They help the future mother to stay in shape during pregnancy or to know how to breathe during childbirth. Whether you are a first-time mother or a repeat mother, you should not miss the preparation classes.

Childbirth preparation courses


Many women hesitate whether or not to prepare for childbirth, either because they are going to give birth with an epidural because they already have other children, or because they are so afraid of giving birth that they prefer not to think about it until the time comes. It's a mistake.


What are they for?

The key objective of the classes is to get ready to cope with the physical effort involved in the final stretch of pregnancy and the birth of the baby, but the childbirth preparation courses cover much more.


Where are they taught?

Public health offers these courses for free in its outpatient clinics and health centers. They are coordinated and taught by the midwife, and sometimes other professionals (obstetricians, psychologists, pediatricians, etc.) participate.

Courses are also held in numerous private centers, many of them partially or totally financed by health insurance.

For women who do not have time or cannot attend group classes, there is a personal trainer option for pregnancy and childbirth preparation. They go home or to the company.

When to start?

Most public and private centers usually begin preparation in week 28. In some Social Security centers, there are usually two previous sessions, between weeks 12 and 16. These explain self-care during pregnancy and solutions to any discomfort that may arise.


What do you learn in these classes?

The content is similar in all centers. They are divided into:


Changes typical of pregnancy, how to recognize the signs of labor, epidural anesthesia, monitoring, what happens in each of the phases of labor...


It includes prenatal gymnastics, relaxation techniques, training for the different phases of childbirth, breathing control, and postural measures.


Who are they aimed at?

To any pregnant woman, even if she is already a mother or has a scheduled cesarean section.