- I have the hypnobirthing- Mongon Method on my bedside table and the CD that goes with it. thanks for the heads up on the other books.

BeautifulMadness- My birth plan is to go in with an open mind as I ahve no idea what to expect. Thanks for your advice.

[Ozziehoffy]

Ali, I'm really not sure what the difference between hypnobirthing and calmbirthing is... it does sound similar to me also. I can only vouch for the hypnobirthing - Mongan method. Just a side note from something our hypnobirthing practitioner told us... don't listen to the CD from the book too early on... something to do with there are certain relaxation/visualisation techniques that you shouldn't do until closer to due date.

[AliBaby]

Thanks for that tip. Should I save the cd until I go into labour?

[Kailani]

Had our first class last night. Most valuable thing I learnt: When feeding, shove as much boobie into baby's mouth as you can, not just the tip of the nipple! I really didn't know that Apart from that, nothing! I learn more on here!

[Ozziehoffy]

Nah, you can listen before that Ali. I think like the last 4 weeks?? Crap... let me email my lady and ask her...lol. Will get back to you!! I will tell her you're too far from anyone to do the course but got the book

.... email sent to her

[Deltadawn]

Definitely "Streetlight feeding" .... it is in regards to nighttime feeding of baby:

* Dont turn on any lights (only use the light of a streetlight outside)
* Dont talk to baby
* Dont make eye contact with baby
* Dont play with baby

You need to make nighttime feeding as boring as possible for them so they dont look forward to it everynight.

To be honest, I found antenatal classes pretty useless. I read a lot of textbooks during pregnancy and by the time the classes came when I was 32 weeks pregnant, I pretty much knew all the theory stuff (if only theory was all there was to it!!!!!!)

[Ozziehoffy]

Ali, she said that by 33 wks it's ok and recommended to listen to the cd... she said it's best not before 12 weeks... (to be honest I thought she told us longer but nonetheless).... the reason is that the cd has you visualising your uterus opening etc...so listen and visualise away honey!!