Cosa si impara nei corsi prenatali e quali sono i benefici?

Cosa sono i corsi prenatali?

"Antenatal courses are for groups of expectant parents who usually attend during their third trimester," says Val Willcox, practice manager at the National Childbirth Trust (NCT). The third trimester begins around week 28 of la gravidanza and lasts until you give birth, which is often around week 40 of pregnancy.

She says: "Where possible, the parents attending live in the same area and will be expecting their baby or babies at a similar time."

I corsi prenatali sono solitamente suddivisi in diverse lezioni distribuite su un periodo di settimane, o nel corso di un mese. Le lezioni prenatali si tengono di solito una volta alla settimana e durano due ore. Tuttavia, potrebbero esserci lezioni extra per coprire argomenti con molte informazioni, come l'alimentazione. Di solito, entrambi i genitori possono partecipare alle lezioni prenatali, e i partner sono incoraggiati a unirsi. Alcune aree potrebbero offrire lezioni per genitori single o lezioni in lingue diverse.

Decisioni informate

Often, antenatal classes cover what happens in il travaglio and delivery, and the different interventions that can be used. This helps le donne incinte feel prepared and ensure they are able to make informed decisions. Antenatal classes may also include how to make a piano del parto, tecniche per affrontare il travaglio e informazioni sul sollievo dal dolore. I futuri genitori potranno anche fare domande al responsabile del corso, parlare dei loro piani ed esprimere eventuali preoccupazioni.

"The benefits of NCT antenatal courses are that parents will be empowered to make decisions about how they want to approach birth and the early le responsabilità genitoriali period," says Willcox. "Expectant parents can learn more about what is involved and the evidence behind different approaches."

Fare amicizia

Antenatal classes are also a good way to meet other expectant parents. Caring for a newborn baby can be a scary and isolante time, particularly for first-time parents. Friends made at antenatal classes can meet up and support each other through the first few months after birth. Antenatal classes allow new parents to make lifelong friends, and build strong reti di supporto.

Aumentare la fiducia e alleviare l'ansia

It's normal for new parents to feel anxious and nervous about the road ahead. However, research shows antenatal education can help to reduce fears surrounding birth, and lower feelings of lo stress e ansia in pregnant women.

"We believe that sharing evidence-based information and providing opportunities for expectant parents to explore their options helps them feel più fiducioso riguardo al lavoro, nascita e primi passi nella genitorialità," dice Willcox. "Dà loro anche l'opportunità di discutere come si sentono con i coetanei e di praticare nuove abilità."

A separate study found women who attended classes were more satisfied with the experience of childbirth and were less likely to have an over-medicalised birth. Research also shows that i partner benefit from attending antenatal classes, with them reporting feeling more prepared for birth and better able to fulfil their supportive roles.

Come posso trovare corsi prenatali vicino a me?

You can search for antenatal classes near you online or on dei social media. Often, groups are held at community centres, local halls and churches. You can search for local NCT groups on its sito web. La tua ostetrica, il tuo visitatore sanitario o il tuo medico potrebbero anche indirizzarti verso un gruppo prenatale locale. Le lezioni del NHS sono gratuite, ma le lezioni del NCT possono richiedere una tariffa.

Antenatal classes are often oversubscribed and can get booked up quickly, so it's a good idea to book your place in advance. If you aren't able to attend classes in person, classes are frequently held online on Zoom or Microsoft Teams. BabyCentre also runs free online antenatal classes through pre-recorded videos, so you can learn about labour and parto in your own time.