Prepare for Birth
Active Birth
Most women have low-risk pregnancies and have the potential to have a straightforward, normal and rewarding birth, without a lot of interventions or drugs. But to understand how this is possible we have to understand what normal birth actually is and how your body works when it’s left to its own devices.
It is also part of the picture to understand the working practices of most modern day labour wards and how this can affect the type of birth you have. We will also look at the alternative options for birth that are available to you such as home birth and water birth.
The workshop is invaluable not only for the expectant mother, but for her birth partner(s) too. Without an understanding of the birth process, there is room for fear which is the emotion least useful in the birth room. My aim is to ensure that by the end of this course you will both be feeling confident and have a proper understanding of how you can both work in harmony with the natural rhythms of birth, without fear of what is happening. Understanding is key and knowledge gives you confidence and a feeling of power.
We work practically through a lot of different labour and birth positions which you and your birth partner can practice, you are taught positions for difficulties in labour to help you actively overcome problems, and we look at how you can best communicate with your carers in a typical hospital birth environment.
Throughout, the course will be referenced to a video presentation about birth which provides a discussion point, inspiration, and gives us all chance to focus on the way birth can be when the woman is supported and treated as the most powerful figure in the birth room and when there is trust in and understanding of normal birth processes.
The course is approximately four hours long. There are tea breaks and a cold lunch is provided within the price.
Most attendees are couples but the course is open to women without partners or those who wish to bring their close friend or mother or other person who is going to be present at the birth. If you do have a birth partner I strongly suggest that you book with them – this course is intended to provide you with a team approach so that you can both work to achieve the kind of birth you want.
Wear loose, comfortable clothing and do bring bottled water. You must have pre-registered and paid in full prior to attending. Please email me and I will send you all the info by email or post or to class.
Active Birth Workshops run one Saturday in every month, demand allowing.
The price is £80 per birth couple. If you are having additional birth partners who you also wish to attend, each further person is an additional £20 per person.
For those of you who are able to organise six to ten couples who could all come on the same day, the cost per couple would drop to £60 per couple, and only £15 for each additional person extra to the main birth couple.
Couples booking for and attending this Workshop are entitled to purchase my breastfeeding book at a 10% discount along with a voucher for £5 off a breastfeeding consultation (see the Breastfeeding Help page for more information) to be used once their baby has been born.
