Active birth - anyone else going to classes?

[Okaasan]

I've been going to Active Birth classes for about a month now and absolutely love it. It's all about being in control, able to move about and find the best positions for you during labour, as well as getting the baby into optimal position for delivery and avoiding posterior (back-to-back) birth. We do yoga, stretching, relaxation, massage and lots of talking through how the birth will go.

DH came with me to a partners' workshop yesterday which was an all-day thing on how the birth partner can actually play an active role and what to do when the time comes, which has made him feel loads more confident and happy that he's not just going to be a "spare part"!

Anyway, is anyone else doing active birth? I really recommend it - I know that when the time comes what will be will be and it won't all go to plan, but just feeling able to say what you want to happen and thinking about all the options beforehand is SO good!

 

[lisa&alex]

i think its a really good idea for 1st time mums to go. coz u are venturing into the unknown..

 

[lisa&alex]

but ur an evil wench..

 

[Squiglet]

cba either.... I went with Tia, but never learnt anything that came in useful...After all once labour kicks in all the good intentions go right out the window anyways along with that strange thing called dignity. but I will go this time to the classes for the social aspect....

 

[Okaasan]

They threw a pretend baby on the floor to demonstrate the effect of gravity

poor baby! I would have burst into tears probably

It's not like regular ante-natal in that they say "this is what happens when you go into labour", it's more about learning about what is actually happening inside and reasons why people have more difficult births these days and how to avoid...

The main things I've learned are DO NOT give birth on your back because that is the most difficult position for baby to come out, and spend as much time as possible in the last 8 weeks encouraging your baby to lie with back against your stomach by leaning forwards, hands and knees etc. And what they want you to do in hospital is not necessarily right - it helps you have confidence in your own decisions and what your body's saying. Eg, I don't want to have a monitor put on automatically because you can't move around, and I don't want to push unless I'm getting the urge to.

All the relaxation and socialising is very nice too

 

[girlygirl]

where did you find out about the class? your midwife? sounds really good.

 

[Babylicious]

i've posted my booking form

 

[Okaasan]

This is what they were demonstrating ..they were sayin use gravity dont go against it

Could they not have done it a nicer way

I read about it in a magazine and found this one on the web - think it was this site http://www.activebirthcentre.com/ which gives info about local classes.

I think I like it best because it mixes all the yoga and stuff with good advice, so it's like exercise class and ante-natal course all in one.

And they got back to me, unlike the NCT

Oh yeah, and cause it's weekly we get lasses dropping in with their babies and birth stories. The last one to give birth had gone to the hospital with sickness and diarrhea, and come out 2 hours later with a baby she hadn't realised it had meant labour was starting and didn't notice any contractions.

Will have some of what she was on, I think...!

 

[lisa&alex]

lol.. i fainted in 2 of my classes when i was pg with charlotte.. lol..was funny.. my vision went all like fuzzy blk n white tv lol.. n then i fainted hahah

 

[happy-chick]

Yeah we plan on going to them, need to get it sorted actually

 

[youngmumtobe20]

can you still go to them if u r wanting a water birth? water birth would be my preference but there are only 2 pools at my hospital so if they're being used i wont get it and dont wana b stuck in a bed not having a clue what to do

 

[Okaasan]

can you still go to them if u r wanting a water birth?

Water birth is one of the main active birth strategies, they give you lots of info like when is the best time to use the pool (after around 5-6cm dilated when you're in "active phase" as too soon can relax the body too much and stop labour progressing)

I'm set on a water birth too! there's only one pool at our hospital, hopefully 2 by the time Jan comes around, but apparently they're prety underused.

 

[xrachx]

ohhh lol this has just reminded me of my first pregnancy, i was only 16 and my midwife suggested that i go to these, so off i went and you could guarantee i would be the one asleep on a mat with no-one else in sight right at the end....hee,hee i think i only went for the relaxation bit at the end, the teacher mentioned that it wasnt worth me going as i always fell asleep! cheeky moo.

 

[Okaasan]

you could guarantee i would be the one asleep on a mat with no-one else in sight

glad it's not just me!