Antenatal classes? | ExpatWoman.com
 

Antenatal classes?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 18:55

I just wondered if anyone could recommend an antenatal class in Dubai? I'm only 22 weeks, but would like to start getting a few ideas for where to go. I know they are run at American Hospital (where we will deliver), but thought it was worth asking for recommendations.

It's our first, so we'd like to attend for that reason. I'd also love to meet a group of ladies that wanted to keep in touch afterwards, but I am aware that may not be how things work so much in Dubai.

500
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 15:20
Maybe this would interest you. Community group Breastfeeding Q&A are pleased to announce their upcoming ante-natal breastfeeding workshop, 1:30-4pm on Saturday 14th January at Al Wasl Hospital in the ward 9 seminar room.  This will be the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers ante-natal workshop “Let’s Talk About Feeding Babies,” facilitated by ABM Breastfeeding Counsellor Sian Khoury, with a question & answer session led by Midwife and board-certified Lactation Consultant Dru Campbell. Topics include: - Why is breastfeeding so important? - Getting breastfeeding off to a flying start - The mum & baby dream team - Life with a new baby - Common questions & issues Both mums and dads are welcome. There will be a charge of 15 Dhs per participant to cover the cost of refreshments and handouts.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 14:34
Zen Yoga at Media City. Check the website, they have different times and teachers, in my opinion some are better than others, I can send you a private email if you want. I started doing only yoga and now I am doing only Pilates twice per week as I like it more. It is AED 75 per 1 hour sesion (but clases are usually longer than 1 hour if you include relaxation time). I have bought birth ball and other pilates' equipment in Ibn Battuta mall for a very small price and I repeat the exercises at home. You can even go by metro.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 13:02
Nimonemo replied : Hi there, I am 23 weeks and first time pregnant and I have almost decided I won't attend the antenatal classes. I am attending ante natal yoga and pilates Hi Nimonemo, can you please tell me where are you doing the yoga classes? I am looking for somewhere close to Marina! Thanks
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2012 - 12:54
lec299 - Have you decided on a class yet? I've been doing some research as well am leaning towards the weekend class at American since it seems to offer what I'm looking for regarding breathing and relaxation techniques. Have you heard of any others that seem promising? It's my first as well and would like as much help as possible!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2011 - 00:02
hi there i did mine with a lady called elizabeth driver who conducts ante natal claases in her villa in barsha. she was initially head nurse in welcare hospital where i recently delivered. also with elizabeth you need to pay only when you attend the session. hence you could choose the sesiions you would like to attend. i personally enjoyed the classes and it was definately very informatve. we were a small group and she always had cookies and juices for each session :-) i also did pilates which is very helpful but ante natal classes give you lot of information which you may not be aware of otherwise. it is definately worth it..
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 December 2011 - 22:12
Agree with what shelly said. I did mine through city hospital and have met a lovely bunch of gals who we often have play dates with and one of them, DH and I often go out or catch up with hr and her husband it's really nice to have not only learnt some things about the whole birth process but also have some wonderful friends from it. Between four of us, 3 of us are now pregnant again and due 3 weeks after one another, just like last time around (only dif order) and I promise you we didn't compare notes about when to have number two! Lol. So funny. Weare all going back to city once again to deliver.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 07 December 2011 - 20:28
I personally think antenatal classes are great. But it is a very personal decision and I guess different people get different things out of it. We did ours at the hospital we delivered at and I'm so glad we did. Do not regret it one bit. Met one of my closest friends there so it was definitely worth it!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 December 2011 - 16:58
Very interesting overview of the classes ilovewine. I guess everybody is different and although I understand you find the classes extremely helpful I prefer to invest my money and time doing yoga and pilates. I feel that the exercises I am doing are going to be really useful for the delivery. In the classes you get the same kind of friends you do in your antenatal classes. Of course the more information the better, but I have the impression (from other new mums) that once in the delivery room it is a big Inshallah, so maybe you want a natural birth without drugs but if the doctor tells you that you need a c-section, that is you with no options. In the meantime my doctor is giving me all the info I need (included in the insurance and time I go to the check ups) and I am not fussy about meeting the nurses and doctors in advance. But this is just myself. The less time I spend in an hospital the better!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 December 2011 - 15:14
oh i disagree with nimonemo (in my opinion, of course). i found our antenatal classes extremely informative and helpful. i did mine at city hospital. there are so many old wives tales and stories from a friend's friend's mother's sister and when discussed at an antenatal class, it's amazing how the midwives and/or nurses respond thereto. i printed things off the internet so that i could ask questions on it, and again, these extremely well-trained professionals with many, many years of experience were able to advise us properly. (i was amazed at how many of us had the same questions coming from very similar sources, i.e. friends/internet/books.) we had doctors attend classes so as to explain things in more detail. and the resident anaesthetist spent an entire evening on pain relief, particularly epidural (the administration thereof, the history behind it, showing us how, when and where it's done) completely alleviating any fears that i may have had. we were also handed out 'course material' for extra reading and were given telephone numbers of help-lines, lactation consultants etc. doing an antenatal class at the hospital or clinic that you intend on giving birth has the added advantage of you getting to know the nurses, midwives and certain of the doctors that would roam the halls. PLUS you meet women who are in the same boat as you, and some of them will be in the hospital at the same time as you. great for 'hospital buddies' and exchanging information, ideas and just general chit-chat. i love my friends, and they are fantastic, but none of them have children, so i found the camaraderie amongst the women in my antenatal class invalueable. x
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 December 2011 - 14:18
hiya, i just started this monday with Nurse Amanda at Welcare..she does antenatal classes - a session runs for 6 classes @ AED 1500 for the whole session or AED 300 if you are paying per class. In my first class there was a powerpoint prsentation and also fresh juice, finger foods, etc are provided. I enjoyed it although i havent learned anything shocking or new yet..still it was a nice thing to do with the hubby and there was a good fun classroom atmosphere with lots of joking and ribbing. I am registered at welcare for my check-ups and birth so its quite useful for me as we will have a labour ward tour, etc. This is my second baby but i needed some reminding on things so thought classes would be useful.. We have been asked to wear comfortable clothes for our second class as we will be taught some exercising positions and also use the birthing ball, etc...
270
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 20:35
Hi there, I am 23 weeks and first time pregnant and I have almost decided I won't attend the antenatal classes. I am attending ante natal yoga and pilates instead and I am finding these classes much more useful for the delivery. I don't think there is anything you cannot find in a good website or a good book plus I hate the idea of attending theory classes after work/at the weekends. Also somebody told me that in the American Hospital classes, the last sessions are delivered by marketing people from the umbilical cord storage and to be honest there is no way I am going to pay a penny for a salesman trying to sell me more stuff. This is only my opinion....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 21:38
Thank you - I really don't know, but assumed it was about 30 weeks?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 19:18
Healthbay on Al Wasl apparently do good ones. At what stage are you mean to start the classes?
 
 

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