Introduction
A birth preparation course prepares parents-to-be for the adventure of birth and becoming parents. Especially couples who have not yet had a child together are often worried about how a birth will take place, whether everything will go smoothly and how to best help the child to come into the world. The course is voluntary for expectant mothers and fathers.
It can be attended by the pregnant woman alone or by the couple together. The birth preparation course covers various topics that play an important role for expectant parents during pregnancy and afterwards. These include the course of the birth itself, possibilities of pain relief, breathing and relaxation exercises, strengthening of the musculature, as well as topics of parenting and parenting that still worry the couple.
The birth preparation course is usually led by midwives, who can set further individual priorities. If possible, the birth preparation course should be scheduled so that it is completed about three weeks before the calculated date of birth. In this way, the pregnant woman has a sufficient buffer to implement and internalize what she has learned and does not come under time pressure even if she gives birth earlier.
Depending on the amount of time the pregnant woman or the couple can/may want to spend on the birth preparation course, there are different course offerings, which for example explicitly take place in the evenings during the week or on weekends. This allows for flexible planning and integration of the course into the everyday life of the pregnant woman. The costs for the birth preparation course are usually covered at least partially by the health insurance companies. There are differences with regard to the participation of the partner and his cost absorption by the health insurance company, so that this aspect should be clarified individually.
When should it be visited?
The time for the birth preparation course should be chosen so that it is not taken too early or too late in the pregnancy. The best time to start is between the 28th and 30th week of pregnancy, so that the course is completed about three weeks before the calculated date of birth. If the course is attended earlier, it is less effective for the pregnant woman, as she has too much time left until the birth and explained exercises, relaxation techniques and other relevant information may not be present enough until the birth date.
In addition, the information on childbirth, breastfeeding and infant care is not yet as relevant for an early pregnant woman as it is for a woman who is more likely to be at the end of her pregnancy. Nevertheless, a few weeks distance to the calculated date of birth should be kept in order to have a sufficient time buffer for internalizing breathing techniques, relaxation exercises and other aspects. Should complications occur in late pregnancy and/or the child be born earlier than planned, the pregnant woman will not be put in any distress by the early course.
It is important that the pregnant woman takes care of the registration for the prenatal course as early as possible, since the courses are usually booked up long in advance. Therefore, registration should be made early in pregnancy (around the 10th week of pregnancy), but no later than the 20th week of pregnancy. The necessary information about offered courses can usually be obtained from your gynecologist.