Birth and Parenting Skills: New Directions in Antenatal Education

Book info: Birth and Parenting Skills: New Directions in Antenatal Education (Paperback, 144 pages) – Churchill Livingstone, 2005. Language: English.

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.

• 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

Editorial Reviews Review 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 About the Author Mary L. Nolan, Antenatal Teacher/Senior Tutor, The National Childbirth Trust, London, UK; and Julie Foster, Parent Education Coordinator, Birmingham Women's Health Care NHS Trust, UK