Hi everyone,
Kylie and I started our antenatal classes last week and we had our second class last night. It appears these classes are to prepare the pregnant mother (and husband/partner/friend) for the lead up to labour and what to expect in labour itself. I acknowledge that this is important but I am more intersted in learning how to deal with the kiddies once they come out. I trust that during the labour all the midwives and Ob know what they are doing and will advise us on the best alternatives.
I have not had a great deal to do with babies and have learnt a majority of what I know reading all your stories!!
Did any of you who did the antenatal classes wish you learnt more about dealing with the babies when they arrived?? Obviously they show you how to do things once they are born but I would love to be pre-prepared.
Hope this doesn't sound silly.
Kind regards,

Scott

Hi Scott

Our hospital offered some extra classes you could pay for through the family birthing unit but I didn't know of any others. Personally I was freaking out enough about the birth and kind of forgot I'd have to know what to do with them when they arrived!

The Multiple Birth Assoc in WA has 'Expectant Parent Evenings' you can go to - maybe your local MBA has some too?

Nicolie
DDs Paige & Hannah (23/09/03)

PS No you don't sound silly - just excited - as you should be!

Scott,
Yes, they do tend to be all about labour etc and as you said thats what midwives and Dr are there to do. The hospital where we had the boys had a baby class you could attend after you have your babies that went for 10 weeks teaching all the basics. You could ask your hospital about what teaching facilities they have for afterwards.

Like Nicolie said, your local Multiple Birth Assoc will have Expectant Parents Evenings you can attend. My hubby didn't know anything about babies either and he still says to this day that the "hospital training" was the best. I think more "baby training" before they are born would be quite handy! Not silly at all Scott, after all it's so unknown and you want to do all you can to be prepared. All the best!

Cheers
Rhonda 25
DH 38
Jackson and Hayden 21/1/04

Hi Scott - you dont sound silly, caring and trying to be prepared I would say! Good work....
We found the classes to be quiet focused on the labour etc too. Dh already having a daughter felt comfortable with "knowing what to do" but it was reasuring information and the mod cons that we found useful. We have a first time expectant parents class that ran here, and although I didnt attend I know lots that did and found it helpful.
You will be fine and the midwives and nurses will show you all the things you really need to know in hospital. I found the best thing was to spend an hour with a twin mum or go to a Multiple Birth group and ask them for advice, you will learn o much more and you will also meet people in the area with twins. Contact the Multiple Birth Association to get some details.
Will you have family come to see you or stay with you? there is nothing like clucky grandparents to show you how "they used to do it"!!
Let us know how you get on....You are going to be a great twin dad!

Haylie & Phillip
DSD ~ Ebony
Hayden Phillip ~ 21.3.2005
Brooklen Lily ~ 21.3.2005
<a href="http://www.snugglepie.com"><img border="0" src="http://www.snugglepie.com/ezb/109756.png"></a>

Hi Scott,
my DH and I attended antenatal classes and yes they are all about the labour. We read every single book on twins. We suddenly found ourselves watching "birth story" on fox. We would stop people in the shopping centre just to have that little bit of extra input for what to expect. When the day came for me to have our girls all of that went out the window and I thought to myself oh my god I don't know how to do it. Believe it or not it does all come naturally. You will get heaps of help from the midwives. Ask them heaps of questions. No question is a silly question. Grandmothers are always raedy for input as well. I believe the best help you and Kylie will ever receive is the help from all the twin Mums (and Dad's) on EB. It is just so great to get other peoples opinions because they can see any situation from a different angle which is sometimes what you need to do.
goodluck with everything
Jodi

sorry one more quick thing which I wish I did know a bit more about was ROUTINE. I was never up to scratch with the whole feed, play, sleep. Something you might want to look into even though you will not use it all straight away but it will give you a bit of direction at least.
Jodi

[color=Teal]Hi Scott, I know exactly what you mean! We too found that the first few antenatal classes really focused on the labour and birth..... especially a drug free one (all very nice for the midwife taking the class to be anti pain killing drugs, but she's not the one going through the labour and birth!! o: ), which was a bit frustrating for us as we knew that I'd be having a c-section. But, I guess all the other couples wanted to know what the go was.

We found that the info on the more practical side of looking after the babies kicked in about half way through our classes. This may not necessarily be the case for all antenatal classes, but have a bit of a chat with the person taking your class and ask him/her about it.

Also, there's always places like Karitane and Tresillion (different places in different states) that you can call or spend time at to help you with your babies when they come home from hospital.

Vanessa

"Ditto" to pretty much what all the others have said...I only did classes first time around, it certainly prepares you for the delivery etc, and they did touch on basic care, feeding, bathing, changing, burping, crying. We watched some videos in hospital after Meg was born, and that's were we learnt about comfort settling...that was probably a "penny dropping" moment for us, and it sure saved us alot of grief...I would have handled things alot differently but for watching that. Your hospital may offer a similar program of videos too.

Alot of stuff does come naturally, but it is reassuring to hear it from someone, be it a professional or a friend. I read alot of books, I like to read and find out information that way, and my mothers group was always a good source of ideas, sometimes what NOT to do!!!!! The Child Health nurses are usually very good too.

To be honest a baby doesn't care HOW you do it, as long the end result is the same....a full tummy, a dry bottom, a warm bed and lots of cuddles! Of course with twins, mum and dad get to do it all TWICE and there is always enough to go around! You will be an expert in half the time of singleton parents!

Just as a footnote...I have seen some DVD's around by Miriam Stoppard, I don't know what they contain, but that might be worth a look too! Good luck!Ï

Double hugs from Sharyn
Mum to Meg14/4/99
Hannah & Josie 22/3/04 (33 wks)
DH David



k

Hi Scott,

You dont sound silly at all. My husband and I thought exactly the same thing. The main thing is to spend as much time at the hospital as you can once they arrive. Find out if your hospital lets you board. My husband stayed with me and the babies the entire time we were in hospital so while I was learning to look after them, so was he. It as great in the fact that we were not so worried when we bought them home.

Some hospitals do classes for expecting fathers, I have heard these are also good.

We stayed in the hospital as long as we could (till they just about kicked us out) and tried to do everything ourselves as much as we could and asked for help when we needed it.

The main thing is to have a strict routine and be organised. Do everything at the same time and be strict with your times. It worked for us.

Good luck

Alison

Hi everyone,
Thank you all so much for your replies.
Kylie and I are on the Central Coast which places us half way between Hornsby MBA and Newcastle MBA. By postcode my MBA is Hornsby but we are having a hell of a time getting in contact with them (numerous phone calls and e-mails), so may have to look at the Newcastle option.

Nicole & Rhonda: I called our hospital yesterday and they do classes after the birth so will look into that.

Haylie: We are very lucky that both our families are close by and both our mothers have all the time in the world. I am a twin and my older brothers are twins so I drill my mum with questions all the time!!

Megan: The antenatal classes we are doing are for singletons. The midwife running the course is going to try and include things for twins aswell and the class is actually quite interested too.

Jodi: ROFL about asking people in shopping centres questions. Every time I go to a centre I keep an eye out for twin mums and dads and ask them heaps of questions!! They are always happy to stop and chat.

Hi Scott

How are you? I ditto the ladies above. Just a suggestion, as was already suggested, did you get a lesson plan of what your classes will cover? Maybe ask the person running the course if you could have one. We have now finished our courses and found that they focussed on the birth in the first half (after all, that is what most first time mums are anxious about and want most info on) and the second half they talked about sids and parenting.

Our hospital also runs classes on breastfeeding and baby care that I am going to during the day in the next few weeks (as I have now finished work). It would be worth asking about these at your hospital. Ours are only $10 for a 2 hour class. Our hospital also runs classes during the day after the birth that I will attend, also on parenting and caring for your bubs. Ask your hospital about these too.

We attended twin classes at a different hospital to the one we are delivering at, as recommended by AMBA. I actually found that they didn't cover enough about labour, pain management and relaxing positions, so we have attended a singleton class at our hospital to cover this. The reason the twin classes gave us that they didn't cover this was that having twins we would automatically have epidural so wouldn't need to know this. I am sure that there will be pain that I need to deal with before the epidural goes in (if we decide to have it - my OB says I have to have it, still getting my head around that)

Good luck with your research. Let us know how you get on....

After 17 months TTC - Identical TWINS!! Due 23 June 2005
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sorry hit the wrong key and have not finished yet!!

Jodi: The Routine is something we really want to learn about!!

Vanessa:I am going to wait until the next lesson and see if the we are going to go into post birth info.

Sharyn: I read as much info as I can get my hands on and get alot out of listening to all your views!!
Don't we all like a full belly, dry bottom, warm bed and lots of cuddles!!!!! Will keep my eye out for the DVDs.

I must admit I do keep forgetting about how scary it must be for you ladies about giving birth. I am not a fan of pain, so thank god I am not a female!!
Thanks again.

Scott

At the end of our antenatal classes - I think the last two lessons - they went through changing nappies, sleep, settling, bathing etc. In the hospital again after the birth they show you it all again.

Hi Scott

This is Mason, Nicolie's husband.
2 days into being a father I wished I'd had enough sense to ask the questions you are now!

After reading all of the replies "the girls" they seem to have you covered, listen to them closely especially about routine, it's very important, boring as hell, but important. It will give you sanity!

The only additional information I would have wanted to know is that the first 8-12 weeks can be seem like it'll never end, you get through it, it's just that you'd enjoy it more if you know that once through that initial period you get rewarded 100 fold with a funny kinda proud/happiness/love from your kids that's just impossible to explain until your there.

Anyway reply if ya wanna know more, congrats by the way

Mason

I just wanted to say hi to Mason and Nicolie I have tried to private message you but wasn't able to.
I met you both before the arrival of your girls I realised it was you both of course when Mason logged small world isn't it. look forward to hearing how your girls are going

(by the way sorry to put this in the thread but was amazed and just had to say Hi)

Kristy
Mum to Liam 8 1/2
twins Jack & Tom 2

Hi Mason,
Thanks for a reply mate. Sounds like this first 8 - 12 weeks is going to be great fun!! Hope you don't mind me asking lots of questions along the way.

Thank you for everyones replies again.

Regards,
Scott