| Whether its your
first baby, your lucky last,
or birth after caesarean, in this one-day
interactive workshop you will learn:
- How your body works in labour and why
- How to create up to 30% more space in your pelvis for your baby’s
birth
- How to turn fear into positive action
- How to use movement, breathing, vocalisation, visualisation
and keyword
- What to wear, what to take and what questions to ask
- 88 ways your partner can really help, working with you as a
team
The workshop teaches preparation for labour and birth, skills for
relaxation, the importance of movement and positioning and includes
a special focus on skills and techniques for keeping birth normal
and avoiding unnecessary interventions. You will also learn how
to use decision-making tools, which enable you to birth your way.
The workshop combines group activities, discussions, practical
exercises, role-plays, videos and written materials* to bring you
an inspiring and enjoyable learning experience. You will come away
from the workshop feeling prepared and confident to meet the challenge
of labour your way.
The information and skill development provided by this workshop
is rarely included in hospital antenatal classes. The workshop is
informative, empowering and lots of fun! Suitable from 20 weeks.
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| The Workshop explores:
• Your choices in childbirth.
• How the body is designed to birth safely and efficiently
and how to work with this.
• How women can maximise comfort and efficiency in
labour.
• The benefits of relaxation breathing, positioning,
movement, vocalisation & visualisations for labour.
• The benefits of partner support strategies such as
massage, touch, emotional support, heat/water therapy and
advocacy.
• How to reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions
during labour and birth.
• How to work with your midwife/doctor.
• How to make informed choices.
• Why and how to devise a birth plan..
• How to still keep the birth as safe and normal as
possible if interventions and drugs do become necessary.
• The benefits of a natural birth for mother, father
and baby. |
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| Dates: Priority
is given according to due date so please book early so you have
lots of time to practise the techniques before labour begins. The
workshop is limited to 6 women with partners/support people so please
book early to avoid disappointment. Please contact
Kristin for the upcoming dates.
Time: The workshop runs from
9:45am – 4.00pm. Although the workshop is suitable for women
from 20 to 40 weeks, the earlier you attend the more time you and
your partner will have to practice the skills and techniques learnt
during the workshop, in preparation for labour.
Venue: Pilbara Training Solutions
Seminar Centre, at Pilbara TAFE, Millstream Rd Karratha
Cost: $220.00* per couple.
* Private health fund rebates may apply – please check with
your fund.
* You are welcome to bring along an extra support person to the
workshop – especially those that will be with you in labour.
 *
Includes:
Preparing for Birth – Mothers by Andrea Robertson
Preparing for Birth - Fathers by Andrea Robertson
The BirthWise Workbook and materials
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| What the Mums are saying:
“Thank you so much for workshop. We found it so useful and
informative and wish we had attended this 13 years ago when we had
our first child. You are a fantastic educator and you have produced
a very professional workshop. The notes and handouts are really
good and have provided us with lots to think about and ponder, but
I think by far the most useful part of the workshop was the experiential
practicing and role-playing. I know that this will help me enormously.”
F & M – Karratha, WA (baby no.3, home waterbirth)
“The workshop was fantastic and it feels as though my husband
and I are really on the same page now. We both thought it was really
interesting, exciting and also stimulating. I feel so empowered
– I am a woman, I know what I’m doing and my body was
made for this!”
Bronte & Kris – Tom Price, WA
“The workshop was excellent. I got to feel like less of
a minority regarding our decision to water birth at home. Thanks
Kristin.”
Donna & Justin – Karratha, WA
“The workshop was awesome. I enjoyed hearing about other
alternatives and methods to giving birth. I feel both inspired and
slightly overwhelmed about the whole experience!”
Rachel & Paul – Karratha, WA
“I’d describe the workshop as interesting, informative,
relaxing yet exciting, and at times humorous! I feel much more positive
about the upcoming experience and so much more positive that I CAN
do it naturally.”
G & P Tanswell – Wickham, WA
“The workshop was great, fun and informative. Its what every
woman should know about giving birth naturally. A great empowering
tool!
S & K – Wickham, WA
“I found the birthing videos very helpful, they gave me
an appreciation of what to expect for labour and birth. I ended
up having an unassisted water birth with my baby born with his membranes
still intact!”
T & D – Karratha, WA
“We thought the workshop was excellent. I enjoyed the casual
format of the presentations and discussions, and the practical aspects.
We also thought the small numbers were great. I feel more confident
now that my body will do the right thing in and labour and birth.
I feel very reassured that I can birth naturally and I now have
new skills of how to self manage the journey of the birthing pains.
All very interesting, reassuring and a great confidence builder.”
N & S – Karratha, WA.
“I now have a better understanding of how to deal with labour
pains and how to help myself make it easier on my body”.
L & C – Karratha, WA
“The workshop was excellent – we both got a lot out
of it and certainly feel more confident and empowered to have our
baby as naturally as possible.”
S & P – Karratha, WA
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What the Dads are saying:
 “I
feel better educated to make informed choices and have more control
over our birthing experience. I am also more confident of the processes
involved and what I can do to help.”
F & M – Karratha, WA (3rd baby, home waterbirth)
“A great experience, thank you for sharing this moment.”
Donna & Justin – Karratha, WA
“I am really glad to be thinking about birth in a positive
way and as a totally natural thing after the workshop. Excellent.”
Rachel & Paul – Karratha, WA
“I liked how my partner’s fears were eased a lot more
than before we came. I also feel more relaxed at what is about to
happen. I thought Kristin presented the workshop in a positive,
friendly and balanced manner”.
L & C – Karratha, WA
“I enjoyed hearing the ‘other side to the story‘.
The workshop filled in all the gaps and answered the questions we
still had with after the hospital antenatal classes. Thankyou!”
J & G, Karratha
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| 1.
How does the Active Birth Workshop differ from hospital antenatal
classes?
The main differences are the
structure, the learning strategies and the ‘message’.
Many hospital antenatal classes have the underlying message of
‘this is what you can expect to happen when you birth in
this hospital’. This is often referring to routine procedures
and policies and what the majority of women go on to experience.
The workshop places emphasis on the practical and useful skills
for labour and birth. The day involves group interaction and participation,
lots of practise, pain ‘mastery’ strategies, the power
of partner support and has a special focus on how to keep things
normal and to avoid unnecessary interventions.
It provides information on evidence-based practise and also promotes
informed choice. The workshop aims to build confidence and inspire
rather than overwhelm and frighten couples like many report feeling
after leaving antenatal classes.
2. What should I wear and what do I need to
bring?
Clothes that are comfortable for moving and resting; its best
women wear pants rather than skirts. A bottle of water, notepad
and pen for jotting down ideas if you like and your Preparing
for Birth manuals. You will receive these by post when your place
in the workshop is confirmed. As we do activities on the floor,
beanbags, small and/or large pillows all help ensure your comfort.
Fit-balls are also welcome. You’ll also be advised of lunch
details once your place is confirmed.
3. If I do the workshop, do I need to attend
the hospital classes?
This is up to you and your partner to decide. Many couples attend
the hospital classes for various reasons, just as couples attend
the Active Birth Workshop or Preparing
for Birth & Parenting Course for various reasons. Some
couples are satisfied with the information and experience of the
BirthWise program(s) that they don’t feel the need to attend
the hospital classes. Whilst some attend the hospital classes
before, during or after the BirthWise sessions and will always
gain something from their efforts. Many couples comment on how
different the approaches to labour and birth are and how they
felt more confident attending the hospital classes after what
they had experienced within the BirthWise sessions. Some couples
find meeting a few of the midwives, touring the labour ward and
having the opportunity to ask specific questions regarding hospital
policy helps shape their birth preferences.
4. Does my partner have to attend too?
It is recommended that whomever you choose to support you in
labour attend the workshop with you. The workshop covers partner
support strategies and provides the opportunity to discuss and
practise these. You are also invited to bring along an ‘extra
support person’ to the workshop, ie. those who will be providing
support to you during your labour.
5. When is the best time in my pregnancy to
attend?
It is suitable any time after 20 weeks. Some couples attend later
in their pregnancy to ensure things stay ‘fresh in their
minds’ whilst others are there in their 20th week. The earlier
you attend the more time you have to research your options in
response to what you discover you value around your baby’s
birth and your birth preferences. There is no right or wrong time
to attend – it will just be fantastic that you have!
6. Can I attend the Preparing for Birth &
Parenting Course as well as the Active Birth Workshop?
Many of the topics and activities covered in the workshop are
also covered in the Preparing
for Birth & Parenting Course. However as more time is
available throughout the course program, this allows for greater
depth of certain topics. Some couples do attend both with the
workshop acting like a refresher for labour and birth strategies
closer to the end of their pregnancy.
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