For some reason, childbirth classes in Morristown have become less commonly utilized over the course of the last two generations. Once used as a rite of passage, these interactive and informative classes kept women informed on what to expect during pregnancy as well as eased the stress of the birthing process. Labor is never guaranteed to be easy for any mother, and each individual faces a different set of challenges in the delivery room. This does not mean, however, that a mother-to-be should ever walk into their delivery room without a good grasp of what to expect, given to them from highly knowledgeable childbirth instructors. Childbirth classes only serve to better prepare a mother, no matter what her circumstances in pregnancy are. Information is empowering, and giving birth, especially for the first time, without this information can make for a scary experience.
Why Childbirth Education Began
Over four decades ago, the first childbirth classes were established in an attempt to change the concept of childbirth that prevailed at the time. For too long, childbirth had been treated as an illness that required medical meddling, such as the common practice of heavily medicating mothers during pregnancy. In fact, it was not until the childbirth class movement was set in motion that the concept of having loved ones in the room with the mother during labor truly began to take form. Childbirth preparation classes were established in order to give mothers and delivery doctors alike the understanding that childbirth is about control rather than the treatment of an ailment.
Participation reached its peak in the 80s and 90s, and both first time mothers and veteran mothers alike took advantage of the new opportunity to prepare themselves. By 2005, however, these numbers had significantly lowered from 76 percent of expectant mothers attending to a mere 56 percent. As time has gone by, this percentage has lowered even more, as more and more mothers turn to television, books, loved ones, and the internet for their information. This information is not always reliable or realistic, and some mothers find themselves less prepared than they believed themselves to be on delivery day. In fact, an extremely small percentage of women consider childbirth classes a priority when it comes to gaining information about their pregnancy.
Why this Drop has Occurred
A rise in the popularity of epidurals, higher cesarean rates, and the simple fact that some mothers prefer to receive their information at home have all added to lower attendance levels. With safer and more modernized medication and procedures available, some mothers do not see the point in educating themselves on the natural means of birth. Do not leave yourself uninformed, regardless of your decisions for your childs birth.
