How an Early Pregnancy Class Can Help You Create a Beautiful Pregnancy
5 minute read
It might sound silly to take an early pregnancy class…You may think that you’ll have plenty of time to learn everything you need to know… That’s what these 9 months are for, right?
But many expecting parents are surprised by how quickly the first trimester flies by! And the early weeks of your pregnancy are perhaps the most important for your baby’s development.
Taking an early pregnancy class — like our Early Expectations class — can empower you to make the most of this time so that you create a smoother, healthier, and more beautiful pregnancy.
Benefits of Taking an Early Pregnancy Class
The choices you make during your first trimester — what you eat, drink, the activities you participate in — can have a big impact on your growing little one. That’s why it’s super important to know how to support your baby’s growth early on during your pregnancy.
But most expecting parents won’t have their first prenatal visit with a gynecologist until the first trimester is nearly over!
You may be tempted to turn to the internet for answers. But there is SO much information out there about pregnancy — and not all of it is true! It’s easy to lose hours and hours on Google trying to get answers to your questions and you may not even get the right information!
That’s one of the biggest advantages of taking a class early in your pregnancy. These classes will give you evidence-based information that you actually need (and leave out all the things that you don’t!).
Let’s take a look at 8 meaningful ways an early pregnancy class will help you during your pregnancy:
- Learn About Your Baby’s Development in Early Pregnancy
Whether your baby is the size of a pea or nearly the size of a peach… It’s really empowering to learn how your baby is growing and developing during your first trimester (and beyond!). This will help you to feel more connected to your little one — especially before you can feel their little legs kicking around in there!
Learning about your baby’s development can often help newly expecting parents to start thinking for “two.” To realize that your body is no longer fully your own… And to help motivate you to take proactive steps that benefit both you and your baby…
Like taking your prenatal vitamins every night, choosing to go outside for a quick run (or stroll!), and saying “no” to the things that could cause your baby harm. Many of these choices can be hard at first, but with time and practice, they’ll get easier and easier!
- Discover How Your Body Will Change During Early Pregnancy
From chest/breast tenderness and skin changes to heartburn and constipation… Your body will go through a lot of changes during the first trimester of pregnancy. Early pregnancy classes are great for helping you know what to expect so you’re not caught off guard by any surprising or unpleasant symptoms.
It’s important to take care of your body and skin from early on during pregnancy — which can even help prevent future stretch marks!
And you’ll want to know how to handle the most common first trimester symptom…morning sickness! Learn our favorite tips and tricks to avoid those unpleasant waves of nausea!
- Prepare for the Emotional Changes of Early Pregnancy
In addition to the physical changes your body is experiencing, you may feel like you’re on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. That’s because your hormones are changing a ton right now. You may feel more tired than normal, more forgetful, or just not like your “normal” self. And that’s ok.
An early pregnancy class is a wonderful way to learn emotional coping techniques to use during pregnancy, labor, and even early parenthood.
Whether it’s spending a few minutes expanding your knowledge with a good book or cozying up with a warm cup of pregnancy tea…Give yourself an extra bit of love and kindness during this time — growing a human is hard work and will come with ups and downs.
- Learn About Upcoming Pregnancy Discomforts
Feeling like you need to pee every ten minutes… Struggling to find a comfortable position to sleep…
As you journey through early and later pregnancy, it may start to feel like you’re discovering new aches and pains with each passing day. But knowing what to expect (and what to do about it!) can bring such peace of mind.
Whether it’s finding the perfect belly tape to ease round ligament pain or the perfect adjustable pillow to find the most comfortable sleeping position… An early pregnancy class will help you learn how to navigate even the most frustrating and uncomfortable symptoms with ease.
- Learn About Early Prenatal Screening Tests
For many expecting parents, becoming pregnant means suddenly having to visit the doctor…a lot. And it can be a new experience to make so many decisions regarding your health.
You may be wondering if prenatal screening tests are right for you but are confused about the different tests available, when the tests will be done, and the pros and cons of each.
You’re not alone! This is a super common question for expecting parents. From blood tests to prenatal cell-free DNA screenings, an early pregnancy class will help you learn about your options so that you can choose what’s right for you.
- Get Nutrition Tips for a Healthier Pregnancy
Eating well is one of the best things you can do during pregnancy. But after helping literally thousands of parents prepare to welcome their little ones into the world… We’ve found that healthy eating is one of the things expecting parents struggle with the most.
You may have a jam-packed schedule that makes it challenging to whip up a well-balanced meal 3x a day. Or maybe you have a sweet tooth or need your morning latte to start the day off on the right foot.
We’ve been there! But we also know that you probably want to take proactive steps to give your body and baby the proper nutrition you both need.
And we know it can be confusing — and a little intimidating if we’re honest — to know where to start. Especially when you learn that during pregnancy you need folic acid, iron, calcium…vitamin D, choline, omega-3 fatty acids…B vitamins and oh yeah, vitamin C too. Whew!
Learn how many extra calories you need each day (which changes throughout your pregnancy!) and our favorite resources and tips to plan healthy (and easy!) meals.
Getting this information early on in your pregnancy will give you plenty of time to make beneficial changes to your diet.
- Get Motivated to Stay Active During Pregnancy
If you’re newly pregnant…the last thing you may feel like doing is going to the gym or a yoga class. But staying physically active during pregnancy has multiple benefits for you and your growing baby.
A few minutes of moderate activity on a regular basis will help your heart and lungs as your body adapts to the demands of your growing baby. It can also boost your mood and even provide some much-needed relief from unpleasant morning sickness symptoms. Plus it may decrease your risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and even having a c-section.
At our early pregnancy class we share tips for staying active — even when you don’t feel like it! — so that you can enjoy a healthier pregnancy and birth.
- Connect with Other Expecting Parents
An early pregnancy class is also a wonderful way to connect with other expecting parents! Making parent friends can make a world of difference, especially when you desperately need advice you can trust at 3 a.m. or simply someone you can talk to who “gets it.”
These one-hour early pregnancy classes are designed to fit your busy schedule…but are only held once a quarter and spots fill up fast! Make sure to snag your seat today for one of our upcoming sessions!
