Costs
The costs for antenatal classes are usually around 80€ per person. However, the costs can vary depending on the course. Most health insurance companies cover the costs for the pregnant woman for a birth preparation course with up to 14 hours.
Courses that last longer may then have to be paid proportionately by the pregnant woman herself. The costs for the partner who also wants to attend the course are not covered equally by every health insurance company. Therefore, this aspect should be clarified with the health insurance company before starting the course. It is possible that the partner will have to pay the costs completely by himself. This topic might also be of interest to you: Maternity leave benefit
Is the course useful?
In general, a prenatal class is quite useful – especially for pregnant women and couples who have no experience with childbirth and children. The course prepares expectant parents for this new experience and provides them with important information, tips and tricks for birth, the puerperium and handling the baby. Parents who already have a lot of experience in this area no longer necessarily benefit from a birth preparation course.
If there is still a desire to refresh their knowledge, a refresher course for already experienced parents can be attended, in which special attention is paid to the most important aspects. The birth preparation course is therefore a very meaningful offer, especially for inexperienced parents, which can take away many worries and fears before birth and parenthood and offers a first assistance for this turbulent time. Every pregnant woman should decide for herself to what extent the birth preparation course makes sense for her. This could also be interesting for you: Courses for pregnant women
Can I take the course online?
There are now also online videos of antenatal classes in which midwives teach viewers the most important aspects of childbirth, postpartum and breastfeeding. Nevertheless, this offer cannot be considered equivalent to a real birth preparation course. In the regular antenatal classes, the midwife can answer the individual questions of the pregnant woman and can also provide assistance with practical exercises to strengthen muscles, correct breathing during childbirth and various relaxation techniques.
Professional support is especially important for these exercises, as this is the only way to correct the pregnant woman and make her aware of her mistakes, so that she is optimally prepared for the real birth.In addition, the real birth preparation course often brings a lot of fun with it, since the pregnant women meet other pregnant women, make contacts and often stay in contact with each other after the birth. Also the following exchange between the formerly pregnant women is therefore a valuable aspect, which an online course cannot mediate. A video can be used to refresh an already attended birth preparation course, as it can remind you of relevant information. However, the online version is currently not recommended as an alternative to a real birth preparation course.
