Antenatal Classes can help prepare you for your baby's birth and for looking after and feeding your baby. They will also help you remain fit and confident during pregnanc. These parent craft classes will include relaxation, breathing and antenatal exercises. Moreover, you will have the opportunity to meet other parents, make new friends and discuss problems and ask questions related to your pregnancy. These classes are meant to be informal and fun. The following topics will be tackled during the seven sessions:

SESSION 1
Development and Changes - health during pregnancy and how it affects your body and your growing baby. The emotional changes that one may expect to experience during pregnancy are explained.

SESSION 2
Development of the baby - utero-video of 20 mins., hospital list for you and the baby, explanation of blue card.

SESSION 3
Normal Labour - what happens during labour and what to expect; pain relief; what can you and your partner do to get through labour, short presentation by Dr Renald Blundel regarding stem cell storage

SESSION 4
Problems in Labour - problems that may arise and how they are tackled

SESSION 5
Exercises

SESSION 6
Breast/Bottle Feeding - the advantages and disadvantages of breast/bottlefeeding

SESSION 7
Mother and baby after birth - looking after yourself postnatally: physically and emotionally, the partner's role, coping with the newborn baby in the early weeks

Parent craft sessions will be held at St. Anne's Clinic and are given by a qualified midwife. Guest speakers, including a dentist, physiotherapist and gynaecologist, will be invited from time to time to provide you with further specialised information. Furthermore, when possible, visits to a private hospital and the Mater Dei Hospital are organised to familiarise you with the facilities.