Course Details
Active Birth Taranaki Antenatal Classes
Take control of your birth experience
Research shows that when a woman feels in control during childbirth, she is far more likely to have a positive birth and postpartum experience. Our Choices in Childbirth classes are designed to give you this control.
Typical antenatal classes in New Zealand will teach you the basics of what to expect during childbirth and postpartum. In our Choices in Childbirth classes, we provide you with the birth education tools to go into labour and postpartum knowing that you get to choose how you want to approach every step of your childbirth experience.
Course Overview
Choices in Childbirth classes run over two days.
Classes run from 9.30am - 4pm in New Plymouth, Stratford and Hawera.
$60 for mama and support person to attend.
Intakes throughout the year.
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Choices in Childbirth Class - Day 1
We’ll guide you through what occurs during each stage of labour, offering resources and information to enable you to go into labour feeling confident and ready.
Learn about the hormones released at birth and how to utilise them for an optimal birth experience.
Discover how your birth environment can impact your birth experience, and how to optimise your birth environment to create a safe and comfortable atmosphere.
We’ll introduce you to what pain relief options are available for labour in New Zealand as well as how powerful tools like hypnobirthing, affirmations, breathing techniques, etc. can help to ease labour discomfort.
Learn about the importance of informed consent and how it can enable you to feel empowered and in control of your birth.
We’ll also introduce you to birth mapping (like a birth plan but so much better!) so you can create clear directions for your team to follow in any given labour scenario.
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Choices in Childbirth Class - Day 2
We discuss key things you can do to support yourself as you adjust to life with a newborn: including physical, mental and emotional postpartum self-care.
Receive practical tips for successful breastfeeding.
Learn about the stages of newborn development, the importance of forming a strong attachment with your baby and some simple steps you can take to support this attachment.
Find out how babywearing can make life easier for you and your baby, what to look for in a good baby carrier and how to wear your baby safely.
Gain insight into how baby sleep cycles work, how to best support your baby’s sleep and how to take care of your own sleep needs.
Connect with other parents and start building your community through our facilitated parent coffee group.
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Things to note before attending:
» Speakers sometimes change and we have to adjust the days to suit so please try to attend both days.
» Please wear comfortable loose-fitting clothes to each class and prepare to get active!
» Please come without children and as distraction-free as possible. As parents, we appreciate the trickiness of being child-free at these classes but we have found that having care for children at home allows conversations and discussions to go more smoothly and for the group to gain a deeper understanding of the topics.
New Plymouth Classes are held at Flourish Taranaki »
12 Omata Road, New Plymouth
Based in St Chads Hall
Stratford
Classes are held at
Parents Centre
109 Miranda Street, Stratford 4332
Hawera
Classes are held at
Te W’anake The Foundry
130 High Street
Hāwera 4610
FAQs
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Short answer: no. Typical antenatal classes tend to tell you what to expect during labour and birth. Our Choices in Childbirth classes are designed to support you in creating a positive birth and postpartum experience for yourself - because we know that if you feel good about your birth experience, your baby’s outcomes are more likely to be positive too!
What’s included in our Choices in Childbirth Classes -
Absolutely!! Most of the techniques that we explore during the classes are invaluable skills for your partner to learn before birth (acupressure, spinning babies, hypnobirthing techniques). The classes also allow you and your partner to connect with each other, discuss your wishes, worries and preferences during birth and set aside some time to think about life after baby is born. However, if your partner or birth support person can't attend with you, that's ok too!
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As early as possible. Think about this class as a taster for many many different birthing ideas and options. Some you’ll leave and others you will love and want to research and prepare for. Sometimes these techniques need months and months of thought and preparation. But don’t worry . If you are at the end of your pregnancy - it is never too late to join a class ( we have had lots of babies arrive between classes!)
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Yes! Every birth is different. You might have had an awesome birth with your first baby and want to come back to carve out focus time for your next birth and perhaps pick up some new skills now you know what to expect. Or you may have had a difficult previous birth and be looking for inspiration, reassurance or informed consent techniques to set you up for your next births.