Are prenatal classes necessary?

A letter to you from Natasha Cullen. Natasha is a midwife and founder of Beloved Bumps. 

 

Dear Mum,

Congratulations on your pregnancy - what an exciting time for you!

There are many reasons why prenatal classes (also called antenatal classes) are important in your pregnancy. They provide information that you need for your labour and birth, and also how to care for your baby! One of my favourite things that a Dad-to-be said to me at the end of his prenatal course was, “I didn’t know, what I didn’t know” - you can read lots of books about pregnancy, birth and beyond, but sometimes you just need to hear it from one credible, reliable source. There are lots of opinions and ways to do things, and you need to remember that most of the time there is no right or wrong way…trust your instincts and do what works for you!

The other big reason to do prenatal classes is that you meet other couples, having a baby around the same time as you, and you build your support network. You may think you already have a lot of friends with kids, but nothing beats being able to message another parent at 4am in the morning, knowing they are awake too and going through the same thing you are at the same time. Even as a midwife, I did prenatal classes, and the friendships that I made through those classes are still some of my closest friendships today.

Use your support network of family and friends, trust your instincts, have patience, and remember that there is no way to be a perfect parent, but a million ways to be a good one.

Hold on to those little babies and enjoy your newborn cuddles!

Natasha x

 

Beloved Bumps

Beloved Bumps provides prenatal and postnatal services for parents-to-be, including prenatal classes, postnatal classes, exercise, yoga, first aid and doula services. Run by experienced midwives and nurses from the UK, France and Australia, they provide unbiased, evidence-based classes that are interactive, fun and engaging, whilst helping couples to get to know each other and build meaningful friendships with those going through the same journey at the same time. Included within the courses are social events such as ‘Date Night’, ‘Ladies Lunch’, and postnatal reunions to get to know your classmates better. At Beloved Bumps, access to the team is available at all times to ask any questions you may have. The Beloved Bumps community is incredibly supportive, and they look forward to having you join them!

Contact Natasha on 8809 8623, www.belovedbumps.sg, 46 Kim Yam Road, #03-05 Singapore 239351.

 

Mother and Child

Mother and Child is Singapore’s trusted prenatal and postnatal hub for expectant couples and young families. Their caring team of experienced midwives and health professionals, led by Uma Thambidurai, a British-trained midwife and senior IBC lactation consultant, bring invaluable experience and practical knowledge to support expectant couples during their pregnancy, immediately after the birth of their baby, through their baby’s development, and supporting mothers in their early stages of motherhood. The team have honed their skills supporting clients for over 25 years in Singapore.

Their popular prenatal classes delivered by experienced midwives, prepare parents-to-be for a positive, calm and empowering birth experience. They share evidence-based, up-to-date information enabling clients to make informed choices. They emphasise the practical aspect of ‘learning by doing’ in a supportive and pleasant environment.

Their bespoke childbirth preparation course is delivered in four sessions over four weeks - intensive courses are available for busy couples. The interactive sessions provide detailed information, videos and discussions on labour, pain relief options, the miracle of birth, variations on the normal, initial days after birth, as well as newborn feeding and care.

Their internationally certified HypnoBirthing (Mongan Method certified) course teaches the art and joy of experiencing birth in a more comfortable and confident manner. It will allow expectant mothers to approach birth and parenting informed and empowered, and gives the birthing companion an integral role in the birthing process.

Mother and Child provides the most comprehensive support for expectant couples and new parents in Singapore. In addition to their prenatal classes, they offer breastfeeding support by IB-certified lactation consultants, sleep consultations, new mothers’ get-togethers, baby massage courses for mum and dad, introduction to solids classes, yoga, first aid for couples and first aid for helpers. Mother and Child is the go-to prenatal and postnatal centre in Singapore.

Contact the Centre on 6836 0063, info@motherandchild.com.sg, www.motherandchild.com.sg, 163 Tanglin Road, #03-11 Tanglin Mall, Singapore 247933.

 

BumpWise

BumpWise’s antenatal classes are specifically written for giving birth in Singapore – they offer tailor-made private classes in the comfort of your own home, or very small group classes that are interactive and allow for all your questions around childbirth in an intimate and comfortable setting.

Taught by certified childbirth doulas and lactation consultants with day-to-day experience in the hospital wards, BumpWise provides up-to-date information on the practices and protocols of your chosen care provider and hospital. Information and practical training for the postpartum period – breastfeeding, postpartum healing, baby care – are an important part of the curriculum. They don’t have an opinion on how the mum-to-be should birth, or feed, or parent… they meet you where you’re at and provide the support you need to achieve your goals. BumpWise has a great network of practitioners to which to refer, all specialising in the perinatal period.

Contact Johanna on 9795 7949, johanna@bumpwise.sg.

 

Love Based Birth

Love Based Birth preparation classes are for an expectant mother who wants a positive birth experience for herself and her baby; to minimise birth interventions like Caesarean, episiotomies, vacuums, forceps and labour induction; to be well prepared for making informed decisions; to plan a VBAC; to learn natural pain coping techniques for labour; to enlighten her partner on how to best support her; to equip herself for a more intentional and gentle birth; to refresh knowledge or improve experience of a previous birth; to connect with other pregnant mums in her area; and to plan a home or hospital birth.

Holistic midwife, Red Miller, guides expectant mums on a journey to reclaim their intuitive power, transform their fears, and establish self-care practices to enable the magical, fearless birth that is desired.

Contact Red on 9487 6230,  red@lovebasedbirth.com, www.lovebasedbirth.com.

 

Blooming Births

Every parent deserves a positive experience from conception to pregnancy, birth, and beyond into parenthood. Blooming Births is committed to protecting each couple’s experience through education and awareness. Their classes, Childbirth with Love, are focused on reframing the way we look at birth and life with baby. Childbirth is a natural pathway and it should be a journey filled with love, pleasure, joy and not fear. The activities and topics covered are geared towards strengthening the mind, preparing for a comfortable birth, connecting with and fostering a deeper relationship with your partner, and learning how to navigate the new terrain of parenthood.

Blooming Births also offers preparation classes to parents who are looking for a vaginal birth after a Caesarean, twin preparation classes, as well as refresher classes for second or more time parents.

Contact Chantel on 9171 4357, chantel@blooming-births.com, www.blooming-births.com.

 

Parentlink

ParentLink has the privilege of sharing the most special and awe-inspiring time with mothers-to-be: the birth of their baby. They love helping families welcome a tiny new person into the world, starting the whole life journey together.

Since 1998, ParentLink has been supporting families by providing the most comprehensive range of prenatal and postnatal services available. Their highly experienced team of doulas, childbirth educators, first aid instructors, masseurs, counsellors and more are available for assistance. Parentlink staff have a combined 30 years’ experience in hospital labour wards, birthing centres and home births, and have supported families through all kinds of choices. Their doulas are all certified with Childbirth International, or have equivalent experience. They also specialise in childbirth education, homebirths, waterbirths and provide rental services for waterbirth pools, oxygen tanks and birthing stools.

Contact their team on 9012 0071, info@parentlink.com.sg, www.parentlink.com.sg.

 

Inspire Mum & Baby

Inspire Mum & Baby helps mothers experience a smooth prenatal journey, offering a variety of prenatal services, including HypnoBirthing classes and antenatal workshops using Spinning Babies techniques, birthing movements and massages to encourage a better birth. Their antenatal workshops are interactive and compressed sessions for busy couples focusing on the main aspects of important, evidenced-based information to provide the couples with informed choices in tune with their birth preferences. The sessions are formulated in a hands-on style, with informative discussion, practical sessions and reflections. The group size is kept to a small number for a personalised discussion.

Contact Linda on 9234 1866, info@inspiremumbaby.com, www.inspiremumbaby.com, 188-2 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 436990.

 

My Baby Adores

My Baby Adores was founded by Emeline Hare in 2006, and provides prenatal classes to help parents prepare for labour, birth and the early weeks with a newborn; and helping parents make informed decisions, making them feel calm, confident and excited for the arrival of their baby. 

Classes are provided on a one-to-one basis, offering a personal service tailored to your needs. My Baby Adores runs a variety of classes and courses including HypnoBirthing, active birth, preparing for Caesarean section or VBAC, refresher classes, and workshops on feeding and caring for a newborn. 

Emeline holds an advanced postgraduate diploma in antenatal education and neonatal care and spent two years studying to be a UK-accredited breastfeeding counsellor. She draws on her years of experience working within the NHS in the UK, in Toronto, Canada, and as a birth doula in Singapore.

All parents taking her classes will receive a copy of ‘The Gift of Birth’ - written by Emeline - which is filled with lots of practical tools and tips for labour, birth and early weeks with a newborn.

Contact Emeline on 8298 0616, emeline@mybabyadores.com, www.mybabyadores.com.

 

Tree of Life Birth

Tree of Life Birth believes in holistic woman-centred care during pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood. Angelyn conducts Bradley Method Natural Childbirth courses in small groups for both the expectant mothers and fathers, with fathers being prepared to assist as a Birth Coach.

Contact Angelyn on 9008 6556, info@treeoflifebirth.com.sg, www.treeoflifebirth.com.sg.

 

Warda Yusoff | Lamaze Childbirth Classes

Warda has attended Childbirth Educator training through Birthwell Birthright in Australia and is a Certified Lamaze Childbirth Educator (LCCE) in Singapore, supporting a wide variety of birth settings from natural, VBAC, Water births, C-Section, Medicated, Home and Hospital.

Warda is committed to executing and maintaining her Doula and Childbirth Educator Credentials with continual training and up-to-date information. Her services are exclusive, holistic, client-centred and culturally sensitive to women and families.

Contact Warda on 9880 1417, arda@nikbodywork.com.

 

Tessa Webb Lyman | Breastfeeding Preparation Classes

Tessa is a mother of two who experienced almost every breastfeeding difficulty that exists (thank you KellyMom for getting mothers through!) and who now gives breastfeeding classes with a view to prepare soon-to-be mothers for their most successful breastfeeding journey. She utilises the expertise of her Certified Breastfeeding Specialist qualification to support evidence-based best practice, starting immediately after birth.

Tessa began making exclusive home and hospital visits to mothers and babies in Singapore in 2017 to assist with all stages of their breastfeeding journey – from birth to tender finish, and everything that comes up in between.

She offers breastfeeding preparation classes both privately and in conjunction with Bumpwise and Love Based Birth.

Contact Tessa on WhatsApp 9896 0378.

 

Alona Hodik | Belly to Breastfeeding Lactation Care

Alona is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and a certified childbirth educator​ but, first and foremost, she is the proud mother of three wonderful children - all exclusively breastfed (with different challenges) and the reason she became a lactation consultant and a childbirth educator. Alona believes that the breastfeeding journey starts in pregnancy, so she offers evidence-based, informative, interactive and fun prenatal breastfeeding classes that prepare expectant mothers for the early days of breastfeeding a newborn. Parents come out of the class feeling confident and knowledgeable about normal newborn behavior and breastfeeding. Alona also offers private antenatal childbirth courses tailored to your needs and designed to address what you want from your labour, birth and parenthood. They emphasise team work and your partner’s role in supporting you in labor, birth and beyond. This course is the perfect way for expectant parents to prepare for the birth of their precious little bubba in the comfort of their home.  After the birth, she offers lactation support home and hospital visits to make sure that each mother’s breastfeeding journey is the best it can possibly be.

Contact Alona on ​8722 3242, alona@bellytobreastfeeding.com, www.bellytobreastfeeding.com.

 

First Aid Tuition

First aid is immeasurably important for new parents. Anne and her team provide practical and theoretical training courses in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillation (AED) in Singapore. All household members should attend some first aid training so that, when needed, reactions to emergencies at home, in the workplace or at school, can be performed quickly and correctly.

Contact Anne on WhatsApp +44 7810077 258, anne@firstaidtuition.com.sg, www.firstaidtuition.com.sg.