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| Labour and Delivery 101 |
Prenatal classes demystify the birth process
Margaret Bream
Generations ago, before giving birth became a high-tech event in hospital settings, women counted on female relatives and community elders to pass on the knowledge they needed to get through labour and delivery. Today, however, pregnant women frequently lack such support, says Wendy Newson, a registered nurse who runs the birthing program at B.C. Women’s Hospital in Vancouver. “In society today, we do not promote or celebrate birth as a normal process shared by families and the community,” Newson says. “It’s considered a private event, and many women have no idea what to expect or how to deal with the pain and emotions.” That’s where childbirth education and prenatal classes come in. The organized classes, usually held at hospitals or birthing centres, fill this knowledge gap, helping to mitigate the fear of the unknown often felt by first-time mothers. “In my experience, about 75% of new mothers today take prenatal classes,” says Newson. |
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Toronto journalist Jackie Burns, 31, and her husband, Anthony Durkacz, acknowledge the fears they had when Jackie was expecting their first child. Fears that were completely alleviated during six weeks of prenatal classes before Baby Nate was born this past June. The couple had chosen to use a midwife for the birth, and the classes were taught by the Midwives Collective of Toronto.
Typical prenatal classes cover such topics as what happens during labour and delivery, how the mother may feel and how her partner can assist, strategies for coping with labour pain, and the medical interventions that may be necessary. Instructors offer advice on preparing a birth plan that covers such questions as who will be present at the birth, or whether a support person, such as a doula (a non-medical birth assistant), will be present. Most prenatal classes also include information on maternal and infant care, breastfeeding and the needs of the changing family.
Equally important, these classes give parents-to-be the opportunity to build supportive relationships with other couples in their community.
Jackie and Anthony swear by prenatal classes. “It was the best experience,” says Jackie. “I can’t imagine not having that kind of information before giving birth. I had a sense of fear that was totally alleviated by my time with the midwives. I was always kind of terrified about labour, but the midwives really built up my confidence.”
Anthony admits he had no idea what to expect from pregnancy, labour, delivery and the aftermath, but the classes helped prepare him and his wife and, most important, gave them peace of mind. “Overall, that’s what I cherished most during this life-altering experience,” he says.
How long? Typically run for several hours once a week for six weeks for first-time parents, usually in the last trimester. Refresher classes for second-time parents are frequently compressed into a single weekend. How much? The cost of a six-week series varies but often runs in the $130 to $180 range, depending on how long the classes are and how much they cover. Well worth it. What’s included? Programs often involve meeting caregivers and touring the labour and delivery suites at the hospital or birthing centre. |
