Antenatal course description:

Labour

• Getting closer to labour, stages of labour & when to go to hospital

• Understanding the concept of pain and the strategies and skills used to cope in labour

• Role of the support person & helpful ideas

• Medical approaches to labour, including induction of labour & unplanned caesarean section

• Pharmacological pain relief options available, including epidurals and other alternatives.

Parenting

• Characteristics of the newborn infant and their patterns of behaviour & communication

• Tests and routines while in hospital

• Classes available while in hospital

• Safe sleeping for infants/SIDS guidelines

• Transition to parenting and the associated challenges

• Perinatal anxiety and depression

• Sleep patterns of infants and settling techniques/routines

• Introduction to breastfeeding

• Special care nursery.