NEW classes aimed at helping parents-to-be prepare for the arrival of their baby are to begin next month.
Birth and Beyond Worcestershire, run by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and Early Help, is a new scheme to the county and provides information to parents about labour, birth and what to expect during the exciting and nervous first few weeks and months.
Birth and Beyond Worcestershire will be available at Sunshine Children Centre on Bluebell Close on Wednesday, June 1 at 1pm, Evergreen Children’s Centre on Worcester Road on Wednesday, July 6 at 1pm and Riverboats Children’s Centre on Prices Lane on Thursday, August 4 at 1pm.
Expectant parents are invited to join the health visitor-led sessions for four consecutive weeks during pregnancy and then for a final session once the baby has been born.
Each session will be delivered by the Health Visiting and Early Help team members who have received extensive training from Dr Mary Nolan – a Professor of Perinatal Education at the University of Worcester who has worked in parent education and support for 30 years.
Birth and labour will be discussed at the sessions and includes practical elements such as how to bath your baby and how to play with him or her.
Other topics include understanding why your baby cries and how to know your baby is well.
Sessions also focus on the importance of looking after yourself and your relationship so you can enjoy looking after your baby.
Dr Nolan said: “There is a lot of information out there for parents-to-be about labour and birth and often that is the main focus of antenatal classes.
“While preparing for labour is important, it’s also important to explore how you’re going to parent your baby and what babies need to thrive physically and emotionally.
“We want to help people to feel supported as they prepare for parent-hood and confident that they have the skills they need to be the best parents they can be.
“Birth and Beyond Worcestershire is a new programme that provides opportunities to make friends with other parents-to-be, to share ideas about good parenting, to get up-to-date information from health professionals and to learn babycare skills.”
If you are interested in attending a class, contact your local Children’s Centre.
The classes are designed to be attended between 28 to 34 weeks of pregnancy with places allocated on a first come, first served basis.
To find your local Children’s Centre visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/directory/20/childrens_centres.
