Based on experience, evidence and proven practical skills, these antenatal classes will equip you for labour, birth and your new baby. It is not about birth and babies being easy, it is about having good knowledge, being at the centre of your care, managing any challenges and knowing what you can do.
No two births and no two babies are the same and your need for information, support and reassurance can vary. As a practitioner who has worked with expectant and new parents for over 20 years, I passionately believe in good education for the challenges – not just your ideal birth or baby.
Only 27% of labours are currently without any intervention. So there is focus on working with and managing contractions along with knowing more about induction, caesareans and epidurals. This means you know more about what to expect, your options and being informed if labour becomes more complicated.
It’s also really normal to battle with your new baby and to feel like you are getting it wrong because it’s easy to expect too much from both yourself and your baby. With this course you will learn more about baby development, behaviour and needs so you have more realistic expectations and find what works best for your baby.
These antenatal classes will guide you through all you need to know for labour, birth and baby
There are 8 modules:
Labour | Birth | Pain & Energy | Decisions & Strategies
Beyond Birth | Your New Baby | Relax & Breathe | Postnatal Essentials
With interactive worksheets, checklists & audio files to download and use in your own time
By the end of these antenatal classes, you will know more about…
Labour & Birth
- working with your contractions
- managing your energy
- pain management options
- effective birth support
- positions & movement
- panic points and how to manage them
Relax & Breathe
- knowing how to use your breathing with contractions, for more energy and to stay calm
- managing any panic
- easing aches and discomfort
- having simple and effective breathing and relaxation techniques for pregnancy, birth and when your baby is here
Medical Interventions
- being induced and the options
- having a caesarean
- knowing your options & making decisions
Beyond Birth
- meeting your baby
- your recovery
- early days & weeks with your baby
- reflecting on the birth of your baby
Postnatal Essentials
- the 4th trimester
- how babies work
- baby sleep
These antenatal classes are ideal if you are expecting your first baby and this course also works well as a refresher if you are getting ready to birth again.
1:1 sessions can be arranged to fit in with your schedule.
There are two antenatal course packages for you to choose from:
- A private antenatal course with four online or in-person consultations with me, which can be arranged around your schedule. You can message me below to book your sessions with me.
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1:1 Antenatal Course£235.00
2. A Self-Paced Antenatal Course with resources to use in your own time.
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Digital Antenatal Course£65.00
And both packages include: all antenatal course modules and resources, relax & breathe audio & resources and Notes For Parents membership.
“Before I went into labour I was pretty scared but it was ok. I knew to go with it, to work with my contractions. I was much calmer than I expected – your sessions were invaluable.”
“I can’t thank you enough for your classes – I was able to say what I needed to do, I focused on my breathing and I trusted my body.”
“Thank you for such a great course – you made us aware of things we would never have considered and we were better able to make decisions, we knew more about options and we could work with our midwife.”
Labour and birth can be brilliant, euphoric and straight-forward, as well as complicated, overwhelming and scary. Labour, birth and becoming a parent is emotional and it is these emotions that you can’t truly prepare for. However you can be equipped with effective knowledge and skills so you know more about the childbirth process; about new babies; about what helps and what might not; and how to use these practical skills to focus on being comfortable and staying calm.
I passionately believe that good knowledge about the challenges as well as your ideal birth makes a big difference to confidence, decisions and options.
There are many factors that can impact contractions and needs. A long labour, a back-to-back baby, being induced, fear and lack of support and consistency can all make labour and birth tougher than expected.
doing birth on purpose
One type of birth is not better than another and medical interventions can be wanted and needed. My role is to help you gather the knowledge, skills and confidence to know your options, to plans and to do what works best for you.
It’s crucial to be at the centre of your care – so you are communicated with, so you can work well with your midwife and so you are informed and involved in any decisions.
I have worked as a birth practitioner since 2002 – as an antenatal teacher and then also as a birth doula – so I understand how varied birth can be.
Working with parents since 2002
My face-to-face sessions are ideal for parents across Newcastle & Tyneside. With video sessions, I work with parents everywhere.
How can I help you?
Copyright: Janine Smith