Are you a first-time mother, and you are feeling kind of nervous about the whole pregnancy journey? Well, you are not alone. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by intense emotions when expecting your first baby. There are joys, excitements, fears, anxieties, and apprehensions. First-time parents are obviously unfamiliar with many aspects of baby care or parenthood in general. However, fear doesn’t have to overcome the joy you experience as you await the arrival of your precious one.
For any first-time mother in Singapore, birthing classes are a great way to answer all your questions and ease any nervousness you may have.
What is an antenatal class?
An antenatal class also called a childbirth education class, helps you and your partner to get ready for labour, birth, breastfeeding and caring for a newborn baby. Most people say going to classes helps them feel more confident as the birth approaches.
Antenatal classes teach you about practical sessions, including:
- how to prepare for labour
- relaxation techniques
- the signs of labour and when to call the hospital
- pregnancy labour: the different stages of labour; birth discovery
- different birthing positions and techniques
- relaxation and breathing techniques to use during labour
- early parenting; baby care, breastfeeding, infant feeding, baby massage
- newborn baby behaviour
Antenatal classes walk you through the process of pregnancy changes and prepare you for baby birth so you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare. In this article, we will explore antenatal classes in Singapore for first-time mummies and antenatal classes that are available.
The Benefits of Taking Prenatal Classes
An antenatal class or what others call a childbirth education course can help you prepare to meet the challenges of labour and delivery. Below is a list of benefits and opportunities when you go through an antenatal programme.
Discover things you didn’t know about labour, delivery, and postpartum care.
Discover what happens to your body during labour and how to identify the signs.
Childbirth education courses offer more than just information about labour and birth. As your pregnancy progresses, you will learn more about the changes your body will undergo. Additionally, you’ll learn how to care for yourself and your baby while you’re pregnant. It will benefit you to get insights from your course leader about having a healthy pregnancy, which ties into preparing for a safe and comfortable delivery.
Identify and address your fears.
As part of your childbirth education course, you will have the opportunity to talk about your fears with others who likely share the same worries as you. It’s possible to clear your mind of myths with help from the instructor. Researchers have found that women who take antenatal classes know more about labour and delivery and are less likely to experience psychological distress than those who don’t.
Figure Out Your Birth Preferences
One of the most valuable benefits of antenatal classes is learning about the different aspects of labour and delivery. It is just a matter of deciding the best course of action for you once you fully understand all possible options.
As part of your antenatal course, your instructor may dedicate class time to writing down your birth preferences when you arrive in the hospital. If class time is not available for this activity, you can still ask for assistance in developing your plan.
It is essential to learn what will happen if complications arise during labour when laying out your birth preferences. Having the knowledge of what will be part of any medical intervention outside your birth plan is important.
It might sound scary at first, but learning everything you can about the process ahead of time can make it easier. Childbirth educators say that this is one of the best ways to free yourself from fear.
When you make your birth plan, you should also talk about the options for dealing with pain during labour. Furthermore, your instructor can explain the pros and cons of different methods, including pain medications such as epidural blocks, as well as breathing and relaxation exercises.
Get a Head Start on Postpartum and Newborn Care
Prenatal and antenatal courses focus primarily on what happens before and during delivery, but you will probably learn some things about what happens afterwards. You can receive valuable information on postpartum care for yourself as well as newborn care from the instructor. Educators can refer you to lactation consultants and other professionals you might need after birth if necessary.
Where to take Antenatal Classes In Singapore
In Singapore, there are many antenatal classes. Many antenatal classes help provide physical and mental preparation for many parents to be. Some offer antenatal packages and postnatal services with the ultimate goal of giving new parents a smooth and memorable birth experience.
If you want to know more about natural childbirth education and look for antenatal classes in Singapore, you better keep reading. The list below is different institutions in Singapore that provide prenatal and postnatal services.
Antenatal Programme by KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital
KK’s Patient Education Centre offers advice on all things related to parenting and pregnancy, so you can be sure you’re receiving the best care. Pregnancy, labour, and postpartum phases are all covered in their eight-week antenatal course. In addition, you’ll learn about pregnancy medication, labour preparation, and vaccination ABCs.
Address: 100 Bukit Timah Road, S(229899)
Email: [email protected]
Contact No.: 6394 1268
Website: https://www.kkh.com.sg/patient-care/areas-of-care/patient-education
Central Bumps Antenatal Course by Beloved Bumps
In Beloved Bumps, they have experienced midwives taught by a qualified UK midwife. Birth and baby care tips are part of the four-week course offered by Beloved Bumps. Additionally, a fitness component is where a personal trainer will teach you prenatal and postnatal exercise. Additionally, meeting other expecting parents will give you the chance to make friendships that you can rely on and get practical advice from throughout the pregnancy and beyond. All new moms and babies enrolled in Beloved Bumps gather at a postnatal reunion where they can meet at a “Ladies’ Lunch”!
Address: Collision 8 in High Street Centre
Email: [email protected]
Contact No.: 8809 8623
Website: www.belovedbumps.sg
Thomson Medical Centre
Thomson medical centre offers a Childbirth Education course.
For busy mothers who want a quick overview, Thomson Medical Centre has launched a One-Day Intensive Course covering topics such as pain relief and labour, breastfeeding, and baby care. For those who would like a more comprehensive course, the four-week course includes sessions such as coping with pregnancy discomforts, breathing techniques, feeding methods, and how to manage a colicky baby. There is also a complimentary Doctor’s Talk (topics vary) included in both. Moreover, there are classes offered frequently and at convenient locations as well.
Address: Several locations, such as Oasia Hotel, Bove at Suntec City, or Balestier Hill Shopping Centre
Email: [email protected]
Contact No.: 6350 8818
Website: thomsonmedical.com
Singapore General Hospital
Singapore General Hospital (SGH) provides two antenatal class packages. In package 1, you will learn how to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Both mum and baby can benefit from nutrition information, breastfeeding tips, and skin-to-skin contact. Also, you can learn more about pain relief during labour.
Do you want to stay physically active while pregnant? Sign up for the Antenatal Class Package 2 from SGH. Specialized physiotherapists in their facility conduct classes on pelvic floor muscle exercises and safe pushing techniques!
Address: Singapore General Hospital, Outram Road, S(169608)
Email: [email protected]
Contact No.:6222 3322
Website: sgh.com.sg
Mummy Baby Care
The closer your EDD (expected delivery date) approaches, the more worried you may be about caring for your newborn. With MummyBabyCare’s Dunstan baby language, breastfeeding and newborn care course, you will learn how to interpret your baby’s cries in this class. You can use this skill to tell if someone is hungry, tired, gassy, experiencing lower wind pain, or just feeling uncomfortable. In addition, you’ll gain knowledge about such baby care tips as swaddling. It is suitable for mothers-to-be in their last trimester of pregnancy or new parents who need a little extra help settling their babies.
Address: Individual consultations take place at the client’s home
Email:[email protected]
Contact No.: 9228 9782
Website: www.mummybabycare.com.sg
Mother and Child
You’ll find everything you need on your journey, from expecting your first baby to handling the bumbling addition to your family in Mother and Child. Since 1994, they have provided midwives, lactation consultants, pregnancy educators, prenatal HypnoBirthing practitioners, birth doulas, and all the support new parents need.!
Active Birth Classes and Pre-Lactation Consultations are both available as a Refresher Childbirth Preparation Course for second-time parents. They even offer an array of postnatal classes, including yoga and pilates, to get back into shape. Furthermore, they have a baby care musical monkeys enrichment class for babies and toddlers.
Address: Tanglin Mall,163 Tanglin Road, #03-11, S(247933)
Email:[email protected]
Contact No.: 6836 0063
Website: motherandchild.com.sg
ParentLink
Parentlink offers a prenatal class that uses the Bradley Method™ of Husband-Coached Childbirth Course.
A particular feature of this 12-session childbirth course is its emphasis on involving mothers and fathers as early as possible. The goal is to deliver a baby naturally, without drugs, and the men have the opportunity to guide their wives through labour. Furthermore, they learn how to be supportive of their partners during labour and birth by participating in role-playing and rehearsals, in addition to learning about pregnancy-related changes from a coach’s perspective.
Address: 18 Hougang Avenue 3
Email: [email protected]
Contact No.: 9012 0071
Website: www.parentlink.org
Have you decided on which class to take?
Making the decision is not an easy task for sure. But having a list of great options for antenatal classes in Singapore is a good start.
It will be helpful to have a tangible list of all the things you need before the baby arrives, in addition to mental preparation. So start ticking off the essentials against this newborn checklist and constantly talk to your partner about the different steps you need to take together.
