CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE YOUR CHILD'S CARER

Comment

Gill Tipple offers advice to Rhiannon and Tom Balme.

FINDING out you are pregnant is usually one of the most exciting times of your life but it can also be one of the scariest.

Your body changes, you have to prepare for the imminent birth, and the arrival of a completely dependent little person, who only has its parents to look after it - parents who have no idea what to do, when to do it and why things aren't working.

To prepare you for this amazing life-changing episode, help is at hand in the form of ante-natal classes.

Run by the NHS, these free two-hourly sessions give you an introduction to the basics of labour, how to deal with it and what to expect.

Across Southampton each week classes are run by the city's team of trained midwives.

In addition to the NHS classes, there are a number of organisations that run their own, paid-for antenatal classes, that in general offer a more comprehensive programme of, not only the birth, but the joys of what comes afterwards.

The National Childcare Trust is probably the most well known, with an established network of midwives in most cities and towns.

Independent courses are also available with a host of companies offering a comprehensive programme of all things birth-related.

One of the newest on the scene is Basics for Birth. Run by Winchester midwives Gill Tipple, 45, and Gill Newcombe, 45, the pair set up the course in April in a bid to meet demand for extra information surrounding not only labour and birth but helpful advice on the basics in caring for your child afterwards.

Mixing practical with explanations of the mechanics of the birth, the course is a blend of what to expect and ways to cope.

Those on the course have been given demonstrations on bathing their child, shown techniques of coping with the birth and even been given a head start on the variety of faeces to expect in the weeks after birth.

Prospective dad Ben Ward, 27, said: "They put things like pesto and other food in nappies to show us how it would look and not to worry when it comes out different colours. Hopefully it will make things easier just by going on this course for a few weeks."

Rhiannon Balme, 30, from Winchester, is expecting her baby in July.

Rhiannon said: "I think it is a very good course. You feel you can ask anything, which is good for me because I ask a lot of questions. I like to have all the information I can about something to help me deal with it better so I have found this course very helpful."

Gill Newcombe said: "A pregnancy that leads to a positive experience is a journey that involves many emotions. The more Basics for Birth can increase self-confidence and encourage women to make their own choices, the more likely they are to experience a positive outcome."

Gill Tipple added: "We want to remove the fear and replace it with coping skills for women and their birth partners.

"We want to give them the tools so they can enjoy becoming parents for the first time to the full.

"And we want to give them the chance to meet like-minded people at such an important time in their lives."

At a cost of £220, the eight-week course is run at the Badger Farm community centre in Winchester, with sessions lasting two hours with refreshments.

For more information contact 07525 759286 or visit basicsforbirth.co.uk.

4:40pm Tuesday 27th May 2008

Print

Email this

Comment

Add your comment

Name:
Email: *
Location:
**
	e.g. 123-123
Comment: Please note: All HTML tags will be ignored. Format Text:
By posting a comment, I confirm that I have read and agree to the terms of use. Comments are not moderated but we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention and we may delete inappropriate postings. Please treat other people with respect. You must not post anything that is abusive, indecent, unlawful or defamatory. Remember, you are personally liable for what you post on this site. If you wish to complain about a comment, contact us here.
* Your email address will not be displayed ** To avoid register now or login