Partway through her pregnancy, Robin Cory decided she wanted to learn more about her impending labour and delivery. “I hadn’t done a ton of reading and didn’t feel adequately prepared,” she says. So the Toronto mom-to-be signed up for not one, but two prenatal classes: one at a community centre with a nurse from the hospital where she was to deliver, and one at a local parenting centre. “Having more information makes me calmer,” she says.

The biggest benefit of prenatal classes is that they build confidence, says Gail Dahl, executive director of the Canadian Childbirth Association in Calgary and author of Pregnancy & Childbirth Secrets (Innovative Publishing). “Women need to learn about how amazing their bodies are during birth,” Dahl says. “And every time you educate yourself a little more, you reduce some of the fear surrounding childbirth.”

baby-class basics

Prenatal classes are usually offered at hospitals, parenting centres or midwifery clinics with costs ranging from $150 to $250. It’s money well spent, says Susan Georgoussis, a perinatal nurse and childbirth educator at Becoming Maternity and Parenting Centre in Toronto and a mom of four. “You can read magazines and go online, but talking to other new parents normalizes the experience and makes you realize you’re not alone,” she says. “And getting as much information as possible helps you understand the recommendations made by your healthcare team so you can participate in the decision making.”

Most classes cover similar ground: what to expect during labour and delivery, pain-relief options, birthing positions and pointers on early baby care, such as the art of bathing and swaddling a newborn. Prenatal classes also help familiarize expectant moms with labour lingo. “If you haven’t taken a class and someone says to you “We’re going to rupture your membranes now,’ you might think “Oh God, that sounds bad,” says Georgoussis. “But being familiar with the terms takes the fear away.” Cory discovered that her son Noah, now eight months, was in a posterior position, which could have made delivery more difficult. “I would have been alarmed if I hadn’t learned about it in class,” she says. “I just thought, “Okay, this isn’t a big deal,’ because I had the information beforehand.”

timing really is everything

Most prenatal classes take about 16 hours and are broken up over a series of evenings or weekends. The main thing is not to leave it too late when it comes to signing up for a class. “You should probably book a class about halfway through your pregnancy, or earlier if you are expecting multiples, so that you’re actually taking it early in your third trimester,” Georgoussis says. “If you wait too long, the class you want may already be full.” And, she adds, if you book it for any later in your pregnancy, you may find it too uncomfortable to sit for long periods of time, or you may go into labour early and miss the class altogether. Georgoussis also recommends taking a date, ideally the person who will be at your side when you give birth. “It can be your partner, your mother or a friend,” she says. “It’s a fun thing to participate in.”

finding the right fit

There are many different philosophies when it comes to childbirth, which is reflected in the variety of ways information is presented in prenatal classes. Hospital classes are often based on a more medical model of birth and may delve more deeply into things like complications and medical interventions, such as episiotomies and C-sections. On the other hand, a class run by a midwife might have a stronger focus on relaxation techniques and alternative comfort measures during labour, such as acupressure, breathing techniques and massage.

“There’s such a spectrum out there that it’s just a question of preference,” says Georgoussis. She recommends researching the class beforehand to make sure you’re getting the content you want. Quality varies as well, so look at the credentials of the instructor and the accountability of the organization. Georgoussis also suggests talking to the instructor before booking, although you may have a different one the day of the class. “You really want someone who is respectful of different aspects of birth and isn’t dismissive of other approaches,” she says. “That way you can choose the class that’s the best fit for you.”

Freelance writer Sydney Loney recently gave birth to her second child, Maggie, and realized she really could have used a refresher course!