Prenatal Class @ Mt Elizabeth / Other recommendations?

[febuary-mum]

Hello Everybody

I'm new to Singapore, Japanese mum-to-be, due in Feb.

My clinic has suggested the Mt Elizabeth group antenatal programme; has anybody here attended this and would they recommend it?

Are there any other pre-natal classes (in English) that people here would recommend?

Thank you!

[gravida]

We've attended the Mt. E. antenatal class and... well, I can't recommend it neither discourage you from taking it.

Generally speaking for us it was too basic most of the time. Listening for up to 45 minutes about how important it is that the father to be will help and support mother to be is not what I was expecting from such kind of course. It is so obvious for me that both parents should be involved that I personally found it annoying a bit to spend so much time talking about so elementary things Also, the information provided were very basic, especially about the changes during pregnancy and lactation. Maybe it is me, because I like to know what will happen to me, so I've been reading books and browsing through internet a lot, hence I didn't gain too much of a 'new' knowledge from the classes. On the other hand, it seemed that the rest of the group sort of benefited from it, so maybe it was just not right for me.
Luckily, two last sessions were more informative, they were related to birth, pain management, hospital's policy etc. It was worth to know what kind of attitude the Mount Elizabeth personnel have toward your birth plan and other important issues.
It consists of 5 lessons, during two first one you will have practical part with exercises to stretch a bit and to learn how to breathe. One class is run by the lactation consultant, the rest by a midwife/doula/chief of the nurses Ms. Zara. Zara is very enthusiastic and energetic, and that's a positive thing. However, I am not sure is she is running all of the classes.
It also gives you a chance to meet the people who (Zara and her friend), who you will later meet during your hospital stay.

Summarizing, it depends what you are looking for.


Other places I've been recommended to choose from were Birth and Beyond and Mother and Child. The latter I know from yoga classes, which are good, but some time ago I've read on this forum that their antenatal classes are a little unrealistic, picturing a labor as a fully spiritual experience, without any physical aspects, which is not truth On the other hand the antenatal class in Mt. E. was neither too drastic, even though there were pictures and a video with realistic images
Thus, I can't really compare the two.

[klitz]

i'm attending the prenatal class from TMC, the class given by Mrs Wong. She's quite famous in this field.

The first three lessons are exercises for preparing birth, and after birth. The different birth methods, and pain relieving methods. With some general knowledge discussion.

Last two lessons are about ways to take care of a child, breastfeeding, etc.

Lastly is a doc talk. I've yet to attend the doc talk. Would give more insight after i attend it.

If you need more information on what's covered you can look into Thomson medical's website, under parentcraft centre.

By the way, the lesson given in Ang mo kio is by Mrs Wong. The lessons in the hospital are given by her nurses.

[seraph929]

Hello Everybody

I'm new to Singapore, Japanese mum-to-be, due in Feb.

My clinic has suggested the Mt Elizabeth group antenatal programme; has anybody here attended this and would they recommend it?

Are there any other pre-natal classes (in English) that people here would recommend?

Thank you!

A free breast feeding talk in TiongBahru community center was given in this August, heard they are going to give more talks and have small pregnancy library & pregnant group gathering soon, can contact [email protected] (the speaker) to check the status.