People

Mum and Dad:
Birthing Together

by HARPS KAUR & RANDIP SINGH CHHOKAR

 

We are a husband-and-wife team who help couples through birth and early parenthood. Our clients tell us that our passionate and helpful nature ensures that our classes are a pleasure to attend.

I, Harps Kaur, am a Birth Educator with experience in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting. I have trained with the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and am awaiting formal approval of my Diploma in Adult Education (Antenatal Education). I am also the Chair of the West Berkshire Maternity Services Liaison Committee (MSLC). Through this role, I influence the strategy and planning for West Berkshire maternity services at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, U.K.

I, Randip Singh, am a Chartered Accountant and have experience in helping fathers prepare for birth and the early days of parenthood. I am involved in providing training seminars and people development sessions. When Harps came up with the idea of providing an antenatal course which specifically caters for Mums and Dads, I was thrilled to be involved. The era we live in means that both mothers and fathers now take equal responsibility for family matters; therefore, practical postnatal assistance by Dads is vital for a happy family life.

We want to share with you what MumDad Antenatal classes are all about, and why they are important:

MumDad Antenatal classes are the United Kingdom's first antenatal classes which are specifically designed for both Mums and Dads. The classes are led by both male and female facilitators, which means that Mums' and Dads' needs are equally catered for.

Why is this new approach to antenatal classes important?

Research shows that having a birth partner providing continuous support means that women are reporting more positive birth experiences. MumDad Antenatal classes are specifically designed for men and women, so couples attending the course are more likely to successfully support each other through the birth of their child.

It is important for women to have support through their labour and learn how they and their partners can prepare themselves so that they can achieve the best support.

With higher birth rates and ever-decreasing resources in the NHS, women can not be sure of having one-on-one midwifery care, so it is essential that women have a confident birth partner.

Don't forget Dads

Clearly, the above highlights the importance to women of antenatal education, but it is also important to think about Dads in their own right. It is a traumatic experience to see your partner go through a caesarean birth, hence, increasing the chances of a natural birth also helps fathers. All too often, maternity services and the press forget about the father's role in birth.

For example, the vast majority of the recent articles about antenatal education have discussed the impact of antenatal classes on women and very little has been mentioned about fathers.

A developing family which has a well informed mother and father has the best chance of having a positive start to family life.

More about MumDad Antenatal classes

Research has shown that men are alienated through typical antenatal classes (which are facilitated by a female teacher). MumDad Antenatal classes include single-sex sessions facilitated by a Dad - this means that men are able to voice their concerns, hopes and fears to someone who can give a male perspective to these matters. Dads can also discuss topics such as practical babycare, paternity leave and returning to work.

The courses help mums and dads be jointly involved in the creation of their new family. This must be one of the reasons why MumDad Antenatal have been recognised by Think Fathers (a government initiative) as a resource for dads: http://www.think-fathers.org/resources .

MumDad Antenatal has also been recognised by Duncan Fisher, a leading social commentator and OBE for services to children:

"Just occasionally, something really new and significant emerges and I think the new website www.mumdad.info , is such a thing ... This is the future of maternity care."

MumDad Antenatal offer a range of courses including a "Babymoon". The Babymoon course is designed specifically for couples who have busy schedules and would like to prepare for birth and early parenthood in a quick and efficient manner.

This course also gives couples the opportunity to have a weekend break, where they get to spend quality time together before they are faced with the many challenges of a newborn.

This format makes the course available to anyone in the U.K., as they can travel to our weekend break venue (the Hilton Hotel in Reading, Berkshire) to attend the course.

To find out more about MumDad Antenatal courses, visit www.MumDad.info .

 

June 23, 2009

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