by Carol Gioia

Created on: August 18, 2008   Last Updated: May 11, 2011

Prenatal classes are designed to prepare expectant parents for the impending labor and birth of their child. All aspects of pregnancy, labor and delivery are complicated subjects in their own right, and to attempt to include training in discipline methods would result in an overload of superfluous information.

Discipline is a natural component of parenting classes which new parents can access at a later date, as their child develops and grows. Most of what is learned in discipline training sessions will not be useful to the parents during the infancy of their newborn.

The purpose of prenatal classes is to allow the parents-to-be to assimilate the following:

* Answers to questions and concerns about pregnancy
* Learning how to be comfortable during pregnancy
* Learning how the fetus develops
* Learn what is normal, and what is not, during pregnancy
* Learning what to expect during labor, possible premature labor or false labor
* Learning about pain relief options during labor and delivery
* Learning how to care for a newborn
* Learning all about the pros and cons of breastfeeding
* Postpartum information

With all the material to cover in prenatal classes surrounding the immediate concerns of pregnancy, birth and newborn care, to attempt to introduce a subject as complex and diverse as discipline methods would be folly on the part of the prenatal instructor.

During question and answer sessions, some inexperienced and misguided expectant parents might inquire about how to discipline their child. This might be impetus for the instructor to touch lightly on the subject.

In depth lessons would be inappropriate, but a brief discussion of the various philosophies of discipline and at what age each would likely be introduced would be sufficient to satisfy parental queries. Any further time dedicated to the subject of discipline would be valuable time taken away from preparing the parents for the important impending events for which the prenatal classes are intended.

Prenatal classrooms should have brochures and informational pamphlets on display, providing the parents with contact information about parenting classes and discipline training.

The first year of a newborn's life is a pivotal time for the infant and parents to become acquainted and complete the crucial bonding process. It is a time for gentle, loving care for the baby from the parents and for the parents between themselves.

It can also be a stressful time, for transitioning from a couple to a family is often an overwhelming change. Expectations can run high and energy can deplete as new parents are often sleep deprived and unsure of their own competence with their new addition.

Even the most comprehensive prenatal classes often do not adequately prepare the parents for some of the negative experiences they might encounter. The new mother might be have mild to severe postnatal depression, the new father may feel displaced and the infant, sensitive to the stressful atmosphere could become colicky. It is one thing to listen to a lecture in a prenatal class about these possibilities, but quite another to experience them first hand.

To get through the early days of their baby's infancy, the new parents will need to be equipped with focused information about postpartum, newborn care and breastfeeding. These are the appropriate subjects to be covered in prenatal classes.

The last thing new parents need to worry about is how they are going to discipline their progeny in the future. They will have ample time to address that issue when they are not suffering from sleep deprivation; after their baby is finally sleeping through the night.

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