A research-based, up-to-the minute account of the current status of antenatal education, focusing on the key challenges it faces in the future, offering suggestions for how these challenges might best be met. It describes some innovative approaches to accessing vulnerable groups of parents and how collaboration between the statutory and voluntary sectors might result in a better educational service for pregnant women and their families. Narratives from parents are analysed and commented upon, and underpinning the book will be an account of how the principles and practices of adult education should inform antenatal education.
Key Features
- Demonstrates the potential for antenatal education to make a positive impact on women's experience of birth
- Points the way to accessing new sources of funding for antenatal classes
- Illustrates new teaching strategies with the aim of accessing groups of parents currently not involved with antenatal education
- Aims to show how antenatal education can be a central, rather than peripheral part of the holistic care provided to pregnant women and their families
Author Information
By Mary L. Nolan, PhD, MA, BA(Hons), RGN, Antenatal Teacher/Senior Tutor, The National Childbirth Trust, London, UK and Julie Foster, BSc, RGN, RM, DipHE, Parent Education Coordinator, Birmingham Women's Health Care NHS Trust, UK
Chapter 1: Childbirth and Parenting Education: what the research says and why we may ignore it Chapter 2 : Context and Purpose: learning styles and principles of adult education Chapter 3: Why Education for Birth is Important Chapter 4: Birthing and Parenting Education for Men Chapter 5: Are Midwives Empowered Enough to Offer Empowering Education? Chapter 6: Innovative Practice in Birth Education: Birmingham Women's Hospital Bith Ideas Workshop 000 Chapter 7: Best Practice in Antenatal EducationImproving services for women of South Asian heritageParent education classes for South Asian Women: SAMPADThe Albany Practice, South East London: antenatal and postnatal groupsThe Bellevue Project: local classes for local women4U Teenage Pregnancy GroupBlackburn Teenage Mothers' GroupThe Cafe Class (National Childbirth Trust)Chapter 8 : Education for Birth and Parenting: where next? Index
Aimed at all those responsible for leading antenatal classes or organising programmes of parent education, whether in the NHS or the private sector. This book takes a bold groundbreaking approach to parent education, anyone dipping into it for ideas on games or teaching strategies is likely to be disappointed. As well as drawing on their own experiences as antenatal teachers, the editors are joined by other respected authorities in their field. It has proved an invaluable resource when teaching student midwives on a parent education module...an inspiration to those who are striving to improve provision for antenatal/parenthood education. Anabel JayThe Practising Midwife Vol 9 No 5