Antenatal Classes:attend Or Not Attend

K

kyliedee

Registered User
Hi, Im a first time mom and my practitioner had mentioned something about attending an antenatal classes at cannossa (hope i spelled it right) hospital, since we live close to it.

The thing is, I am not really convinced whether i should attend. Is there any compelling reason for me to do so? What insight would i get from attending these classes that i cannot get from the internet? (like geobaby forums)What are the topics they normally discuss aside from breast feeding and breathing exercises?

Would these classes really help me or can i just go without?

Thanks.
 
My wife and I attended antenatal classes at Canossa last year in April or May, before our first child was born.

The classes are pretty cheap. If I recall correctly, they are only about HK$700 for 6 lessons. Each lesson runs for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours and is taught by either a mid-wife, doctor, physiotherapist or dietician, depending on the class content of the lesson that week.

Some of what we learned was useful, some not so, but I do recommend taking an antenatal class, as I personally feel that it is useful to learn as much as possible from as many different sources as possible if you are a first time parent.

While it's true that you can learn a lot from reading books or the internet, an antenatal class does allow you a good opportunity to ask questions face-to-face with the mid-wives, doctors, physiotherapists and dieticians who teach the classes. Plus you get a bit of hands-on practice with some of the things you learn, which you don't get with online or book reading.

Some of the things they taught at the Canossa antenatal class are: -

  • Diet advice.
  • Massage techniques (for the husband to massage the wife).
  • How to bath a baby.
  • How to change diapers.
  • How to pick up and hold a baby.
  • Breathing exercises and other exercise during pregnancy.
  • Relaxation exercies.
  • What to expect during pregnancy
  • Breast feeding advice and techniques.

There was other stuff we learned, but it slips my mind at the moment.

I'd say overall I was glad we took the class. We were both pretty clueless before about even basic stuff. I mean I even had no idea about the correct way to pick up and hold a baby before I took the class!

Graham
 
Hello!
For my first child I attended pre-natal classes back in Europe (8 sessions free of charge) given a private midwife in a small group of 3/4 other women and I quite enjoyed most of all the 'relaxing atmosphere' of it. since it was my first child, I only enjoyed any advice given.
For this one, I will not attend anything since I was told that there wasn't anything in English (I'm not in HK). So I bought a book with the attention to do some exercices at home but to be honest, being working full time until the delivery, I rarely do it..
So by attending a class, it obliges you at least to take this time to rest and relax..

for the rest, advice on breastfeeding and how to take care of your baby, no need to attend prenatal classes .. everything is available in the net indeed..

take good care!
benjy
 
thanks so much for taking time to answer my query. I think i would pass by Canossa one of these days and check out what antenatal classes they offer and if they have it in English.
 
kyliedee,

Yes Canossa Hospital does offer Antenatal classes in English. However, they need to have at least 5 English speaking couples signed up before they will run a class in English, so it's best to put your name down ASAP.

Graham
 
Graham said:
kyliedee,

Yes Canossa Hospital does offer Antenatal classes in English. However, they need to have at least 5 English speaking couples signed up before they will run a class in English, so it's best to put your name down ASAP.

Graham
Click to expand...



really? Aiyah!
 
Annerley Midwives and The Matilda also run ante-natal courses. No matter what info you get on the net I think attending classes in person is really useful for all the reasons that Graham stated plus it is a really good way to start networking. Also if you are going to breastfeed I would suggest heading to a La Leche meeting - for most women breastfeeding doesn't come naturally and it is really good to meet with the experts and get to know other women who can help and support you.
 
I attended antenatal classes at Cannosa, they covered the following:

1) Antenatal Care and changes in Pregnancy
2) Postnatal Care & Infant Care (Bathing and Feeding)
3) Breathing Exercise in Labour
4) Antenatal Exercise & Backcare
5) Diet for Mother and Infant Care nutrition
6) New Born Common Problems and Treatments

The only classes I found useful were the practical classes - the exercise classes 3) & 4) plus 2) the bathing and feeding class. The rest I already knew these from books and the internet, so I yawned my way through those classes, particulary since they were run in the evening after work.

I do think its worthwhile attending, particularly if you are a first time mum. You can also ask for a tour of the maternity unit. It has recently been refurbished so I've heard.
 
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I would definitely recommend Hulda's classes at Annerley Midwives. They are informative and fun, and you get to meet other parents-to-be and discuss any apprehensions you may have. I am going back for a refresher course with Hulda for my second baby even though I only had my first 11 months ago! At the very least you will make some good friends to share experiences with after your baby arrives.
 
LLL meetings are a great opportunity to gain information and to see breastfeeding in action. We hold morning meetings in Discovery Bay, afternoon meetings in Happy Valley and evening meetings in Central. These meetings are all free of charge.

As well as our meetings we also run a breastfeeding seminar which we are happy to do either at my home or in your home. The seminar covers all the basic information needed to get breastfeeding off to a good start. It also provides an opportunity for you to ask as many questions as you like of one of our Leaders accredited by LLLI.

The cost of the two-hour plus seminar is $500 and includes a copy of our book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. The seminar is a good opportunity for you to education not only yourself but also everyone who will be around you to give support when your new baby is born, whether this be a husband, mother, mother-in-law or maid.

If you are interested please contact me on 2548-7636 or [email protected]

Best wishes,
SARAH
 
Antenatal Classes

Hey can anyone tell me where this Canossa is located? This is my first pregnancy and i want to attend antenatal classes. Can anyone advice me if there is any classes in english language? I dont understand Chinese at all.

I just hope by taking this classes it will be very useful for us. I am into my 20 weeks now. So when do you think i must start taking this antenal classes? I really have no idea and no one is there to guide me. Pls do help me.

Thank you

Manju
 
Canossa is on Old Peak Road. They have a website if you want to find out more.

If you plan to have your baby in a government hospital, I found the classes run by Tsan Yuk (in preparation for delivery at Queen Mary) pretty helpful.

I've been to both classes and they were conducted in English. You will need to check out the timing of the Tsan Yuk classes as I think they alternate between English and cantonese classes.

I've found going to antenatal classes again for my second pregnancy really helpful as I could relate to what they were talking about, especially breathing techniques in labour. First time round, everything I learnt just went out the window!
 
Hi Manju - I attended classes at cannosa, they were conducted in english. Everyone that attended were at least 28 weeks or so into their pregnancy. I dont think it really matters, how many weeks you are, but I guess if you attend too early, you may forget what you have learnt. You can call up the hospital to check when the next set of classes begin. Good Luck..
 
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When i had my son at Union Hospital in Tai Wai we had some pretty good classes there such as bathing baby etc. but in my opinion these things all come to you so naturally.
 
at which stage of pregnancy do i need to start attending antenatal classes please? would 4 months be too early for this?

thanks
 
Hi

I am in the process of booking antenatal classes and really wondered similar to everyone else. Is it worth it. I am slightly unusual in that I am trained as a GP and have paediatric and obstetric experience, so am not so much interested for the technical side. It is more a case of how useful is it for husbands and as a way of meeting people? Also things like baby massage I am assuming can be done elsewhere.

Any thoughts especially on Annerley before I pay. If you didn't need the practical info would you go?

Thanks so much for any help.
:thanks
 
I didn't go to any classes at all but then I had a lot of help after the birth. As to hubby, maybe it would be helpful for them. My hubby doesn't change nappies etc. but then he hardly has time.
 
Definitely attend a class. To meet other new mums to be. You will value contact with them when your new baby is here.
 
I went to the classes at Tsan Yuk, which were a bit outdated. I did the rest of my research on the Net and books. If you want to meet other Expectant Moms then join one of our Due Date clubs. Heard from the Nov 06 Moms, that quite a few went into labor around the same time and they were all in the Matilda together.
 
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