Childbirth Education Classes
Pregnancy, Labour, Birth and Early Parenting.
This course helps parents to be and support people to prepare for childbirth and becoming parents, in a friendly, relaxed environment. The course is run by a trained Childbirth Educator who has up to date knowledge of pregnancy and birthing practices and is trained in leadership and adult education.
- Pregnancy Content
▪ Pregnancy anatomy
▪ Pregnancy warning signs
▪ Empathy belly
▪ Nutrition and hazards
▪ Discomfort and physical changes
▪ Optimal foetal positioning
▪ What to take to the hospital
▪ Your rights regarding LMC care
▪ Stretching, Pelvic floor awareness and exercise benefits - Labour and Birth Content
▪ Signs and stages of labour
▪ Birth videos
▪ Birth positions
▪ The role of the support person
▪ Coping strategies, self-help, relaxation and massage
▪ Interventions
▪ Informed decision making and consent
▪ Medical pain relief
▪ Developing a birth plan - Postnatal Content
▪ Breastfeeding
▪ Bathing
▪ Sleeping
▪ Unexpected outcomes
▪ Changes in lifestyle
▪ Postnatal depression
▪ The immediate postnatal period
▪ Vitamin K
▪ Coping strategies in the early weeks
▪ Nappy options - Booking Information
Cost: $170.00 which includes a one year’s membership to Mana Parents Centre or $220 for both childbirth classes and the Baby and You class (refer below for further information regarding Baby & You)
Bookings: Bookings and pre-payment are essential (early booking is recommended). PLEASE NOTE: your place is not guaranteed in our Childbirth Education Class until full payment has been made.
Cancellation Policy: If you require your place on the Childbirth Education course to be cancelled, four or more weeks notice is required for a 50% refund of the childbirth course fee to apply. The remainder of the fee is retained by Mana Parents Centre.
NB: Cancellation inside of 4 weeks notice from the course start date is non-refundable.
Class Size: Limited to 12 couples
- Two Course Options
Seven-Week Class: Held on a weekday evening (7pm-9.15pm) once a week for seven weeks.
or
Saturday Intensive: Held over two consecutive Saturday sessions (9am-4pm each day). - Coffee Group
On completion of your Childbirth Education class an initial catch-up will be arranged at a suitable time and place to encourage the development of a regular meeting (often called “coffee group”). This in effect is a support network of new Mums and Dads where you can bounce ideas of each other, support one another and enjoy the milestones having a child brings.
The coffee group provides fantastic postnatal support and many couples develop lifelong friendships as they watch their children grow and their families expand.
- Testimonials
I found the classes fantastic, really relaxed but very informative. The teacher was lovely, made me feel at ease straight away and it was great meeting a new group of people in the same situation.
The classes were great, covered all the material in depth so I felt prepared before my “big day”. The best part was meeting a new group of mums who are all fantastic people. We all get on really well and I look forward to our weekly get togethers.
Annemaree & Trevor DeedI have been a member of Mana Parents Centre since November last year when I joined up for the purpose of attending Childbirth Education and Baby and You classes. At the time I didn’t realise how valuable Mana Parents Centre would become. Not only where the classes fantastic, professional, informative and fun I met a great group of people whom I have now started meeting with once a week for ‘coffee group’. My daughter is now 3 months old and we have been meeting since the end of our Childbirth classes in March.
Having a baby has been the most rewarding experiences of my life as well as the most challenging. Having the support of my coffee group friends has been invaluable. I can go along and find out that others are going through the same things I am, that my child is doing fine, and that it’s ok to have bad days as all parents do.
Mana parent’s centre set up our first coffee group for us and almost ‘babysat’ us through the process. Since having my daughter I have also attended a couple of the parent education classes which have given me more insight into my daughter’s development and ideas of things to do with her.
I am very thankful to my midwife for recommending Mana parents centre to me and would thoroughly encourage others to join up as well.
Rachael Brodey – Whitby“I got so much out of our antenatal class. Not only info, but some awesome friends. Two years on our coffee group still meets regularly. In the first few weeks, our coffee group was a lifesaver. The best thing was talking to people who were experiencing the same stuff as me: baby stuff as well as the transition from working to being a full-time Mum (all of which was harder than I expected).”
Jose
Baby & You (Postnatal class)
This three week programme follows on from your childbirth education class, after the birth of your baby and focuses on helping you adjust to the change in lifestyle and the many new demands of parenthood.
- Discussion Group
Baby and You is run as a discussion group, giving you the opportunity to discuss what your particular situation and challenges are with your newborn.
Because all babies are unique with varying needs and personalities, the Baby and You forum will allow you to discuss your baby’s individual behaviours, and receive tips, advice and potential strategies which you can adapt to your own situation.
- Support & Encouragement
New mothers have found Baby and You to be a wonderful source of support and encouragement for those first weeks after the birth of their baby. We also welcome dads who may be the primary caregiver or who are on paternity leave.
Baby and You classes are designed for parents with babies up to about 12 weeks of age. The forum also gives you a chance to make contact with other new parents and be able to form a “coffee group” so that the support continues long after the Baby and You class finishes.
- Topics
Led by trained childbirth educators, the topics which are covered include:
▪ A reflection on the birth experience
▪ Feeding
▪ Sleeping
▪ Coping with crying
▪ Lifestyle changes and looking after yourself
▪ Infant massage
▪ Physical development
▪ Social and emotional development
▪ Age appropriate toys and activities - Booking Information
Cost: $50.00 for the 3 week class
Bookings: Bookings and pre-payment are essential (early booking is recommended). PLEASE NOTE: your place is not guaranteed in our Baby & You Class until full payment has been received
- Testimonials
The baby and you class was just what I needed when my son was 6 weeks old. It made me realize that my baby is normal and that I’m not the only one finding motherhood tough. The support of the others in the class was amazing and I got some really good tips for the feeding and sleeping issues I was having.
I loved my baby and you class! It was fantastic having the same teacher that we had for our CBE classes so that made it easier to share information. The practical advice was amazing, I feel I came away with lots of tips and tricks to try with my baby.
Annemaree & Trevor Deed