While working on some recent class plans, I started thinking around this question. What is it that we as antenatal teachers are to do and are we doing it effectively? Granted all teachers have different ways and styles of teaching and they even have different rationale and philosophies. That is one of the reasons that you should find out what your antenatal teacher’s philosophy is, and see how that fits into your ideals and beliefs etc.
So I find myself pulling apart my own classes and thoughts.
Firstly, I believe that every adult learner that walks through into one of my classes brings with them a different and unique history and learning needs. To me it is important to acknowledge these and yet not to stray off why I teach what I teach. Next, I believe that the practical arrangements are so very very important.
In looking at Maslow’s hierarchy, we can see the 5 basic needs; physiological, safety and security, social needs, ego needs and finally self-fulfilment. In creating a warm and welcoming environment with tea and a homemade cake, we already meet that first basic need, the physiological need. In welcoming the couples in and inviting them to feel at home and even perhaps take off shoes if they wish, we are meeting the next. The social needs will be met in a group where they feel a sense of belonging and can identify with each other, such is our wish for our antenatal groups to become support groups for each other. The ego need could be met by the antenatal teacher’s acknowledgement of what people have said during discussions and then the couples are ready for optimal learning as we reach self-fulfilment. Perhaps then, one can say that the practical arrangements and the environment are just as important as the content within an antenatal course.
Those who know me and follow my blog posts will know my own philosophy is one of birth being a natural and that it is a perfectly normal time in your lives. Part of my dream is to treat each mother as the unique woman that she is, and to walk with her, besides her, on this wonderful journey that she is on.
As an antenatal teacher my aim is to create a safe-environment that will allow the couples to share their previous knowledge and to explore new information together. I want my classes to flow rather than have sudden changes in information, but rather that they will flow according to the needs of the couples but yet also cover all of the important issues that are needed. I see my role as a facilitator and a guide for parents on this new journey they are embarking on.
Hopefully with this mix and my passion for childbirth I can be that guide to couples on their wonderful journey to parenthood.