Why take a prenatal class?
When you find out you are expecting a baby, there are so many things to do- find a care provider, get your home ready for baby, prepare for birth, and plan for postpartum. There are so many ways to go about this preparation, but one of the things I recommend to all people who will have a baby joining them soon is to take a class to help them prepare.
You might be wondering, what are the benefits of taking a class if I am also hiring a doula? Or why should I take a class in addition to all the research I am doing on my own? Ultimately, how you prepare for birth and postpartum is a personal decision. But, I’ve never heard anyone say that they regret taking a class.
Here are a few of my favourite reasons to recommend a prenatal class:
If you take a private class, it can be completely tailored to your needs. This includes content, learning pace, learning style, your schedule, and more. It gives you a chance to work with an instructor that you feel like you have a connection with, and gives you space to ask any and all the questions that you have.
On the flip side, some people prefer a group class, often because it gives them a chance to connect with other expectant parents, either in-person or virtually. This an be a great way to gain community, especially if you don’t have many other new or expectant parents in your life.
If you have a limited budget, a class can be a great way to empower yourself with knowledge, even if you can’t afford to hire a doula.
If you live somewhere where you don’t have access to doula support, taking a class with a doula (many doulas, including myself, offer online support and education) gives you a chance to learn as much as possible before birth. Top tip— take your class with your support person(s) so that they can learn how to be a great support for you.
While many prenatal classes focus largely on birth preparation, many, including my own, equally focus on preparing for postpartum. Our culture has a huge emphasis on birth preparation, and sometimes we seem to collectively forget that postpartum lasts much longer than birth!
If you have limited time to dedicate to preparing for birth and postpartum, a class can help. It takes away the hours of sifting through various information to find what is really relevant and important, and condenses the most important parts into a digestible format, often with handouts and visual aids to assist in learning.
Even if you are working with a doula, a class can be beneficial. Prenatal visits with doulas are a great way to build a relationship with your doula and plan and prepare for birth and postpartum, but won’t allow for enough time to go into all the details and information. Many doulas offer bundled packages where you can take a class from your doula and benefit from their continued support!
Finally, taking a class offered by an independent provider (i.e. not from a hospital) allows you to learn un-biased information that can be vital when it comes to advocating for your preferences during labour.
Classes are such a great way to build your metaphorical toolbox and get evidence based information about pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and newborn care. Not only are they informative, but they are often really fun as well, and help you get in the headspace to prepare to become parents. If you are interested in taking a prenatal class with The Planted Doula, book a free consultation today!