With the sad reduction of antenatal classes, it is important that what time we do have for this type of education is utilised well. With that in mind, does anyone have any tips on ways of putting across information that is quick and very informative.

I would like some thoughts that are really out of the box and would give us all something to get our teeth into. You know, your little bag of tricks you use.

Antenatal Education is vital, we all agree on that and yet women are being denied it's obvious benefits.

KS x

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Kentish Spitfire
Moderator, Student Services
Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x


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"It's better to be thought a fool - rather than proved a fool!"

I really do agree with you. I really think we are letting women down by reducing antenatal care.

I would love to hear peoples suggestions on this. Or what they do within in their own area.

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Have you just been offered a place? If so and you want a mentor please post in post this forum (also post here if you would like a mentee)

Come on peeps, someone must have some ideas - please...

KS x

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Kentish Spitfire
Moderator, Student Services
Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x


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"It's better to be thought a fool - rather than proved a fool!"

I 'd love to say I do ,but have learned no good antenatal skills re classes at all. They were pants tbh!

We were discussing in uni the other day about bringing the couple in and separating them for a while to see if that helps the Dads out abit, with being embarrassed etc. So Dad's have their own session to talk about the Dad perspective.??

Also I want to make them fun and interactive, as well as educational (lots of ideas, not sure if they're any good)

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That sounds like a good idea for the dads.
Am dying to hear about your ideas.
KS x

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Kentish Spitfire
Moderator, Student Services
Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x


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"It's better to be thought a fool - rather than proved a fool!"

We did a session on parent ed at uni before Christmas last year, and the lecturer started off by asking us each to give one word that was related to Christmas that meant something to us. These were wriiten on a flip chart, then she went down the list and siad something about it relating to labour and birth.

It was really clever how she did it, and was a good way to start the session.

We were also put in groups of about 4 and given a sheet of paper and a pen each, and we were given a word per group such as alternative pain relief, we had to write down everything we knew about that word in 5 mins, then you had to move on to the next piece of paper, until you had been round them all. She then went through the lists, and elaborated on the points given. It was really interesting and good fun to do.

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Midwifemissy x

Student Midwife 2007
Student uni rep
Educational Resources Manager

Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x

We have one going on at DFBC on saturday but if you can get hold of a copy of Practising MW there is a advert for a active birth workshop in canterbury I saw it at placement yesterday but its been for a walk today

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Well, as an Antenatal Teacher with the NCT, I could write all day on this subject.

For classes to be really beneficial to parents, you have to first understand about how adults learn. They don't want lectures. They may well have read lots and talked to friends before coming to classes, so will probably be quite knowledgeable already. They will probably have their own opinions on lots of subjects.

So, bearing these things in mind, when I'm facilitating classes I find out first how much the group know and build on that knowledge, with short snappy activities. No activity lasts more than about 20 mins. I have lots of visual-aids. We do lots of small group work and feed back. It's also really good to keep people moving. When you're sat on your bum for 2 hrs, you soon switch off!

Clients set their own agenda for the course and the content of the course is tailored to meet their needs.

Activities can include:

Discussing the birth environment & options of where to have the baby. How to adapt the hospital environment to meet the woman's needs. Useful things to take into hospital. The role of hormones in labour and how adrenaline can interrupt the process.

Discussing the role of the birth supporter. How does the birth supporter feel about being there? How does the woman feel about her partner seeing her in labour? Lots of practical tips for birth supporters.

Getting clients to order birthing charts, that show the process of birth. Like this. Then talking through the process and filling in gaps in their knowledge. I also use the doll and pelvis to talk about the birthing process.

Practicing breathing techniques / massage techniques / positions for labour.

Building up a scenario of induction of labour, with lots of labels / visual-aids for things like the CTG monitor & drip. Then, discussing how this may feel, what can be done to make the woman more comfortable (e.g she could sit in a chair, rather than stay on the bed.) We also discuss tactics for helping to get labour started.

Discussing options for pain relief. Pro's & con's of each. Personal preferrances.

Discuss options for 3rd stage.

Communicating with health professionals. Being assertive, without being aggressive.

Discussing issues around assisted birth - forceps / ventouse / caesareans. I use Playmobil characters to build up the scenario of who will be there in theatre. - This always goes down well. Discussing how women may feel if their baby is born by caesarean. What can they do to help themselves during the recovery time? Check out this!

Lots of time is also taken to discuss issues surrounding becoming a parent, both emotional and practical. I always do a baby bathing activity, where I get one of the partners to bath a doll, but the group have to tell him what to do. I have lots of baby products available and we discuss what they really need; disposible v washable nappies; what to expect in a nappy! etc. (I fill a nappy with marmite and another with mustard! )

I pass round a "goody bag" with all sorts of items in, to stimulate discussion about "life with a baby". - From teething to sex and all things between!

We always run a breastfeeding class, but this is led by one of our highly trained breastfeeding counsellors.

Is that enough.....? I could go on and on. There is so much to cover.

Having said all this, one of the main things about NCT classes is not the information covered, but the friendships forged. Lots of time is allowed for ice-breakers, discussions, socialising etc.

Sorry, this is a very l-o-n-g post.

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WOW Shoshana, what a wonderful array of ideas. I particularly like the idea of the playmobile characters, that is ACE! And a good way to cover the many people involved when things don't go according to plan.
KS x

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Kentish Spitfire
Moderator, Student Services
Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x


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"It's better to be thought a fool - rather than proved a fool!"

Pleased to be able to help.

Of course, there's no substitute for doing the NCT training! But, if you can get a few ideas from my list, that's fine.

If you're really interested in antenatal education the NCT run courses for health professionals, called NHS conNeCT. More details here. That will give you the skills to put the above ideas into practice.

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