Pre-natal course

The website of Thomson Medical Centre state that we can only book the course from 20 weeks of gestation (pregnancy). So we thought we can only call in around January. Later one of the forummer told me that we can book early because the classes are very popular. Especially Mrs Wong's classes as she is the most senior lactation consultant and her class is known to be very good.


So M called in December but the Parentcraft centre only note our names down. We waited for 1 month but they never called us.


In January we called up Parentcraft again and the person at Parentcraft said she dunno why when we call in dec, we are not booked for any slot. Now they left only Jan 14 class (other nurse - not Mrs Wong) and March 19 (Mrs Wong class). Becos my EDD is early June, March course will be too late for me.


After serious consideration, I decided to skip Mrs Wong class and going for the other course in Jan conducted by another nurse. Dunno why the Parentcraft people never note down our contacts properly, if not I will be able to attend Mrs Wong class.


The Pre-natal class is as follows:-

Lesson 1
Physical & Mental Preparation
Antenatal Exercise
Nutrition Before & After Delivery
Myths & Traditions
Coping with Pregnancy Discomfort
Back Care & Postures
Instructional Video


14 January 2008, Monday 7pm at TMC. We are informed that the instructor is away at scotland so got a covering instructor today. The auntie instructor v cute one, keep sidetrack and tok abt her birth experience and her experience at hospital etc for us to listen, in btw the slides and exercises. End up today is like rojak, dunno learn wat.



The class start with a video on breastfeeding then exercise then a slide show on nutrition. I realise that preggy women actually need 900 to 1200mg of calcium, which is 2 glasses of milk in addition to prescribed tablets from gynae. lack of calcium can actually cause leg cramps, though over walking /standing etc can also cause leg cramps at nite. Then can do toes and legs massage to alleviate leg cramps/prevent leg cramps. To prevent swollen legs, can put pillow under leg when sleep. Also avoid too much salt as it may cause swollen legs. To alleviate back pain, put pillow under back when lying on left side. Instructor also said there is no need to eat for 2 throughout pregnancy. Weight gain for a petite person abt 10KG. For normal ht/wt will be 10-13KG. Max is 15KG wt gain. Also learn a lot of other stuff cos instructor like to tok a lot.. but interesting. I tink M is more bored.. cos he can't do the exercises. And the place is quite cramp so not much space for him to sit too.




Lesson 2
Pain Relief
Antenatal Exercise
Physiological Approach to Breathing Relaxation
Changes in Pregnancy Leading to Signs & Symptoms of Labour
Other Alternative Types of Pain Relief in Labour
Instructional Video


We attended the 2nd lesson on 21 January 2008, Monday 7pm at TMC. Not bad, instructor teach about the labour pains and how to cope with it. But hear liao feel a bit scared leh.. trying to tell myself not to scared le. The pre-natal exercises are quite good, last week i done and my backache has recovered.

The most important is Pelvic Floor exercises. This exercise can also help to contract muscles loosen/pee cannot control problem after delivery. If i am not wrong, one exericise is to lie straight with legs lift up like u are doing sit-up position. Then u contract yr muscles at yr virginal + buttock area like u are holding for peeing. hold for 10s then release, repeat a few times.

Another exercise (similar to last time my PE teacher teach in school days) is to contract yr muscles and make yr hips look nicer after delivery. Same position as sit-up position, but u hold yr buttock up for 10s, and repeat a few times up and down.

Another important is the breathing exercise (used while relieving pain during delivery and pushing) where the mummy is supposed to push when breathe IN and not supposed to breathe OUT when pushing if not the baby will be 'sucked' back. It is really difficult, I still can't figure out much.

Bec of CNY, my lesson for next 2 weeks are postponed. Will start next lesson on 18 Feb after CNY.

Lesson 3
Labour
Antenatal Exercise
Physiological Approach to Breathing Relaxation
Learning to Cope in Labour
Mechanisms of Normal Childbirth
Husband’s Role
Hospital Tour
Instructional Video


18 February 2008, 7pm at AMK hub as TMC is under renovation.



The venue is Little Skool house instead of the parentcraft shop at AMK hub. Not bad the place is bigger and so near my house. But i didn't manage to see the labour video cos not enuff time (due to change of venue many people is late). Will see the video on next mon. Also confirmed that TMC dun provide sleepgown as instructor ask us to get our own, TMC dun provide. Hospital gown is open at the back and buttock is visible so not advisable to get.



Lesson 4
Practical Hands-on Baby Care
Hands-on Child Care
General Care
Skin Care
Diaper Care
Bathing
Coping with a Fretting, Crying Baby
Coping with a Sleepy or Wakeful Baby
Coping with Colic
Instructional Video


25 February 2008. Today class is at AMK hub, Little Skool House, 7pm.



Class instructor teach how to bath bb, clean bb, massage bb stomach, wrap bb. Also teach how to use cloth diapers (how to fold) and how to use disposable diapers. Got doll for us to practice and instructor go to each person to demo. My hb find it more interesting bec' he can participate.



Class instructor also teach us that have to feed bb with feeding cup or spoon with water/formula milk if we dun have enuff breast milk initally.. cannot use feeding bottles or else bb will be lazy to suck when come to breastfeeding. Then instructor also says big baby tend to eat more and need to feed more frequently. Whereas small bb dun have to feed so much.


Lesson 5
Feeding
Breastfeeding
Bottle Feeding
Sterilization of Feeding Equipment
Weaning (introducing solid food)
Learning to Enhance your Child’s Physical & Mental Development


3 March 2008, AMK hub little skool house, 7pm.



I gotten my free milk bottle at class. But my instructor didn't sell us anything, she just tell us what are available at parentcraft and we can go parentcraft to buy if interested. Yes it is avent bottle hee, and avent brochure also. Got 1 free pak of avent shampoo or something like tat.


Lesson 6

(Doctor’s Talk)*
Husband’s Role during Childbirth
Problems Associated with a Newborn
The Process of Labour
Living with the In-laws
How to Raise a Brighter Child
Post-natal Depression
Back Care & Postures

11 March 2008 at Singapore Chinese girls school, Tuesday.

The talk is quite informative. There are 2 doctors giving the talk, one is my gynae's colleague Dr Caroline Khi. I also received a set of flash cards, and some samples from Enfamum.