Preparation for childbirth: what it is and when it should be done

To prepare to give birth to a child, whether or not it is the first, you need both physical and mental preparation. Many times the first has to be interrupted even before the time in which it would be advisable to carry it out if it is a risky pregnancy and the woman must rest for the good of her baby . In this case, the mental preparation of how to face the incorporation of a new member to the family and the care that this baby will need will be a job not only of the mother who is in charge of giving birth, but also also of father or of that person who is going to have some responsibility for the newborn .

In the event that the pregnancy passes without any problem and everything goes normally, preparation for childbirth will be necessary. The childbirth preparation courses begin around the sixth or seventh month , although they can be followed from the first trimester; They consist of a theoretical part and a prenatal gymnastics part . Most parents choose a six or seven session course during the last trimester. The key objective of the classes is to get ready to cope with the physical effort involved in the final stretch of pregnancy and the birth of the baby , but the preparation courses for childbirth cover much more.

THE BEST FORM OF PREVENTION

Future mothers can resolve any doubts that may arise during pregnancy, childbirth and after giving birth, during the puerperium and in caring for the baby. The pregnant woman is taught to take responsibility for her own health and that of her child, and to change habits that are not suitable for others that are much more advisable. Finally, they help the woman to be aware of her state, to take control of the situation and stop seeing pregnancy and childbirth as something threatening. The fear of the unknown generates anxiety and fear, and what is sought with these courses is to reduce both sensations.

As far as possible, it is advisable for the father to also attend these classes to prepare the baby for the birth, so that he or she feels more involved in the pregnancy and calms down in the face of childbirth, especially if it is a first time. In addition, the father will be able to learn to play an important role in the pregnancy , helping to alleviate frequent discomfort of the pregnant woman through massage techniques as well as helping during the delivery, where his role is also important.

In addition, attending childbirth classes will also put us in contact with other pregnant women. Thanks to this, doubts and fears can be shared apart from the experience of mothers who are not new. It is beneficial to interact with other women in the same situation as it serves as a method of distraction and, no one but them will be able to understand what you are going through by living the same thing at the same time.

In order to access these childbirth preparation courses before giving birth there are several options. On the one hand, public health offers these courses free of charge in its outpatient clinics and health centers. They are coordinated and taught by the midwife, and sometimes other professionals participate to make the preparation as complete as possible. Another option would be to resort to a private center that, in many cases, is financed almost entirely by health insurance. Finally, and aimed at those women who do not have time to attend classes with a fixed schedule or who prefer a more personalized preparation , there are personal trainers for pregnancy and childbirth preparation who work at home where the pregnant woman wants to carry them out.

EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS

These courses are taught in three large periods. The first must be done before the twelfth week of gestation and if not possible, before the twenty-eighth. The second is carried out from the twenty-eighth week and the third period from 20 or 30 days after delivery . In turn, they are divided into two parts, a first theoretical and another more practical.

– The general objective of the first period is for the couple to know early the changes and discomfort that occur during pregnancy, so that as soon as possible they can take care of themselves and thus increase their level of health in the face of the birth of the baby. This first phase lasts from one to three sessions in which the physical and psychological changes during pregnancy, the rules for a healthy diet, the discomfort that may appear throughout the nine months prior to the baby’s birth, care and advice, warning signs and initiation to breathing and relaxation .

-The second period is done in about 7 to 10 sessions. Through the theoretical and practical parts, it is set as objectives to reduce the state of anxiety and fear through accurate and adequate information, active collaboration in the stages of labor for both the woman and her partner , to recognize the baby as an active and sensitive human being. already from the antenatal stage and use the necessary resources to reduce the discomfort of labor.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL TRAINING

The theory focuses on explaining the mentality to adopt during pregnancy and the puerperium, the role of the father, the periods of childbirth, the usefulness of respiratory exercises, symptoms prior to childbirth, the types of treatments for pain, complications of deliveries and solutions, the return home and the puerperium and, finally, breastfeeding and everything related to the care that the newborn requires. In the practical part, breathing exercises, relaxation and physical training are taught.

-The third period of these courses is carried out during the puerperium, in the 6 or 8 weeks after childbirth , in which a series of physical and mental changes take place in the woman, in addition to the adaptation that it entails in life familiar the new baby. In this phase, 3 to 7 sessions are usually given.

In them, a group dynamic is carried out to tell the experiences of childbirth, they talk about the reestablishment of ovulation and menstruation, the appropriate contraceptive methods, the resumption of sexual relations and information about self-care in the puerperium . In addition, in relation to the newborn, it helps to reinforce breastfeeding, psychomotor development and behavior, the most frequent pathologies in the first months of life, the vaccination schedule and visits to the pediatrician.