Natural Birth, Gentle Birth Class

Birth is a wonderful life event. But today, with most births taking place in hospitals and medical interventions and procedures becoming a norm or standard policy of care, birth is less seen as a normal process of life but increasingly as a medical event.

The Natural Birth, Gentle Birth classes will help expectant parents see labour and birth in a new light.  

Parents will learn about the power of the human body to nurture a life during pregnancy and to bring forth a baby during labour and birth. They will learn about what a natural, drug-free, intervention-free birth is all about and how to have one. They will explore the various tools they can use in achieving the birth they want.

They will better understand the liberating and empowering experience of a drug-free, gentle birth. Gentle birthing benefits both mother and baby. Mothers who have had drug-free natural births are less likely to suffer from post-natal depression, report greater confidence and success with bonding and breastfeeding and have higher levels of self-confidence.  

Unlike the usual antenatal courses, emphasis is also given to the baby’s experience – in the womb during pregnancy and during labour and birth. Babies are unique individuals in their own right. The experiences they have in-utero and during labour and birth shape them in ways that many may not be aware of. A gentle birth experience eases their entry into the world and gives a friendlier introduction to life outside the womb. Babies who have had gentle births are more alert at birth, cry less and are reportedly calmer. 

Parents will learn that the baby is not just a passive passenger along for the ride, but an active participant in the whole process. They will also discover how their actions and decisions during labour, birth and breastfeeding affect the baby. 

Underpinning all this is the importance of making an informed choice. This course, providing parents with evidence-based information, will empower them to make their own informed choices during pregnancy, labour, birth, breastfeeding and their parenting journey.

The course will cover the following areas, among others:

• Overview - what is a gentle birth and how it benefits mother and baby
• Writing a birth plan
• Relaxation and visualisation
• Breastfeeding 101
• Trouble-shooting problems in breastfeeding
• Changes after birth
• world of a newborn
• Stages of labour
• Drugs in labour - pros and cons
• Non-drug methods of pain relief
• Positions in labour
• Baby's experience of labour
• Coping with the unexpected
• Options for a natural third stage of labour
• Common hospital procedures and interventions
• The cascade of interventions
• Giving the baby a gentle birth

Class will be taught via activities, exercises, hands-on demos and videos.  Class size is deliberately kept small so
that there will be plenty of opportunity to interact, ask questions etc. 

This class is best for mothers who are at least 24 weeks pregnant.

Course structure: Four 3-hour sessions
Times: 2 – 5pm once a week
Cost:  $370 per couple

Includes:

• Attendance for you and your partner
• All materials used during the course
• A complete set of notes
• A copy of Preparing for Birth: Mothers or Preparing for Birth: Fathers. (The books are a comprehensive resource on birthing and are not available locally. Extra copies may be purchased through BirthRight.)
• Refreshments during breaks
• Use of the BirthRight library of birth, breastfeeding and parenting books
• Email and telephone consultation

Many parents have gone through the Natural Birth, Gentle Birth classes. Read about what they say here.