Trimester by Trimester: When to Take What Type of Prenatal Class
Congratulations on the big news! Now that you’ve got a baby on board, it’s time to start planning your prenatal education.
But with so many class options out there, how do you know what to take and when?
This trimester-by-trimester guide outlines the most useful types of prenatal classes for each stage of pregnancy so you can get the right information at the right time.
First Trimester (0-13 weeks)
In the early weeks of your first trimester, pregnancy symptoms like nausea and fatigue may have you craving rest more than classes. But if you have the energy, taking foundational courses early brings big benefits.
Early Pregnancy Class
Early pregnancy education teaches you how to manage troublesome first-trimester symptoms, what to expect at those initial doctor visits, proper nutrition, safe exercise guidelines, and all the ways your body changes in the first 12 weeks.
Knowing how to alleviate morning sickness, bloating, and fatigue makes a huge difference in functioning. And getting familiar with the process, terminologies, and tests of early prenatal care helps you feel informed at appointments.
Consider taking an early pregnancy class through weeks 5-12 before the second-trimester fatigue and a bigger belly make lengthy classes less appealing.
Fertility and Preconception Prep
If you plan to have more children down the road, the first trimester is a great time to take a fertility and preconception planning course while the details of trying to conceive are fresh.
Fertility education covers optimizing reproductive health, tracking ovulation, timing intercourse, boosting male fertility, and increasing chances of conception. Preconception classes reveal how to plan nutrition, fitness, lifestyle and medications ahead to optimize fertility and the baby’s development.
Building your preconception knowledge even before getting pregnant again allows you to apply the recommendations right away. And understanding fertility’s ups and downs brings peace of mind.
Exercise and Fitness in Pregnancy
As your energy returns in the second half of the first trimester, taking an exercise class helps you stay active safely.
You’ll learn guidelines for heart rate, weight limits, warning signs to stop, and modifications for sports and routines to keep moving through all trimesters. Knowing how to continue fitness activities through pregnancy prevents discouragement or giving up due to uncertainty.
Look for a prenatal exercise class between weeks 10-14 before your bump gets in the way!
Second Trimester (14-27 weeks)
As nausea subsides and before your belly balloons, the second trimester presents the perfect window for prenatal education. Take advantage of these classes:
Comprehensive Childbirth Preparation
This is the time for a thorough childbirth course covering the entire labour and delivery process, plus newborn care basics. Look for a series that meets over multiple weeks vs a one-day crash course. An extensive childbirth class will likely cover the following:
- Baby’s positioning and descent through the pelvis
- Anatomy of true versus false labour
- Breathing patterns and comfort techniques for each stage
- Pain relief options – medication, epidural, natural
- Vaginal delivery techniques and assistance methods
- Cesarean birth walk-through
- Birth plan templates and communication with your provider
- Hospital logistics like paperwork, bag packing, and support team
- Newborn feeding, diapering, soothing, and safety skills
Try to start multi-week childbirth classes by 16-20 weeks gestation, which gives you a couple of months afterwards to absorb all the information and solidify your birth preferences.
Breastfeeding and Newborn Care
Whether you plan to breastfeed, formula feed or both, a breastfeeding and newborn care class helps you gain skills to nourish and care for your baby once born. Led by lactation consultants and pediatric providers, these classes teach:
- Breastfeeding techniques like proper latching, feeding positions, and building supply
- Pumping, storing, and bottle feeding breastmilk
- Formula selection and preparation if supplementing
- Newborn feeding cues, schedules, and patterns
- Burping, changing, bathing, soothing and sleep strategies
- Preventing and overcoming breastfeeding challenges
Time these classes for 20-26 weeks pregnant when you can still absorb and retain all the technical how-tos.
Birthing Facility Tours
Many hospitals and birthing centres offer facility tours so you can see where you’ll deliver before the big day. Optimal timing is 24-28 weeks pregnant, close enough to birth that you feel it’s relevant but before you get too uncomfortable to walk and stand extensively.
Videotaped virtual facility tours are an option, too, if available through your provider.
Third Trimester (28-40 weeks)
In the home stretch, the focus is on final practical prep and getting in the mindset for labour:
Childbirth Refresher or Express Class
If you took your main childbirth class earlier on, now is the time for a quick refresher to solidify that knowledge in your brain. Many comprehensive series offer a condensed 1-2 week refresher class around weeks 34-36.
Or for those with minimal prior education, some hospitals offer “express” or “boot camp” crash courses to cover the basics. Though not as thorough, last-minute prep is better than none!
Classes on Specific Preferences
Now is the perfect time to drill down into speciality topics related to preferences for your specific birth. For example:
- Natural childbirth techniques – in-depth pain management without medication. Massage, acupressure, water immersion, birthing balls, and more.
- VBAC skills – empowering exercises to improve chances of successful vaginal delivery after a previous c-section.
- Infant CPR – peace of mind knowing you can provide breathing assistance and respond in an emergency.
- Newborn care boot camps – for minimal previous instruction, an intensive hands-on newborn class teaches all the basics.
Customize your late-stage prenatal education based on your priorities and where you need a final boost of confidence.
Birthing Classes for Partners
If your partner couldn’t attend earlier courses, many centres offer shorter classes focused just on teaching partners their supporting role. Make sure your dad or your labour support person knows how to assist!
Ongoing Support for the Fourth Trimester
Your education doesn’t have to end once a baby is born – taking postpartum classes helps the transition.
- Postpartum preparation – how to care for incisions, handle bleeding, breastfeed, soothe baby etc. Those first weeks can be overwhelming without guidance!
- Newborn Care and Safety – expands on early lessons with more details on care, feeding, development, well visits, illnesses, CPR and other key first-year topics.
- Fitness After Birth – safe return to exercise following all birth types – vaginal, cesarean, high-risk deliveries etc.
- Becoming Parents – focuses on the enormous emotional, mental, and relationship change. Provides perspective and reassurance.
- Parent Support Groups – connect with those going through the same adjustment period for empathy and tips.
Continuing classes gives you ongoing assistance as needs and challenges arise after birth in real-time. Support shouldn’t stop at labour!
Flexible Formats to Fit Your Schedule
Of course, making time for all the ideal classes each trimester poses a challenge for busy parents. That’s where flexible options like mixed in-person come in handy!
The Parents Class goes beyond standard courses to address the whole wellness picture, uniquely offering:
- Guidance on upright labour positions for an empowered experience with optimal mobility.
- Introduction to regenerative health through acupuncture, massage, chiropractic care and more to support the childbearing year.
Their comprehensive approach ensures you feel mentally and physically prepared at each step. When you invest in your prenatal education, your confidence soars!
Visit The Parents Class to explore their complete selection of prenatal courses now.
Make 2023 the year you plan your learning journey, trimester by trimester.
