HR Info
Educated Couples Far Better at Coping With Childbirth Challenges
By Carol Ann Friedman, RN, IBCLC, and Program Director of Mothers at Work^®

After my second year as a labor and delivery registered nurse, I became a certified childbirth educator and experienced firsthand the difference between parents who were educated about the pregnancy and birthing process and those who were not. Educated couples are better at coping with the challenges that crop up throughout pregnancy and during the process of labor. They are also far better at making decisions and taking action when problems arise that require medical intervention.

Still, having a baby is a step into the unknown for all first-time parents. Until childbirth education began to spread in the late 60’s, many expectant mothers knew little of the process of labor and delivery. Fathers knew even less and remained fairly removed from the experience. Today, however, most couples experience every stage of pregnancy and childbirth together, including the early educational process. This is definitely a change for the better because knowledge gives couples (and mothers in particular) the ability to make more informed and healthy decisions. It also frees couples from much of the uncertainty and fear that expecting parents once faced.

Originally, childbirth classes were intended to explain how a mother could get through labor without medication—called “natural childbirth.” Modern classes are more encompassing, offering breathing and relaxation exercises, coaching techniques, pain management and potential challenges that can arise during labor and delivery. Classes also enable expectant couples to learn from each other’s experiences.

Types of Classes & How to Choose the Right One

Classes range from intensive weekend courses to a more leisurely paced 12-week course beginning fairly early in the pregnancy. The typical hospital class will be six to eight weekly sessions and will consist of lectures and exercises led by a trained childbirth instructor. Typically, classes instruct couples about the signs of labor, relaxation and breathing patterns, the logistics of labor and delivery, pain, c-section, hospital procedures, recuperating from giving birth, and what to expect from a newborn. Fathers, in particular, learn how to create a supportive environment for mother, and they’re given the opportunity to express their concerns and anxieties about the birth. Above all, classes help to inspire confidence in the mother’s ability to meet the physical demands of labor and delivery, which gives the couple a greater sense of control.

Here are a few tips to help the expecting parents in your organization choose a childbirth class that’s right for them:

	Choose a childbirth educator who shares the same basic philosophies of your physician or midwife. Most practitioners will offer a list of instructors they’ve worked with and whose teaching abilities they trust.
	Inquire about the instructor’s curriculum. A good class will include all aspects of birthing, including cesarean birth.
	Ask about the format of the classes. Good classes will include lecture along with discussion among the couples in the class.
	Choose a small class, if possible—five to six couples are optimal. This allows for personal interaction and individual attention from the instructor.
	The main emphasis of the course should be how to cope with the physical and emotional aspects of childbirth.
	Keep in mind your own preferences when selecting a class. For instance, if you wish to use medications during labor, it’s important to know whether an instructor is stringently “anti-drug” or not.

If you want to win the gratitude and loyalty of the expecting parents in your organization, give them access to timely childbirth educational resources. Employees will appreciate your willingness to assist them with such an overwhelming and deeply personal experience. Remember, LifeCare offers referrals to prenatal, child care, and parenting resources as well as information on birthing options, breastfeeding and having a healthy pregnancy and birth.

If you would like to learn more about the programs and educational resources that LifeCare offers, contact your account manager.