When to start antenatal classes

Now you're pregnant and aware that you'll be taking care of two people, yourself and your baby. So how exactly do you take proper care of yourself and ensure the baby inside you does not metamorphose into a fish 😂😂. Your safest bet is going for antenatal classes. During your classes you get all the information, counselling, tests and examinations necessary for a healthy pregnancy.

Don’t worry it’s not going to be another round of slap-me-in-the-face-appointment with a doctor; it’s a great oppurtunity to discuss and plan your pregnancy with professionals. Antenatal classes are also a good way to make friends with other couples who are expecting babies around the same time as you. These friendships can help you through the first few months with your baby.

Choosing an antenatal class

Think about what kind of information you need the most from antenatal classes so that you can find out which class suits you best.

You should make enquiries early so that you will be able to secure a place in your chosen class.

If you are confused on which classes you should go for or need information about the classes near you, ask your midwife or healthcare provider for help.

In the UK, National Health Service (NHS) antenatal classes are free.

What happens in antenatal classes

Antenatal classes are held once a week, either in the morning or evening, depending on the facility you're using. Usually the topics covered in antenatal classes are:

● healthy eating and balanced diet

● exercise routine during pregnancy

● Labour and child birth education

● relaxation techniques

● information about different kinds of births and interventions

● pain relief and how to go about it

● neonatal & child care

●breastfeeding and breastfeeding techniques

● Handling yourself emotionally pre & post-labour

● Scans, ultrasounds and other necessary tests are carried out regularly.

The topics above is a general list that is usually treated during antenatal classes. The number of antenatal classes varies from place to place.

So whether all these topics will be treated or not depends on the facility/hospital you use.

Best time to have antenatal classes

To determine the best or most suitable time to start antenatal classes, it depends on some factors.

If your pregnancy has reached 16 to 20 weeks atmost 28 weeks and you don't have any issues you can start antenatal classes.

But if you're having issues you should start as early as when you're 12 to 16 weeks pregnant.

For example there are people who have previous history of preeclampsia and eclampsia, they need to be registered early so that they will be properly monitored.

P.S: actually I’ve had a shocking experience of what was supposed to be a baby coming out as a fish, I will share the story in a later post. Watch out for it!

Now it’s your turn…

If you have any questions, drop them in the comments. Please drop a clap if you enjoyed reading this article. A special shoutout to my first follower Elgharissiyoussef.

Thank you for reading.