Childbirth Education: A Consumer's Viewpoint

This article describes a series of classes for expectant parents and siblings and outlines how differences of opinion by health-care providers in the perinatal period can adversely affect a mother's undertsanding of, and satisfaction with, the birth process. It comments on concepts that family physicians should consider before suggesting prenatal classes to their patients. Family physicians must know what is being taught in prenatal classes, either directly through dialogue with the instructors or indirectly through conversation with their patients. There should be open dialogue between family physicians, expectant couples and childbirth educators in order to ensure supportive co-operation among all parties. Such co-operation will lead to maximum satisfaction with the experience of childbirth.