Childbirth education encourages women and their families to know their options and make informed choices. The Women’s provides a childbirth education program for all pregnant women who have booked to give birth at the hospital, and their partners or support people.
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The Fundamental Classes in childbirth education are a good starting point in a range of programs designed to inform women and increase their confidence about what to expect during pregnancy, labour, birth, breastfeeding and the early weeks following the birth of their baby. Specialised sessions are also available.
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 | "My facilitator was excellent, a very knowledgeable and very caring person". (Participant in a Childbirth Education program, 2008).
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The Women's also runs regular Tours of the Hospital, conducted by an experienced midwife, for women who are booked to give birth at the hospital. Booking ahead for tours is essential as numbers are limited.
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| "I thought the tour was terrific… we had a fantastic midwife so she knew what she was talking about, where we were going, exactly what was what …she made it exciting as well." (Participant in a Childbirth Education tour, 2008).
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Childbirth Education Classes are held at the Women's and in our community clinics at Fawkner and Moonee Ponds. Places in the programs fill very quickly so you will need to contact us when you are about 16 weeks into your pregnancy.
Email Childbirth Education or contact us by phone on (03) 8345 2142 for bookings and more information about costs and venues. Select a program title below for more details.
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| Childbirth Education Programs
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| Non English speaking sessions
| | | | | | | | | | African Women's Health information groups
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Fundamental Childbirth Education – group sessions
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| "Our facilitator, she actively encouraged us to meet up after we had had our babies and that was really nice." (Participant in a Childbirth Education program, 2008).
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The Childbirth Education program is offered every month. It is a series of classes for groups of approximately eleven women and their partner or support person. The classes will help you know more about what to expect during pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and the weeks following birth. Women participate in the program when they are around 30 weeks pregnant.
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| "Childbirth Education classes remain one place where a pregnant woman and her partner can focus on the changes in emotions and relationships entailed in becoming parents, and on their own needs where they can develop self-confidence and to prepare for a major life experience." (Sheila Kitzinger)
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Specialised sessions are also available for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (see Non English speaking sessions) and women with specific needs. A number of programs are also run in community venues and these may be closer to your home.
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Examples of topics:
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- Pregnancy issues
- Signs of labour
- When to come to hospital
- Progress of labour and birth
- Practical coping methods during labour
- Options for pain management
- Tour of the Birth suite
- Early days of parenting
- Breastfeeding
- Community Supports
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Caring for yourself in pregnancy
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This is a specialist program for expectant Mums who wish to learn more about their developing pregnancy, diet and exercise program for pregnancy.
The program is for women only, conducted by an experienced midwife or physiotherapist and covers all those early questions that prospective mothers have. It is offered monthly and run in conjunction with the Talking Dad's group.
Examples of topics:
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- Nutritional requirements in pregnancy
- Strategies for managing the changes to your body
- Physical awareness and exercises that are recommended in pregnancy
- An early discussion on feeding methods for your baby
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Talking Dads group
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The Talking Dad’s Group is for prospective Dads who wish to learn more about their role in pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.
The program sessions are for men only, conducted by an experienced facilitator who is a dad himself, and cover all those early questions that prospective dads have. The program is offered monthly and run in conjunction with the Caring for Yourself program.
Examples of topics:
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- How best to support your partner during pregnancy
- Role of the partner in the birthing suite
- How Dads can support during breastfeeding
- Developing a relationship with your newborn/child
- Nurturing your relationship through the change to parenthood
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Active birth workshops
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This is a specialist program for pregnant women and their partner / support person who wish to learn more about strategies for birthing their baby naturally. Normal physiological birth is explained and the array of possibilities to assist with this process. The program is offered every month.
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| "In every uninhibited labour there is a marked restlessness, the woman walks, stands, squats, kneels, lies down and moves her body freely to the most comfortable and appropriate positions. There can be no fixed position for a natural healthy labour and birth when a woman follows her own instinct – for birth is active, involving a succession of changing positions and is not a passive confinement." (Janet Balaskas)
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Prerequisites:
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- Participation of the partner/support person is essential for this class
- The pregnant partner should have attended general classes
- Clothing that's comfortable when doing exercises
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Examples of topics covered:
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- Role of the support person
- The importance of the pelvis and positions for active birth
- Massage
- Relaxation, visualization and breathing techniques
- Positions for active birth
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Young mums program
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| "(The program) made me feel like I wasn’t the only one out there… It’s good you get to hear other people’s experiences and what to expect, each and every pregnancy really is different." (Young mum participating in a Childbirth Education program, 2008).
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This is an informal program for young pregnant women up to the age of 25 years and their partner / support person. Join a class with other young parents to be, and learn more about pregnancy, labour and birthing your baby, and early parenting. The program is offered every two months.
Examples of topics covered:
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- Changes to your body
- Role of the support person
- Pain relief methods
- Massage
- Relaxation, visualization and breathing techniques
- Positions for active birth
- Breastfeeding
- Strategies for new young parents
- Support services available for young parents
- Art therapy
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Learning about breastfeeding
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| "I had gone to that extra breastfeeding class; it gives you a taste of what’s ahead of you …if I hadn't have done that I don't think I could have breast fed at all." (Participant in a Childbirth Education program, 2008).
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This is a specialist program for pregnant women and their partner/support person who wish to learn more about breastfeeding. The program is offered every month.
Examples of topics covered:
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- What has changed in the breast now that you are pregnant
- How does the breast make milk?
- Breastfeeding benefits for mothers and babies
- The importance of the first breastfeed
- Physical awareness and exercises recommended in pregnancy
- Feeding patterns
- How do you know your baby is getting enough milk?
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Twins and triplets
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This program is intended for all women who are having a multiple birth and their partner/support person. It is specifically for women birthing at the Women’s who are having twins or triplets. It is relevant for parents of expectant twins, whether this is the first (or subsequent) pregnancy. There are four classes in the program, which is held every two months.
Program content
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- Explanations about what to expect when you present in labour.
- Discussion on epidurals and Caesarean birth of twins
- Vaginal birth of twins
- Tour of the birth suite and post natal area.
- Post natal issues that may arise, as well as a guide to what you really need for two or more babies
- Feeding multiple babies and support at home
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Understanding epidurals and caesarean birth
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| "We were very much informed, that if you do have an intervention, if you are induced, chances are its going to hurt a lot more, its going to be a lot more intense and for a lot longer period because it’s artificially happening as opposed to your body saying lets make it happen. So I knew when they said you’re going to be induced I was ready for it…that’s why I think I had such a better labour." (Participant in a Childbirth Education program, 2008).
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This is a specialist program for pregnant women and their partner/support person who wish to learn more about epidurals and caesarean section birth. The program is offered every month.
Examples of topics:
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- Why women may need an Epidural
- Why women may need to have a Caesarean birth
- Pros and cons of having an Epidural and Caesarean birth
- Role of the support person
- Who is present during a Caesarean birth
- An early discussion on feeding methods for your baby
- Immediate care after a Caesarean birth
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Refresher sessions
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This is a specialist program for women and their partner or support person who may have had their first baby at another hospital or a long gap between pregnancies. The program is offered every two months.
Examples of topics covered:
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- Issues in previous pregnancy, labour & birth
- Options for care in delivery suite
- Active birthing
- Breastfeeding
- Sibling issues
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Already had a caesarean birth?
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Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VABC): This is a specialist program for women who have already had a previous caesarean section and their partner/support person and is held every two months. It should assist women to make an informed decision about their birth choices for this pregnancy.
Examples of topics covered:
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- Pros and cons of Caesarean section
- Strategies for coping with a vaginal birth this time
- Role of the partner in the birthing suite
- Options when planning for a caesarean birth
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Becoming a grandparent
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There have been changes in the care of women when pregnant and giving birth since your own baby was born. This program is offered every two months and is designed to share ideas about becoming a grandparent.
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| "Each generation needs to learn from each other, the younger from older from the young mothers of today. …It is helpful to remember how we were often irritated by ‘helpful advice’ wishing our well meaning advisers would realise times have changed…Perhaps the greatest help we grandparents can give is to stay calm when we feel anxious and to have patience to do it their way as requested." (Royel Cooper, grandmother, ABA Booklet).
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Examples of topics covered:
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- Trends and changes to pregnancy and birth
- What’s new with breastfeeding
- Strategies to help your children with their new baby
- Child safety issues such as SIDS, Car Safety etc.
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