Childbirth is an experience of great intensity that fully involves women, in general. It can be a moment of transformation that can also be enjoyed for its therapeutic values, such as the time of rethinking their position and overcoming much of the losses, sorrows and separations experienced during their lives.

If women come prepared at the time of delivery, all their experiences can be put in perspective and concluded in a positive, creative and competent way, leaving them with a feeling of great satisfaction, energy, self-esteem and self-image, with newness and strength.

The preparation for childbirth is a process that started long time ago and involves the deepest spheres of every woman, her childhood, her educational background, the relationship she has with her body and with her parents, her self-image.

Always keeping in mind the peculiarities of this unique and individual experience, our childbirth preparation classes are structured to allow a fruitful meeting between the prospective parents and our team of health care professionals, consisting of obstetricians, pediatricians, gynecologists and psychologists, who have the task of helping the couple to deal with labor, delivery and breastfeeding, in a conscious and serene manner.

Together, topics are discussed concerning the changes in a woman’s body due to the pregnancy, the stages of the development of their first child, before birth and in the following days after.
The courses consist of a theoretical part, where we talk about the anatomy and physiology of women, pregnancy, labor/delivery, and suggest practical ways of how to care for and manage the newborn. The practical part of the course has the couple perform exercises to increase awareness and the creative power of the force innate in every woman. The course is open to all, even to couples who have already had children and therefore have already dealt with this life-changing event. Their presence is strongly encouraging and positive for prospective parents, experiencing the birth of a child for the first time.

All the techniques used in the courses are designed to bring greater confidence and awareness to women, through the analysis and the awareness of oneself and one's way of being physical and psychic. The primary purpose of the course is to bring every woman to “feel”, and this perception is fostered by listening to the physical sensations caused during specific periods, with the help of some guided meditations.

The statistics attest unequivocally that women who attended pre-partum courses undergo a shorter labor, reduce the “difficult” deliveries and the number of Cesarean Sections. In addition, the preparation for childbirth arises from the need perceived by the couple to prepare and to better understand an experience that has lost much of its naturalness and is increasingly medicalized. The formation of a homogeneous group is often therapeutic and encouraging to all future parents who can consult with one another and derive mutual benefits from such consultation.

The courses take place inside the hospital (in the Physiotherapy gym) or Women's Health Centre (at the Centro Atlante di Dogana): the location will be communicated prior to the start of the course.
The number of participants for each course varies from 10 to 15 pregnant women, according to the number of requests.
The course consists of 10 two-hour meetings, one per week: 9 meetings will be held before the delivery of the child and the last about a month thereafter. The meetings are held in the afternoons from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

During the second quarter of the morphological ultrasound, it is possible to schedule an appointment by leaving your contact data (name, phone and date of last menstrual period), to the head of the Obstetric ultrasound office on the 4th floor.
Should you forget, you can book by calling 0549-994579 within the 26th week of your pregnancy.

From the 28th to 30th weeks of pregnancy, the midwife in charge of the course will contact the group of participants by phone and tell them on which day the course starts. During the first meeting the program will be provided with the dates of the next meetings.

To participate in childbirth preparation classes, you don’t need any former training. However, you must:

• wear comfortable clothing
• bring a floor mat or a blanket
• bring a pillow/cushion for the practical part of the relaxation
• bring a tennis ball
• bring a pen and paper.

Yes, it is very useful because the meetings are not only organized exclusively for natural childbirth, but also to address all the stages of pregnancy and birth, including information on the specific location in case of cesarean delivery. Also the course is not just about what happens "before" the birth but also about what happens "after", and offers answers to frequently asked questions regarding the care of the newborn. Also the course delves into the psychological dynamics of the family members in relation to the birth of a child.