Childbirth preparation – This course is designed to understand the care of pregnant women and newborn: antenatal, intra-natal and postnatal; breast feeding, family planning, newborn care and ethical issues, The aim of the course is to acquire knowledge and develop competencies regarding midwifery, complicated labour and newborn care including family planning.
Childbirth preparation
Child birth preparation is defined as providing information and support tofacilitate childbirth and to enhance the ability of an individual to develop and perform the parental role.
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Child birth preparation is defined as the provision of information and support to facilitate child birth and enhance an individual’s ability to develop and perform the parental role.
Goals of childbirth preparation:
1. Provide parents with the knowledge and skill they needed to cope w with the pregnancy, labor and childbirth.
2. To prepare parents to be intelligent consumers of maternity care.
3. To assist parents in achieving a safe, positive and rewarding labor and birth experience.
Birth plan for women in pregnancy.
Counseling and advice will you give pregnant women for birth preparation:
Birth preparedness:
➤ Advance planning and preparation for delivery. Birth preparedness helps ensure that women can reach professional delivery care when labour begins and can also help reduce the delays that occur when women experience obstetric complications
Complication readiness
➤ Anticipating the actions needed in case of an emergency
Emergency planning
➤ Process of identify and agreeing all the actions that need to take place quickly in the event of an emergency, and that the details are understood by everyone involved, and the necessary arrangements are made.
Key elements of birth preparedness:
➤ Attending antenatal care at least four times during pregnancy
➤ Identifying a skilled provider and making a plan for reaching the facility during labor
➤ Setting aside personal funds to cover the costs of travelling to and delivering with a skilled provider and any required supplies
➤ Recognizing signs of complications
➤ Knowing what community resources like emergency transport, funds, communications, etc. are available in case of emergencies;
➤ Having a plan for emergencies, i.e. knowing what transport can be used to go hospital, setting aside funds; identifying person(s) to accompany to hospital and/or to stay at home with family; and identifying a blood donor.
Definition of childbirth class:
A childbirth class is a great way to prepare for labor and birth.
It teaches about:
➤ The signs of labor
➤ The normal progress of labor and birth
➤ Techniques for coping with pain
➤ how partner can help during labor
➤ When to call doctor or midwife
The importance of childbirth classes
Importance of childbirth preparation/ childbirth classes:
It helps to improve knowledge about
1. Techniques to relax.
2. Various labor positions that can help labor and relieve pain
3. Pain relief options, including how and when and how to request them.
4. The stages of a normal labor and delivery
5. Possible delivery complications and how they might be handled
6. Basics to care for newborn baby, including baby’s anatomy and physiology, postpartum care, basic care and breastfeeding.
7. Birth planning and assistance, including birth plans and information about where can give birth (hospital births versus delivering in a birthing center or at home)
8. Other medical interventions that may be used, such as a C-section or inductionna
9. Hands-on instruction in alternative approaches to pain relief, including breathing and relaxation techniques
Other benefits of childbirth classes
In addition to hands-on learning opportunities, benefits include:
1. The opportunity to bond with other expectant couples
2. A chance for partner to join in and a way to connect with birthing partner or labor coach
3. Addressing fears
4. Sharing concerns with other mothers and the instructor
5. Confidence from knowledge and experience that can help to have a more satisfying childbirth experience
6. A chance to explore the facility where you plan to give birth.
Examples of some childbirth classes:
1. Having early pregnancy class
2. Breastfeeding class
3. Baby care classes
4. Sibling preparation class
5. Parental and postpartum exercise class
6. Yoga class
7. Lamaze and other birth preparation classes
8. Emergency class
9. Grandparent classes
10. Emergency preparedness planning.
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