Another thing which is in vogue these days which was virtually unheard of a few years ago, is the firang concept of Prenatal Classes. The idea is to prepare to-be parents for pregnancy, birth and thereafter, through a series of topic based group sessions. Women can come alone or get their partners along, and learn in a classroom environment, with notes, videos, discussions and exercises. Not sure about the smaller cities, but these classes have surely become very popular with people in Delhi and Mumbai.
The reaction to these classes varies from "they are the best thing to have happened to me" to "what firang non sense, just a ploy to make money by fooling people". Personally I too was in two minds when faced with the option: these classes cost anywhere between 6-10k, and one needs to make sure they are worth it before opting for them. So are they worth it? Depends on what you think about preparation for parenthood. If you are confident and of the opinion it is no big deal, parenthood has been the same over the past few decades, and you will learn everything there is to know from your family, then better not to waste money. However for couples who don't have the wisdom of parents (live away from hometown or parents cant be there during pregnancy and later), or would like to know the challenges and scenarios in the modern world as far as the many experiences and decisions of pregnancy and childbirth are concerned, should really consider taking it up. Plus taking the class ensures that the father also gets involved, which is a typical complaint of women all over the world!
So if you do decide to go for these classes, what all do you get to learn? There are many aspects of the process which are covered in various classes. There are yoga classes where they teach you exercises to do during pregnancy and after childbirth, beneficial for both baby and mother. There are Lamaze classes which help prepare mothers for birth without intervention: through massages, breathing techniques, movements and positions favouring natural birth. There are birth preparation classes which talk about nutrition during pregnancy, vaginal birth stages, cesarean birth process, breastfeeding techniques, pre and post natal changes in the body etc. There are also spiritual and hypnobirthing classes which train women to bond with their babies through the womb, and prepare for childbirth and pain without resorting to medication, through meditation etc. Depending on the time and money you can spare you can choose some or all of these classes to attend. Some institutes may offer a combination of these classes so you can get more in a single package. Typically these classes are to be attended from 2nd trimester onwards. There are standalone programs offered by institutes or individuals, and your hospital where you register may also have some plans.
Personally I would suggest taking atleast a combination birth preparation class like Rita Shah's Nine Months Program in Mumbai. It includes exercises, breathing techniques and elaborate notes on various aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and post natal experiences. The other "fancy" stuff like hypnobirthing, bonding through the womb, etc are optional. Prenatal classes are beneficial as not only do the instructors give you a present world perspective on the latest trends of nutrition, childbirth techniques, exercises and breathing; the classes also serve as a great place to meet similar minded pregnant women one can make friends with, compare notes on pregnancy and bond over babies. Even if you choose not to take any classes, you can always pick up a CD on prenatal Yoga, like that of Lara Dutta, which includes both exercises, breathing and meditation techniques. As for the birth preparation, it is always good to keep in touch with other expecting mothers, and any family members who may be able to coach you well through your journey. At the same time, do not go googling everything on the internet: sometimes overdose of information is more harmful than useful, and can confuse or scare you. Also do not go asking advice from everyone, as again people may have conflicting opinions which may not be consistent with scientific facts. As we all know, everyone in India is a doctor and an expert on everything, and always has free advice! :)
So if you do decide to go for these classes, what all do you get to learn? There are many aspects of the process which are covered in various classes. There are yoga classes where they teach you exercises to do during pregnancy and after childbirth, beneficial for both baby and mother. There are Lamaze classes which help prepare mothers for birth without intervention: through massages, breathing techniques, movements and positions favouring natural birth. There are birth preparation classes which talk about nutrition during pregnancy, vaginal birth stages, cesarean birth process, breastfeeding techniques, pre and post natal changes in the body etc. There are also spiritual and hypnobirthing classes which train women to bond with their babies through the womb, and prepare for childbirth and pain without resorting to medication, through meditation etc. Depending on the time and money you can spare you can choose some or all of these classes to attend. Some institutes may offer a combination of these classes so you can get more in a single package. Typically these classes are to be attended from 2nd trimester onwards. There are standalone programs offered by institutes or individuals, and your hospital where you register may also have some plans.
Personally I would suggest taking atleast a combination birth preparation class like Rita Shah's Nine Months Program in Mumbai. It includes exercises, breathing techniques and elaborate notes on various aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and post natal experiences. The other "fancy" stuff like hypnobirthing, bonding through the womb, etc are optional. Prenatal classes are beneficial as not only do the instructors give you a present world perspective on the latest trends of nutrition, childbirth techniques, exercises and breathing; the classes also serve as a great place to meet similar minded pregnant women one can make friends with, compare notes on pregnancy and bond over babies. Even if you choose not to take any classes, you can always pick up a CD on prenatal Yoga, like that of Lara Dutta, which includes both exercises, breathing and meditation techniques. As for the birth preparation, it is always good to keep in touch with other expecting mothers, and any family members who may be able to coach you well through your journey. At the same time, do not go googling everything on the internet: sometimes overdose of information is more harmful than useful, and can confuse or scare you. Also do not go asking advice from everyone, as again people may have conflicting opinions which may not be consistent with scientific facts. As we all know, everyone in India is a doctor and an expert on everything, and always has free advice! :)
