Parenting Blog

Childbirth classes are a great way on interacting with other couples going through the same experience like you. It lets you clear all your queries related to labor, delivery and newborn care. Let us see the importance of childbirth classes and the different types of classes you can choose to take.

Importance of a childbirth class

Childbirth classes are conducted by most of the hospitals and birthing centers and equip the expecting parents with a lot of information which include symptoms of labor and various delivery options like normal vaginal delivery and c-section etc. These classes are especially useful if you are a first time parent. If you know about things you should expect during this period it will certainly help you in taking informed decisions. They help you get all our doubts cleared and parents are better prepared by overcoming the fear of the unknown. These classes also help you in preparing a birth plan by teaching you about various medication options. However, delivery is something which cannot be planned and involves factors that we cannot control. Therefore, the best we can do is, prepare ourselves mentally for all possible situations.

Bradley Method

The Bradley method classes lasts for around 12 weeks where an emphasis is given to have a baby naturally. It prepares the moms for delivery by teaching them about nutrition, relaxation and prenatal exercises. You also learn about how you can manage pain with the help of breathing, massages and relaxation techniques.

Lamaze Classes

Lamaze philosophy is about having a flexible on the ways of delivery. You will learn about ways of having normal delivery but at the same time it also teaches you about the medical interventions that you may have to opt for during pregnancy. Natural Techniques that will help you in having a normal delivery include practicing deep breathing, comfort measures and distractions techniques. In Lamaze classes you will also learn about other medical interventions like c-sections, epidurals and more.

Classes on Newborn Care

Infant care is a totally new experience for the first time parents. In classes designed specifically for newborns you may learn about basics like bathing, diapering, taking the baby’s temperature, feeding the baby, car safety and more. Again, for first timers there is a lot to learn but some parents also join these classes for fun.

Classes for the Expecting Dads

The classes designed specifically for the Moms, and Dads accompany them generally for support. But there is a program that is designed just for the Dads and it is called the Boot camp for New Dads. No Moms are allowed here and seasoned dads teach the expecting dads about how can they contribute and help the mother in taking care of their children.

All of these classes definitely provide you a lot of information help you in becoming a more responsible parent.

The life of newborn babies is mostly all about feeding and sleeping. After all, he/she is in the inertia of the long cozy sleep inside the mother’s body. Parents do need to know how much a newborn baby normally sleeps in 24 hours. 

While newborn babies do not follow a set routine for sleep, for most babies, the sleeping time is up to 18 hours daily (in 24 hours). But the sleep is often intermittent and the baby wakes every 2 to 3 hours to be fed. Also, most babies will sleep for 3 to 5 hours maximum at a stretch. Following are some common sleep patterns for newborn babies of varying ages: 

Up to 3 Months

Newborn babies, ranging in age from their natal day up to 3 months, usually take 16 to 18 hours of sleep daily. The sleep is divided into 2-3 hours sessions. Their sleep does not have to do much with night or day and they will sleep almost equally at day as they do at night. The day-night awareness appears in the baby at an age of around 6 to 8 weeks. By the age of 2 to 3 months, a sleep pattern is developed by the child. The parent can then anticipate when the child is going to sleep and how long the sleep is going to continue at a particular time. 

3 to 6 Months

The total daily sleep of the baby at this age is about 14 to 16 hours. It is usually 8 hours of sleep at night and 6 hours at day (divided in three stretches of 2 hours each). The child gets asleep more readily and does not wake in the absence of much disturbance. Some babies at this age may not wake at all during the night. However, most would wake once to be fed. By the age of 6 months, the daytime sleep drops to 2 naps, each lasting about 2 hours. 

6 to 12 Months

During the 6 months to one year, the total daily sleep of a baby is 12 to 14 hours. Most babies take a daily nap of about 2 to 3 hours each. A 6 month sold baby is able to sleep well through the night, without waking at all. But many kids do wake once. Before the baby’s first birthday, a long stretch of sleep (about 11 hours or more) is less likely to occur.