Importance of pre-birth courses

It should be emphasized, however, that often - unless the birth has been managed privately - the simple fact of having followed a course to accompany the birth in hospital does not ensure the presence of one's gynecologist and the reference obstetrician during labor. This is because these operators could be bound to different work shifts or maybe at the same time be involved in assisting other pregnant women or emergencies. Indeed, the midwife who organizes and manages the actual accompaniment course (ie the one with which the most continuous and intimate relationship is established) will rarely be the one physically present in the delivery room.

However, if you opt to carry out your preparation for birth in a hospital, it is advisable (once again after having precisely focused on your desires and priorities) to carefully inform yourself about the different philosophical and practical characteristics that distinguish the various ones. structures. For example, collect some data on the percentage of caesarean sections performed in different situations or on their attitude towards epidural analgesia. And again the possibility and the willingness to assist the woman giving birth in alternative positions to the lithotomy one or even the presence inside the hospital of tubs for water birth.

This information will obviously be essential in order not to be unprepared at the time of labor but it will also be essential to guess a priori what kind of setting the childbirth preparation course in which we are going to participate may have.

Another aspect to consider and investigate concerns the type of operators and professionalism that will be involved in the organization and conduct of the course itself, therefore the specific cut that this can take. In some structures, for example - sometimes by choice, others by necessity - the theoretical aspect is strongly privileged. The course actually translates into a series of lectures (school type) in which the gynecologist (alone or with the support of obstetricians and psychologists) gives the "class" of "pregnant-pupils" a series of notions and verbal advice of a general nature (sometimes also with the use of information brochures and films).

In other contexts, instead, more space is given to bodily and practical work, gymnastics, massage, breathing. This type of course is usually less directive and more engaging. Generally in these realities the role of the obstetrician is preponderant, representing the true guide of the course, the reference point for the woman and the red thread of the various activities.

Of course, a lot depends not only on the intentions of those who organize these courses but also on the equipment and resources they can count on. For example, there are many Italian consultants who have (or could have) at their disposal high-level human and professional material, able to organize a quality and financially advantageous service for families within the public context. Unfortunately - for historical, socio-political and economic reasons that it is not up to us to analyze in this context - public consultants have been going through an extremely difficult phase for some time and few (both in small and large centers) manage to keep the standard of their courses and activities When this happens it is usually due to the personal preparation and the good will and self-denial of the individual operators.

Let us not forget that the female universe itself has in the meantime changed profoundly, becoming more and more extensive and complex over the years. Just as his requests have become more varied and demanding.

Think of how many women practice sport during their daily life and - as far as possible - do not want to suspend it during pregnancy; as much as possible, adapt it. Think of how many women have developed an interest in water and the benefits that swimming pool work can have during the nine months of gestation for both the mother and the fetus. And again the real explosion of disciplines such as Pilates, Yoga, Feldenkrais and even belly dance.

Let's not forget moxibustion and traditional Chinese medicine, physiotherapy for back pain, homeopathy and natural medicine, hypnosis and visualizations.