Six to eight weeks before your expected due date, you will begin prenatal classes with your partner. These classes are essentially crash courses in labor and delivery. You'll want to enroll early in your pregnancy (around week 16) since spaces fill up quickly.
Untitled Document
When you begin your prenatal or childbirth education class, you will quickly learn that there are many childbirth philosophies. Chances are, your class will focus on one philosophy and teach you its methods of relaxation, breathing and exercise for childbirth. Regardless of the method, all theories endeavor to minimize labor pains naturally so as to ensure a positive childbirth experience.
You and your partner should research the options for prenatal classes and discuss your decision with her physician before you register. To give you a starting point for your research, the staff at thefunkystork.com has summarized the key points for some of the most popular methods of childbirth preparation.
lamaze
While this is the oldest and best-known philosophy, it is only practiced by 25% of all pregnant women in the United States. The other 75% of pregnant women either practice another method of childbirth preparation or resort to medication to relieve the pain of labor and delivery.
The theory behind Lamaze is that birth is a normal, natural and healthy event that should occur without unnecessary medical intervention. Rather than resorting to pain medication, different breathing techniques are used for each stage of labor to control pain. Fathers are assigned the role of labor coach, and are responsible for monitoring and adjusting their partner's breathing pattern throughout childbirth.
For more information about Lamaze or to find a prenatal lamaze class near you, check out www.lamaze.org.
Thefunkystork.com is a pregnancy resource and parenting guide for expectant fathers and new dads. It provides only general information designed for educational purposes, and does not offer pregnancy or pediatric advice. You should always consult a physician about concerns you have with your pregnancy or your child's health.
PREGNANCY 101 
You and your partner should research the options for prenatal classes and discuss your decision with her physician before you register. To give you a starting point for your research, the staff at thefunkystork.com has summarized the key points for some of the most popular methods of childbirth preparation.