Classes for first time fathers are sponsored by many civic organizations including your hospital, the local Red Cross, the YMCA, or Maternal Health Centers. To find such programs, you could ask your clinician, call your hospital, or look in the phone book for the appropriate organization. The classes usually focus on giving concrete help concerning the father’s role during pregnancy, and they also show the father how to help with the new baby. After practicing with a doll, many of these “trained” fathers are more proficient than the mother.

Men are also able to reassure one another during these classes, and most sessions include both the prospective father and the mother. If you take classes together, you can not only have fun as a couple that also build a solid basis of shared companionship for your adventure ahead.

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.

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 indianmomsandbabies.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 very few pregnant women in India. Most 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.

The bradley method

Like Lamaze, the Bradley Method views birth as a natural process. This method also emphasizes the importance of actively involving fathers in the labor process. Fathers are taught ways to help ease their partner's pain during childbirth through guided relaxation and slow abdominal breathing.

Visit www.bradleybirth.com for resources related to this method.

Hypnobirthing

This method is sometimes referred to as the Grantly Dick-Read Philosophy since it was Dr. Dick-Read who originally developed this approach to childbirth preparation. This theory argues that hypnotic techniques can be used to effectively reduce the fear associated with childbirth, thereby minimizing pain and maximizing deep relaxation during the labor process. Again, fathers are expected to play a central role in the birth experience.

Before you dismiss this method as too quirky, you should know that it has been widely practiced for many years. As a result of its increasing popularity over the years, more hypnobirthing classes are being offered throughout the countries like UK, US and Canada.

For more information, check out www.hypnobirthing.com.

water birth

While water birth is among the most unconventional methods of childbirth, it should not be ruled out entirely by you and your partner. You should know that most hospitals do not offer this method as an option, which means that you will need a midwife to oversee the birth and that the birth will likely take place in either a birthing center or in your own home.

In short, water birth is the process of giving birth in a warm tub of water. Advocates of this method believe that, by delivering into an environment that is similar to the womb, the baby will be more relaxed. At the same time, there is less stress on the mother's body since the warm water helps relax her muscles and allows her to cope more effectively with labor pains.

A good website to visit for more information is www.waterbirth.org.