What goes on at an antenatal class?

Although nothing truly prepares you for birth and your baby’s arrival, antenatal classes are a great starting point. Contrary to popular belief, they’re not just about puffing and panting for comic effect. They also offer advice and tips to help you support your partner every step of the way.

Around two-thirds of British fathers attend antenatal classes (also called childbirth classes) to learn what to expect during labour and birth, how to support your partner at the birth and to prepare for life with a newborn baby.

It can be a little strange... but you might just learn a thing or two along the way.

It can be a little strange. You might find yourself sitting cross-legged on the floor and, possibly, moaning, humming, and playing games. However, leave your inhibitions at the door and you might just learn a thing or two along the way. They can also be fun, sociable occasions, and you may meet other like-minded people who become friends for life.

What do they cover?

• Your partner’s health during pregnancy and after birth
• Her health in pregnancy: the basics
• Exercises for later pregnancy and labour
• Helping at the birth: what you can do
• What happens during labour and birth (videos may be shown)
• The birth
• Pain relief
• Pain relief at the birth: the options
• Relaxation techniques for labour
• Your partner’s emotions during and after birth
• Post natal depression: mums
• Breastfeeding and caring for the newborn baby
• Breastfeeding: how it works
• Living with a newborn baby
• Babys home: what next?

When to start?

Most classes encourage you to start in the third trimester of pregnancy (from 26 weeks) so that all the women in the class are due around the same time. They are usually held once a week, and last for six to eight weeks.

Can I demand time off from work to attend?

Time off work
Although the government recommends that dads should have time off, it's not a legal right.

Your partner can, but, as yet, this right has not been extended to fathers. However, an increasing number of employers are opening the way and organisations such as the Equal Rights Commission, the National Childbirth Trust and The Fatherhood Institute are calling for fathers to be covered by this right.

• Your workplace rights

What are the options?

Ask your doctor, midwife or friends about what’s available in your area. Generally, there are two choices:

NHS classes - these are free and usually run by midwives or health visitors in hospitals, healthcare centres and doctors’ surgeries. The groups are informal, but can sometimes be quite large.

Private classes - not free and normally held in community centres or private homes. Some groups also offer labour and birth weekends, or day-long sessions. Private classes may include:

Small group classes (for five to seven couples) are available through the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), the largest private network of antenatal classes. All sessions are run by NCT-trained antenatal teachers

Active birth classes specialise in yoga and other relaxation techniques, water births and preparing for labour. These include Lamaze classes, which focus on breathing techniques and other ways of dealing with labour pains. www.birthchoiceuk.com, www.activebirthcentre.com

Bradley Certification classes prepare you to coach your partner through a natural childbirth. Classes include discussions about exercise, diet, and relaxation. 

What other antenatal education is available?

• Some NHS and private groups also offer refresher classes for parents who have already had a baby.
• Many hospitals offer tours of the birthing wards in the final month of pregnancy, so that you and your partner know what to expect on the day.
• Some hospitals also offer breastfeeding workshops.
• Some ‘graduates’ of antenatal classes form new parent support groups or informal playgroups.

Author

Gavin Evans is a father of two daughters - aged 17 and 13 - and lives in North London. 15 years ago he changed gear from being a full-time reporter to full-time parent and part-time journalist. His writing on issues affecting fathers has been published in a wide range of publications including The Guardian, The Independent, Men's Health, Cosmopolitan, The Times and The New Statesman. He has written five books on sport, a chapter on men in Your Pregnancy Bible and is completing his first screenplay. Gavin also regularly posts blogs at www.gavinevans.net.

Your experiences?

Did you go to ante-natal classes? What was it like? Cringe-worthy or useful? Share your thoughts and experiences using the comments system below.