Today we had our first semi-private prenatal class. It is given by a doula that happens to be journalist specialized in perinatal information. Most pregnant couples in Montreal attend free prenatal classes given by the provincial government.After much consideration, we decided to make a few financial "sacrifices" and get classes from a private maternity centre. I have nothing against public classes. I actually attended one before Christmas with a friend and it was pretty nice. It is just that we were looking for a different approach (birth plan, Bonapace method, etc.).
I strongly believe in prenatal classes, public or private. They provide crucial information that will have a direct impact on the way that a couple will go through maternity and childbirth. Maybe I'm a chicken, but going in labor without knowing about my options would make me slightly (a lot) more nervous!!!
Anyway, our teacher told us that the Quebec government might cut back the public prenatal class budget. Supposedly, getting prepared for childbirth has no positive impact!
It's probably my pregnancy hormones but am I the only one who think that this is the stupidest thing ever!
15 comments:
I agree that that is just crazy. Of course maybe they just figure that Canadians like to watch a lot of American tv like Teen Moms. That is just crazy that they are going to cut funding. I know we went to 1 of the 2 classes with our first. I was admitted with pre term labor before the second class. We didn't go with our second child and I was still prepared with what to expect and do. However, it did irritate me that with my first child I had the lactation consultant in my room every 3 hours to help me learn to hold my son and nurse him correctly. But for my second child, I never saw a lactation consultant once. I breastfed my son for about 6 weeks and then was no long successful. I definitely needed some help and advice when my second baby came along. But was never offered any. Of course I should have asked and during the course of the past year of breastfeeding I have called and spoken with the consultants at the hospital when I needed help and such. But, it still annoys me... Sorry, I got off topic there a bit!
Aww portable table!
Nah, not the pregnancy hormones - cutting budgets for prenatal classes sounds stupid to me. Some pregnant women such as myself will do their own research to find out what to expect/options etc, but I have friends further along than me who haven't yet read the labour chapters in their books because 'they'll get that info in the classes'. No classes, or expensive classes would leave a lot of women unprepared.
I think it's stupid. Fear is the most destructive emotion to feel during labour and I can't help but think is likely to be one felt by women who are not knowledgeable about what is happening to their bodies and not supported by well informed birth partners.
I'm scarily evangelical about pre-natal education.
Prenatal education is so important. I wish our government would sponsor such things, but I doubt that will ever happen. If women were educated and not frightened, then they wouldn't be able to sell us as many drugs during labor. On a happier note, you are the cutest portable table I've ever seen! :)
Such a cute photo! In the UK prenatal classes are called ante-natal and it always makes me think that people are against babies.
Hi Claudia. As well as the private ante-natal classes you're going to, I would recommend taking some at the hospital where you're going to give birth too. They may have slightly different ideas and approaches than your doula, and you don't want to be 9cm dilated before you find that they don't do a particular procedure!
In terms of physiological info, my classes here in Ireland have been pretty basic (I've been getting more detail out of the baby books) but for meeting the midwives and learning the hospital-specific facts (like where I will be at a particular time, whether my partner will be allowed to come in with me if I have a C-section, etc.) it's been really helpful and reassuring.
I'm 30 weeks and haven't even scheduled any classes! Love that shot of the cup on your belly. :)
Fantastic photo. I LOVED my prenatal classes and made excellent friends with all of the couples that attended mine. Nothing like sharing first baby stories for instant bonding - 8 years later we are still all in touch regularly.
Tu as fais le meilleur choix. Quand j'étais enceinte, j'habitais ton quartier et les cours prénataux du clsc n'ont pas changer en 20ans. J'ai subi 3 cours sur 8 dont un ou l'on présentait un video de 1970 sur la grossesse... L'infirmière qui donne le cours parle comme si on avait 12ans. Je comprends que sa clientèle "hochelagaine" peut être très jeune mais tsé sur 25 couples, yen avait p-e un qui n'avait pas fait d'études post-secondaires. Par contre, la clinique d'allaitement est mieux que celle sur le plateau. C'est à toutes les semaines et les infirmères sont des perles.
To be honest, I don't know. I went to the classes - and also did my own research - so I did have a good idea of what to expect, but...
when it came down to the actual labour, so little seemed to be my choice/ there is so much variation between each child's labours etc. that I'm not sure that I can honestly say that my knowing what to expect had as much as an impact as, say, who delivered the child / the nurses involved / what position the baby chose to take etc.
I'd maybe say that, if cutting the class means that there will be the money for a better quality / quantity of nursing staff, for instance, then maybe that is the right decision. Does that make sense?
Wow! I love love love that photo of you! Bravo.
Regarding the pre-natal classes, to be completely honest I did not find them very useful. I learned a couple of things but the rest, depends so much on how labour goes or how your baby will be, that you can't really plan anything ahead. Personally, I feel the help and advice I received from the midwives during my stay at the hospital was so much more relevant and useful. But then again, we all have such different experiences and I have friends who loved their pre-natal classes. I hope yours prove useful.
ps: in France, 8 pre-natal classes are free and if you wish to have more, they are reimbursed up to 70%. If they cut back on that, French women (me included) will be demonstrating in the streets! ;)
I have just discovered your blog via pinterest.com because of a picture of a dress you sewed. I really adore it (I have posted it in my blog, too). I would like to sew it, too. It is a patern you designed?
Hi Claudia,
I just came across your blog, I'm very happy to read about a Montrealer mommy-t-be. I am one myself.
I was thinking about taking private prenatal classes also, being a first time mommy worries me and I just want to get the best out of everything.
It's too bad that I cannot follow your blog (or that I can't find the botton to do so).
Here is my blog is you are interested to read about it
www.carlinhaispregnant.blogspot.com
(feel free to delete the link if you don't want it on your blog).
Good luck!
I know, some of the decisions made by the government seem so backward and out of touch with people and the realities of life.
On a side note your dress looks so cozy and amazing! This photos looks like some kind of vintage maternity ski bunny catalog shot :)
I love this picture ! ;)
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