I totally agree with midwives about the need to update childbirth preparation classes. I do not say that all, because I know that there are some great, but I think in general childbirth preparation classes have become obsolete.
At least that is the feeling that has been left for me after attending my first pregnancy at a birth preparation center, or rather anti-labor preparation. So it is so that with the second pregnancy I do not consider repeating the classes and with the third, less.
At that time, six years ago, I did not have the information I have today regarding how I would like to give birth (usually almost no first time has it) and that is precisely the objective of a good preparation for childbirth: to give all the tools so that each One can decide how she wants to give birth.
When looking for a place to prepare for childbirth, we tend to trust that everyone will be more or less acceptable. But it is not so, at least in my case it was not and then talking with friends and acquaintances the general feeling was the same: the classes really do not prepare for childbirth.
Classes are usually divided into theoretical lectures and practical classes. The first can attend the father, as well as some specific practical classes.
The talks were quite poor. Pregnancy and childbirth were talked about as if it were an equal process for all mothers. Little or no information was given on the most typical discomforts, nutrition during pregnancy, prenatal stimulation, warning signs.
About childbirth, unfortunate. The only thing I rescue is that they explained to us with a pelvis and a doll how the baby was descending with each contraction through the birth canal. On the rest, they did not explain how to cope with the contractions, nor did they talk about the pros and cons of the epidural, that there are different postures to give birth and different ways of giving birth. Nor was there any support for breastfeeding other than naming it as "the most convenient." And so I could follow the list.
They also projected videos of births, but from the 1980s, with which we did not feel too identified. I would have liked to see how the epidural is applied, births in different postures, a birth under water, a delivery at home, how a caesarean section is practiced ... to say some of the many things I missed.
The practical classes were based on breathing exercises that nobody remembers later in labor, and personally I think they are useless. On the contrary, they cause stress in the mother who cares more about the breathing technique than about letting herself flow.
After this experience I am not surprised that even the midwives themselves recommend updating childbirth preparation classes well, many are obsolete. In my case I replaced them with yoga classes and some good books.
In your case, how were the childbirth preparation classes? Did they serve you for something or do you also think they are improvable?
