Learning to be Mummy & Daddy

In one of my reflection of becoming pregnant, I listed that one of our greatest fear as parents is thinking that we know it all. Thus, in order to ensure that we we remain life-long learners, we decided to enroll ourselves to Dr Wong Boh Boi class with Thomson Parent-craft Center. With our Thomson Medical First Born Incentive (FBI) Card, we got special incentive to be in class! So if you know that you are going to be giving birth with TMC do sign up for the FBI / SBI Card!

When we were attending the class it was held at AMK Hub Level 4 Explorer Kids, which was very good for us as both our parents stays at Ang Mo Kio and I work at Bishan while Stanley works at Sembawang. So AMK Hub was an easy choice for us.

The lesson outline is as such;

Lesson 1: Physical & Mental Preparation @ AMK HUB 

• Pre & Post Natal Exercise
• Nutrition Before & After Delivery
• Myths & Traditions
• Coping with Pregnancy Discomfort
• Back Care & Postures
• Baby's Brain Development
• Instructional Video
• Q & A

Lesson 2: Pain Relief & Labour @ AMK HUB

• Pre & Post Natal Exercise
• Physiological Approach to Breathing Technique
• Changes during Pregnancy
• Signs & Symptoms of Labour
• Pain Relief Options
• Coping with Labour
• Mechanisms of Normal Childbirth
• Husband's Role
• Instructional Video
• Q & A

Lesson 3: Feeding @ SCGS

• Breastfeeding
• Feeding Methods
• Sterilisation of Feeding Equipment
• Instructional Video
• Q & A

Lesson 4: Practical Hands-on Baby Care @ AMK HUB 

• General Care
• Skin Care
• Diaper Care
• Bathing
• Coping with Crying and Fretting Baby
• Coping with Sleepy or Wakeful Baby
• Coping with Colic
• Instructional Video
• Q & A

Doctors' Talk Topics* (Complimentary) @ SCGS

• Common Problems associated with a Newborn
• Process of Labour
• Living with the In-Laws
• Transformation from Couplehood to Parenthood
• How to Raise a Brighter Child
• Pre & Post Natal Care y Thomson Chinese Medicine
• Oral Care for Expectant Mother/Baby
• Skin Care for Expectant Mother/Baby

*Note: Only 1 or 2 of the doctors' topics will be addressed during this session.

Us @ Lesson 4, the practical lesson where we practice with a fake baby

For us, Lesson 1 and 2 was helpful is helping me learn the ways to relief aches and pains and also for Stanley to give me the much needed body massage! Being preggie is tough! The part on preparing for labour was not very helpful as I have already decided on a C-Section before even being preggie; did not like the drama and waiting of labour so the decision (I know this will bring about many hate and opinion but seriously, this is my personally choice, great for those to goes totally natural! Either way, I believe all mummies are great the way the are!). 

As for Lesson 3, breastfeeding, I find the lesson helpful and it really prepare you on what to expect. Breastfeeding is NOT easy! This is our 2 breastfeeding lesson, the first was with Supermom Seminar on 13 August 2016 also by Thomson Medical Center. 

At Supermom Seminar! 

Lesson 4 is practice practice practice, it give you the theory preparation on how to care for the new born and also what to expect with them. Caring for a new born may be stressful for new mum or experience mum as well. So i believe it is necessary to learn and to know! 

At the end of the day, many may say that the lesson is useless as you are not practicing with a real baby, but to me it is useful as it give you the knowledge you need to apply when the real baby comes, rather than having no knowledge and then panic when the baby arrive! So yup we did find the lesson useful and good! 

So for new mummy and daddy it will be good if you can attend the class as well! Cheers to parenthood and also to the new journey ahead!