Introduction: The time when a new family member is expected is one of the most important changes in the life of future parents. Couples are especially motivated to change their lifestyle and acquire new knowledge. During pregnancy, health professionals who work with them play a very important role. Purpose: The aim of the thesis is to investigate and describe the beginnings of a school for parents in the world and in the two Slovenian maternity hospitals. In addition, we want to find out what challenges school for parent’s providers face in their work. Methods: In the first part of the thesis, a descriptive working method is used. The literature used was obtained through the EBSCOHost network and the databases Medline, CINAHL, COBIB:SI, dLib.si, DIKUL and by hand in the library of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ljubljana. In the second part of the thesis, a qualitative methodology was applied using semi-structured interviews with three Slovenian midwives working in the Maternity Hospital of Ljubljana and in the Gynaecological and Maternity Hospital Postojna. Midwives working in the field of childbirth and parenting preparation participated in the interviews. The recordings of the interviews were followed by transcription, which formed the basis for the creation of codes and categories. Results: We identified 17 codes and 4 categories: (1): importance of preparation for birth and parenthood, (2): challenges of midwives in parenting school, (3): the role of midwives, and (4): labour in the time of COVID -19. Midwives strongly emphasise the importance of a realistic account of events so that women come to birth with realistic expectations and thus prepare themselves optimally. They cite the influence of the environment and the media as the greatest challenge, negatively affecting parents' self-confidence and their perceptions of birth and the postpartum period. They see their greatest task as empowering parents to obtain objective and verified information. Working during the coronavirus brought many changes for them to deal with. Their biggest problem was technical equipment. Discussion and conclusion: women who attend a school for parents are better prepared for pregnancy and childbirth, which at the same time affects their overall well-being. The midwife plays a very important role in this by providing quality information and facilitating access to it. Research in this area has provided some suggestions that parenting centre providers could incorporate into their programmes to improve them. Preparation for childbirth could include more practical content, telling positive birth stories from women who have already given birth spontaneously vaginally, incorporating digital literacy content and finding relevant websites, and better technical equipment for online lectures.
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