The Importance of Antenatal Education and Preparation

Did you know that attending antenatal education classes can significantly reduce the fear of childbirth, anxiety, and even the likelihood of postpartum depression?

Antenatal education isn't just about learning breathing techniques or how to birth your baby; it's a comprehensive approach to understanding the journey of pregnancy, labour, and early parenthood. This knowledge empowers expectant parents, equipping them with the tools and confidence needed for a positive birth experience, but to also help them explore their preferences and needs and learn where to turn to for additional support.

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Want to feel more empowered, confident about birth and parenthood? Explore Parent Path's evidence-based courses - designed to equip you with practical tools, help you explore your options and preferences and support you in making informed choices for your unique journey.

Available in English and Greek, online or in-person.

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Why Antenatal Education Matters

UNICEF's data and insights, highlight the importance of comprehensive antenatal care and education in empowering expectant parents with the knowledge and support they need for a healthy pregnancy and childbirth experience. Here are some reasons to further support this:

1. Reduced Fear and Anxiety

Understanding what is happening in your body, the stages of labour (did you know that there are stages? I didn't know that before I joined a course!), pain management options, and what to expect during labour can alleviate common fears associated with childbirth. By knowing what is happening, you experience labour and birth feeling power and not passive - you are not feeling like you don't have control, things are happening to you, you don't know what is happening...

By exploring your options, preferences and needs, by knowing what happens after birth and in the early days postpartum, the expectant parents transition to parenthood feeling more confident and less anxious.

2. Enhanced Confidence and Self-Efficacy

Knowledge gained from antenatal classes boosts self-confidence, self-empowerment and self-advocacy enabling parents to make informed decisions and advocate for their preferences during labour and parenthood journey.

Partners often feel like they have a secondary role but their role is very important. By knowing what to expect they are more able to understand their role, how they can advocate for their partners, what (both) their needs and preferences are and how to support the birthing person.

3. Better Birth Outcomes

Studies (such as this article in the Journal of Clinical Medicine or this in the European Journal of Midwifery) found that antenatal education significantly reduced fear of birth, depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms while increasing childbirth self-efficacy. When you know what your options are, you can be more flexible, less stressed and be more open to a potentially different birth experience than what you had 'planned'. I added the word planned in '' as labour can never be planned. The creation of a Birth Plan is more about the exploration of your preferences rather than the creation of a plan.

Also, another study shared that there were higher rates of vaginal delivery and lower rates of caesarean births, an outcome that may be directly linked to the education and preparation provided during antenatal classes.

4. Supported Mental Health

Engaging in prenatal education can decrease the risk of postpartum depression and improve overall mental well-being during and after pregnancy. Some of the signs of poor mental well-being could potentially be identified sooner leading the parents to seek support from professionals.

Mental health and the fourth trimester (the trimester after the baby is born) are often deprioritised so an antenatal course can also help you prepare for the postpartum period.

5. Increased Partner Involvement & Community Building

Often partners feel 'left out' as I mentioned above but what I always say in my antenatal courses, is that it is as much an experience for the partner as for the birthing person. Antenatal classes often encourage partner participation, strengthening the support system and shared understanding between expectant parents.

Additionally, if you decide to join a group course, you are connected with like-minded people who are going through similar experiences. This sense of belonging is especially important during the early days of parenthood - this group can be a space for you to be heard and supported.

What Parent Path Offers

At Parent Path, you can find:

Antenatal Courses: Flexible, evidence-based classes accessible from the comfort of your home. Some antenatal courses are also in-person of have a hybrid mode. The can also be in a group setting or private courses.

Infant Feeding Support: Guidance and resources to help you navigate the infant feeding journey whether you are breastfeeding, bottle feeding or both. Infant Feeding Supoprt can take place antenatally as preparation and exploration or postnatally supporting you in the early days of parenthood or when you will start introducing solid foods.

Continuous support during the early stages of parenthood. The postnatal doula services can include emotional support, feeding support, tips for caring for a baby and so much more!

Our services are available in both Greek and English, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for a diverse community. If you would like to learn more about Parent Path or any of the services and packages offered, you may reach out to Emilia at info@parentpath.eu.