Prenatal Education Program

The Prenatal Education Program is a teaching aid for face-to-face prenatal education sessions. The audience for these modules includes the pregnant woman and her partner. The program consists of a series of 11 independent modules. Each module includes three files in PDF format: the slides, the speaker notes and a module outline (objectives, teaching aids, references, etc.).

Program Overview

This document provides an orientation to the program, a list of modules, methodology, suggested handouts and equipment, acknowledgements, program philosophy, etc.
Revised 2018

 

1- Prenatal Care

Prenatal care guidelines and prenatal tests (schedule, prevention of low-birth weight, communicating with health care provider, amniocentesis, ultrasound, gestational diabetes, dental care, etc.)
Revised 2018

 

2 - Changes in Pregnancy

Physiology of pregnancy (anatomical changes, development of baby, physical discomforts, etc.)
Revised 2018

3 - Healthy Eating

Nutrition (food groups, essential nutriments, etc.)
Revised 2018
 

4 - Physical & Emotional Fitness

Physical activity (importance, contra indications, tips, etc.)
Emotional changes in pregnancy (prenatal depression and anxiety, feelings about parenthood, communicating with partner, healthy ways to cope with stress etc.)
Revised 2019

5 - Environmental Exposures

Substance use (alcohol, tobacco, medication, herbal products, etc.)
Environmental issues
Revised 2018

6 - Labour and Birth

Physical preparation for childbirth (fetal positions, preterm labour, stages of labour)
Practical preparation for hospital childbirth (birth plan, preparing suitcase, pre-registration, tour, etc.)
Revised 2018
 

7 - Comfort Measures

Non-medical labour comfort measures (labour support, doulas, breathing, etc.)
Revised 2018
 

8 - Medical Interventions & Caesarean Birth

Medical interventions / Pain management (anaesthetics, analgesics, episiotomy, caesarean birth, etc.)
Revised 2018
 

9 - Breastfeeding Basics

Advantages, successful initiation and continuation, supports, etc. 
Revised 2016
 

10 - Postpartum Changes

Physical needs of mother after giving birth (pain relief, fatigue, discharges, etc.)
Emotional needs of new family (postpartum mood disorders, partner’s feelings, etc.)
Social needs of new family (roles and relationship, sexuality, home support, abuse/violence issues, etc.)
Revised 2018
 

11 - Newborn Care & Safety

Newborn characteristics (characteristics, behaviours, growth & development, etc.)
Taking care of newborn (hygiene, immunizations, warmth, attachment, sleep patterns, etc.)
Baby safety (car seats, cribs, strollers, playpens, safe sleep, etc.)
Revised 2018