Antenatal class (Haikaranpesä)?

KatGrrl · Post by **KatGrrl** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 5:04 pm

Hello,

What's your experience at these classes? Do they teach you breathing techniques?

Thanks

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jhnn · Post by **jhnn** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 6:26 pm

Hi,
I took these classes about 3 years ago and as far as I remember they didn't teach breathing techniques. It was more general information about the whole process of giving birth and facilities of the ward (water baths and such). But they also organised some additional classes and some of those might have been on breathing techniques?

suomeksi · Post by **suomeksi** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:19 pm

I don't know anything about Haikaranpesä, since I had my classes in Tuusula (little less than two years ago and IMHO a total waste of my time - I had a good book that provided more and more recent information than these classes), but when I asked about breathing techniques the answer was that I didn't need any, the midwife would tell me all I needed to know during the birthing. No breathing techniques in Finland, I guess, at least if nothing has changed since then.

EP · Post by EP » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:35 pm

No breathing techniques in Finland

??? If that is the case then everything has changed. In my times even husbands were taught the technique so that they could better support the wife in the actual situation.

enk · Post by **enk** » Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:43 pm

We weren't taught them either in 2000, 2001 or 2003.

-enk

EP · Post by EP » Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:53 pm

So this started to bother me because there were times in Finland when breathing techniques were considered so important that they were just about a number one topic in those classes. I came across this:

– Vanhanaikaiset ja kaavamaiset hengitysharjoitukset ovat poistuneet. Rentoutuminen on parempi tapa löytää oma hengitys, sillä oikeaa kaavaa ei ole olemassakaan.

Freely translated: Old fashioned and stereotyped breathing exercises exists no more. Relaxing is a lot better way to find your own breathing, because a right pattern does not even exist.

I don´t remember if they helped. Maybe they did as some kind of mantra, something to keep your mind occupied.

EP · Post by EP » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:06 pm

And then there was this:

Kaikki lähtee mahdollisimman spontaanista toiminnasta. Keho hoitaa itse synnytyksen kun äiti on mahdollisimman rento,

Everything is done as spontainly as possible. The body itself takes care of the birth when mother is as relaxed as possible.

RA · Post by RA » Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:21 pm

We weren't taught breathing techniques either. In 2005.

bavarian-girl · Post by **bavarian-girl** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:43 pm

I talked to someone who did this recently.
As far as I remember she mentioned breathing techniques. If I don't forget I'll ask her.

I asked my neuvola on this. She said "Oh, we did this before. But when it came to giving birth most people forgot it. So we don't teach them in advance now but give the instructions in the delivery room".

All the best for you

micky · Post by **micky** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:10 pm

I went to antenatal classes at haikaranpesa. They took place over two days if I remember correctly. They mainly went through the birthing process from a physiological point of view. I don't remember there being any particular mention of any breathing techniques. If there was, it can't have been very detailed. But yes, I do seem to remember they stressed the fact that the midwife (or midwives) that will support you on the day will be able to direct you on that. They also made it quite clear to the husband that they would have to be quite actively involved as they are the ones who spend the most time with their wives in the birthing room. The midwife comes to help as needed or wished. That's what I understood, I eventually didn't give birth in their ward due to suspected pre eclampsia. Would have liked to though.

KatGrrl · Post by **KatGrrl** » Mon May 14, 2007 9:50 pm

Hi everyone!

Thanks for your replies

Like hemlines, I guess the importance of breathing techniques changes with times.

My class will start in June -looking forward to it!

The only thing I'm hoping is, the instructor can teach it in English, or least translate to me separately... Did anyone have any "lost in translation" moments when they attend the Finnish haikaranpesä?

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Tue May 15, 2007 12:21 am

I attended two in Finnish..without any problems..
Just pay attention to the word they say and the gestures that they show..
Breathing techniques were explained during labor....
when you ask them questions, they will find it a bit difficult to translate the Medical terms ..so be patient with them or take them into a separate discussion after the tour is over..

penster · Post by **penster** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:05 pm

Hi KatGrrl!

Just had my two-day's worth of ante-natal classes and they were in English. My own midwife teaches the Finnish class here but called me to say there was an English class running not too far away, so I went along to that one. Really glad we went although some of the info was fairly basic (and no mention of breathing exercises!) but that's probably because I have a pregnancy bible which is really descriptive and I've read it cover to cover already!

If they have the English class option up here, I'd be pretty surprised if they didn't offer the same in Helsinki - best check with your neuvola though.

Take care,

Pen

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