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

[AliBaby]

I am interested to hear what people thought about antenatal classes.

Can you also tell me if you would recommend them or not.

Thanks

Mods- wasn't sure whether to post this here or not? Feel free to move if I have posted this thread in the wrong place.

[Ozziehoffy]

Just a quick heads up before getting to your question... only mods are allowed to post in purple so people know when they are moderating

To your question... we didn't go to antenatal classes. We did hypnobirthing or calm birthing. The reason we didn't go to antenatal as well was we didn't want to undo the good and calm things we were learning... about how the body works and that it's not something which has to be painful as it's natural etc etc. If you have time and can find a hypnobirthing practioner in your area I'd recommend that over antenatal... just my opinion though

[AliBaby]

Thanks for the heads up cass. All changed.

I got the hypnobirthing book and dvd as it came highly recommended and I am glad to hear someone else recommending it. Cant find a hypnobirhting place in my areas that offers classes so am hoping the info that I read in the book will be helpful but am worried about DP as he is my support person and nto sure if he is going to know what to do.

[water_lily80]

The best thing I learnt was to always say "Can we have 5 minutes to think about that" whenever a doctor wanted to do anything/perform intervention. Our fantastic midwife made us say it out loud during the lessons. At the time I thought it was pretty silly but on the big day I was so glad I remembered it!!! My doctor wanted to hurry things along, but once we asked for our 5 minutes we spoke to the midwives who agreed I was doing really well on my own and we told him "no". Bubs was born with no interventions whatsoever (apart from gas), it was a fantatic birthing experience, even though he was posterior.

I wish I had of remembered those wise words for birth of DS2. I will be hammering it into my head for #3!!!

[SweetPea]

We did the hospital classes with ds1 and found them to be totally useless in preparing you for labour. Second time around we did a calmbirth course which was just amazing, I totally recommend it, it really helped you to relax and let go and to not tense up, and to stay calm and focused, I was so calm and quiet that the midwife didn't realise I was fully dilated. I found it was also really useful in helping you deal with any issues or fears you may have about the birth so that you are in the right head space. I see you're in Sydney, there are a number of calmbirth classes around, try googling it.

[Astrid]

Dh said he found the Active Birth class we did more useful for him than the normal classes. They really helped him understand what was required of him as birth support. I found it fitted in quite well and filled the gaps that the normal classes missed. I like the classes as they were run by the family birth centre, so were very focused on minimal intervention and also focused in the early stuff when bubs finally arrives.

[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!!