Antenatal classes, also known as prenatal or parenting classes, are an invaluable resource for expectant parents. They provide essential information, practical skills, and emotional support to help you prepare for childbirth and early parenting. Whether you’re a first-time mumma or looking for a refresher, my antenatal classes offer a wealth of knowledge to ensure you feel confident and prepared for your journey. Here’s a comprehensive look at what my antenatal classes offer and what you can expect to take home.
What Do My Antenatal Classes Offer?
- Education and Information:
- My antenatal classes provide comprehensive information about pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting. This includes understanding the stages of labour, pain relief options, breastfeeding, and newborn care. These classes demystify the birthing process and help you make informed decisions about your childbirth experience.
- Practical Skills:
- Classes include hands-on activities and demonstrations. You’ll learn practical skills such as breathing techniques, relaxation exercises, positions for labour, and how to care for your newborn. These skills can significantly ease the labour process and help you feel more in control during childbirth and the months after.
- Emotional Support:
- Sharing experiences with other expectant parents can provide emotional support and reassurance. Classes offer a sense of community and the opportunity to build friendships with people who are going through similar experiences. This support network can be invaluable during the postpartum period.
- Partner Involvement:
- In my antenatal classes, I encourage partner participation, providing tools and knowledge to support the birthing person during labour and postpartum. This helps partners feel more involved and confident in their roles, fostering a stronger team dynamic.
- Preparation for Parenthood:
- Beyond childbirth, my classes cover aspects of early parenthood, including sleep routines, bonding with baby, and managing the emotional changes that come with becoming a new parent. This holistic approach ensures you are prepared for the new challenges and joys of parenting.
What Will You Learn in My Antenatal Classes?
- Stages of Labor:
- Detailed explanations of the four stages of labour, what to expect during each stage, and how to recognize when labour begins. This knowledge helps reduce anxiety and prepares you for the various phases of childbirth. This will include looking at:
- Early labour (first stage)
- Active labour (second stage)
- Birthing the placenta (third stage)
- Recovery (fourth stage)
- Detailed explanations of the four stages of labour, what to expect during each stage, and how to recognize when labour begins. This knowledge helps reduce anxiety and prepares you for the various phases of childbirth. This will include looking at:
- Pain Relief Options:
- Information about various pain relief methods, including natural and medical options. Understanding your options allows you to make informed choices about pain management. Areas covered (and please feel free to ask about any others you may have heard of):
- Natural techniques such as:
- Breathwork
- Relaxation
- Movement
- Birthing balls
- Water immersion
- Tens machines
- Meditative states
- Massage
- Essential oils
- Stress combs
- Setting the stage for soothing birth
- Medical options:
- N2O2 (gas)
- Medications such as morphine or codeine
- Epidural
- Labour and Birth Techniques:
- Practical exercises for managing labour pain, such as breathing techniques, massage, and labour positions. You’ll also learn about interventions like cesarean sections and assisted deliveries. These techniques help you feel more prepared and in control during labour. Topics included (and please feel free to ask further):
- Water birthing
- Birthing positions
- Natural tearing versus episiotomy, where it is appropriate and why
- Tearing, episiotomy and its management
- Vacuum (Ventouse) or forceps delivery, where and why it may be used
- Cardiotocography (CTG) versus doppler monitoring of fetal heart rate
- Natural versus induction of labour
- Process of inductions, what to expect
- Your placenta – what is it and what does it do
- Breech birth – is it safe and what can you do
- Birthing augmentation – what this is and why you might need it
- GBS or “Group B Streptococcal” and antibiotics in labour – what this means for you
- Gestational diabetes and its management in labour
- Cord clamping
- Postpartum hemorrhage – what it is, possible causes, what is it’s treatment
- Caesarean birth – what it is, recovery, why it may be recommended
- Obstetric emergencies
- Practical exercises for managing labour pain, such as breathing techniques, massage, and labour positions. You’ll also learn about interventions like cesarean sections and assisted deliveries. These techniques help you feel more prepared and in control during labour. Topics included (and please feel free to ask further):
- Postnatal Care:
- Guidance on postnatal recovery for the birthing person, including physical changes, emotional well-being, and self-care tips. Understanding postnatal care is crucial for a healthy recovery and well-being after birth. Skills covered:
- Learn guilt-free self care
- Pelvic floor recovery and gentle exercises to rebuild strength and stability in your core
- Postnatal yoga
- Postnatal nutrition
- Peri/wound care
- Mental health – discussing postnatal depression, signs of, care of, what are “normal” emotions, how and where to get help
- Relationship dynamics
- Body positivity – how to honour your body and it’s capability
- Incontinence/haemorrhoids – discuss what to do, causes, who to see
- Guidance on postnatal recovery for the birthing person, including physical changes, emotional well-being, and self-care tips. Understanding postnatal care is crucial for a healthy recovery and well-being after birth. Skills covered:
- Breastfeeding:
- Basics of breastfeeding, including how to latch, different feeding positions, recognizing hunger cues, and troubleshooting common breastfeeding challenges. Breastfeeding support is essential for establishing a successful feeding routine. Skills covered:
- Feeding cues
- Breastfeeding basics
- Breastfeeding positions
- Breastfeeding nutritional needs
- Nipple care
- Increasing milk supply
- Mastitis – what to do
- Basics of breastfeeding, including how to latch, different feeding positions, recognizing hunger cues, and troubleshooting common breastfeeding challenges. Breastfeeding support is essential for establishing a successful feeding routine. Skills covered:
- Newborn Care:
- Essential skills for caring for your newborn, such as diapering, bathing, soothing, and understanding your baby’s sleep patterns. These skills help you feel more confident and capable in your new role as a parent. Skills covered:
- Bathing
- Baby communication – learning comfort,
- Securely holding baby
- Soothing techniques
- Transitioning to arms-free sleeping and swaddling
- Tummy time safety
- Healthy hip movement and development
- Umbilical cord care
- Safe sleeping
- Establishing routines
- Bonding with baby
- Dealing with gas/reflux in baby
- Essential skills for caring for your newborn, such as diapering, bathing, soothing, and understanding your baby’s sleep patterns. These skills help you feel more confident and capable in your new role as a parent. Skills covered:
- Emergency Situations:
- Basic first aid for infants and what to do in emergency situations. Knowing how to handle emergencies can provide peace of mind and ensure the safety of your newborn. Topics covered:
- Choking
- Fever
- Signs of respiratory distress
- Basic first aid for infants and what to do in emergency situations. Knowing how to handle emergencies can provide peace of mind and ensure the safety of your newborn. Topics covered:
My antenatal classes are a fantastic way for you to prepare for the exciting journey of childbirth and parenthood. I will provide essential education, practical skills, and emotional support, helping you feel more confident and ready for the challenges ahead. Enrolling in my class and actively engaging, you’ll acquire invaluable insights and tools to foster a positive and empowering birth journey. Whether you’re navigating pregnancy for the first time or seeking to refresh your knowledge, my antenatal classes are an investment in your family’s health and well-being.
$450AUD 1 spot + partner/support person
Book now and reserve your place
💞Looking forward to meeting you💞
Erika
