Antenatal education classes in Victoria: what the women said

Abstract

Thirteen women's experiences in antenatal education classes emerged as significant during the data analysis of a much larger study on women's experiences of their first pregnancy. Two grounded theory procedures, the making of comparisons and the asking of questions were used to analyse the antenatal classes experiences. Subcategories Unprepared (labour and birth experiences), and Vulnerable (breastfeeding) evolved during the grouping of the concepts. Tape recorded, individual interviews were held with the women in their homes for about one hour on four occasions. The classes were completed in the 3rd trimester; this discussion, therefore, relates to the third trimester and post birth interviews only. Ten women were delivered in private hospitals and three women in public hospitals. Comments about the classes during the third interview were generally positive. Following birth, comments were less favourable. Audit trials were created for the larger study of which the present topic was a small part.