Antenatal course: prepare for your birth together

That's true. Your body knows how to give birth. But you don't give birth in the wild. You give birth within a care system, with protocols, examinations, recommendations and moments where you make choices.

That is exactly why knowledge is so valuable. You learn to understand what is happening around you, which choices you have and which questions you can ask. That way your knowledge can support your instinct, instead of uncertainty or the unknown taking over.

Your midwife does valuable work and supports you through your pregnancy and birth. But appointments are short and there simply isn't enough time to go into every topic in depth.

This course isn't a quick information session. It's a complete preparation that goes much deeper. You learn not only what can happen, but also why, which options there are and which questions you can ask.

The nice side effect? Your conversations with your midwife often get better, because you know more clearly what you want to find out.

There is an enormous amount of information online. But often you get loose snippets, without context, without clear sources and without the pros and cons set side by side.

This course brings it all together. In a logical order, in depth and backed by evidence. Not ten loose tips you once came across somewhere, but knowledge you can use when you need it.

Yes. The content is based on scientific research and on relevant guidelines and information from organisations including the KNOV, NVOG, RCOG and WHO.

You won't get a one-sided story. For important topics, you learn the benefits, drawbacks, alternatives and points to consider. That helps you understand what is being proposed and think along about choices that suit your situation.

That's an understandable thought. And information affects every woman differently.

But for many women, understanding what can happen actually brings more calm. Not because it lets you predict or prevent everything, but because you're less likely to be caught off guard when things go differently than expected.

You know what is possible, which questions you can ask and which choices there are. That can make a big difference: from “what is happening here?” to “I understand what is happening and I can think along.”

Definitely. A medical indication can mean you face more examinations, recommendations and decisions, for example around induction, extra monitoring, pain relief or a caesarean.

That is exactly when it can help to understand what certain interventions mean, which questions you can ask and which choices are possible in your situation.

Even when your birth is medically supervised, you remain an important partner in the decisions about your care.

No.

Whether you want to give birth without pain relief, already know you want an epidural, have a medical indication or have no idea yet what you want: this course is for you.

There isn't one right way to give birth. What matters is that you understand which options there are and why you make certain choices.

Yes, definitely. The course is also taken by women who live outside the Netherlands. I have (had) students from places including Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Dubai and Indonesia. Good to know: the course is taught in Dutch.

The foundation of the course (the physiology of birth, what happens in your body, medical interventions, choices and asking questions) is also relevant if you give birth abroad. Protocols, guidelines and the way maternity care is organised can differ from country to country, though.

With the knowledge from the course, you can talk with your own care providers and discuss which options there are within your situation and care system.

It's precisely because you can't fully plan a birth that preparation is so valuable.

The aim isn't to control your birth or force a particular scenario. The aim is that, even when things go differently, you understand what is happening, can ask questions and stay involved in the choices being made.

Yes. Many women start the course precisely after a difficult or disappointing experience.

You can look back at what happened during your previous birth, better understand why certain choices were made and prepare for what you would like to do differently (or the same) this time.

Your previous birth doesn't decide how this birth has to go.

Definitely. Having given birth before doesn't automatically mean you already know everything.

Every birth is different and after a first experience you often see certain topics with different eyes. Maybe by now you know very well what you liked. And also what you'd like to do differently next time.

I'd love that.

During your birth, you are completely in the moment. Then it is incredibly valuable if your partner understands what is happening, knows your wishes and knows which questions they can ask.

Your partner doesn't have to solve everything for you. But they can play a much more active and meaningful role when there is knowledge and preparation beforehand.

Ideally around the beginning of your second trimester. Then you have time to go through the information calmly and really make the knowledge your own.

But there is no too early or too late.

Some students start at around 10 weeks, others only in the third trimester. The most important thing is that you start at a moment when you have room to prepare.

Absolutely.

You get access straight away and can start right away with the topics that matter most to you right now.

Some students only started at around 40 weeks. Of course you have less time then, but even a few days of consciously taking in information, preparing questions and thinking through choices can be valuable.