Scout We’d discussed all the options and made our feelings and wishes known. We had the opportunity to make sure Pernille knew what we wanted but more importantly Pernille brought up things we hadn’t even thought of, for example how we could make an unexpected ceasar more of a birthing experience rather than a ‘medical’ one. It also meant that when the hospital staff raised certain options or asked questions we already knew they were coming and we had the answers. We felt a lot more in control of our experience than had we not had that knowledge.

Childbirth Preparation

Prepare your soul – Prepare for the unexpected – Prepare as a partner 

Prepare for home – Prepare for hospital

Prepare to be amaze

Birth Connection’s Childbirth preparation classes and workshops offer you a holistic and soulful approach to birth preparation, influenced by the philosophy of ‘Birthing From Within’ (by Pam England), and are about empowering women and their partners to have a positive birth regardless of how and where your baby is born. Apart from touching on all the normal stuff of obstetric tools and procedures we work on finding that knowledge inside us that we need as parents to be able to have a good birth. It is like preparing the soul for meeting the ‘unknown’ with confidence and embracing every step of the journey with knowledge of how birth works, with tools to communicating effectively with caregivers and make decision that are good for you, your family and the situation. It is birth preparation that goes deeper and is more meaningful than your basic textbook fact driven hospital classes, mostly are.

The classes and workshops are about exploring birth and issues together. It is a nurturing, respectful and caring way to prepare for your journey into parenthood or family enlargement with curiosity, celebration and initiation.

The classes focus on birthing in awareness rather than on a specific outcome and honors birth as a ‘Rite of Passage’ (all births are a Rite of Passage in my opinion) with all its challenges and joy. They give you an opportunity to build confidence in yourself and your partner and meet other expecting parents, share ideas and concerns in a caring and fun environment.

Through my work as a Doula I have found some key issues that seem to be very helpful to have tackled before your birth. This is part of what we do in the classes and workshops:

  • how to deal with pain, intensity and exhaustion
  • understand how birth works and how we best support it
  • what you can do to be a mindful and supportive helper and how you feel about watching birth
  • having an understanding of your deep seeded beliefs about birth and how that influences your choices
  • how to communicate effectively with your caregivers and make decisions in labour
  • explore your fears and worries
  • how to embrace birth for what it is
  • celebrate your journey and birth all together

 

“Through soul-searching and listening more deeply to the women I was working with, I finally understood that women have to prepare for birth in their heart and soul, not their head. And that giving birth is something a woman does in her body, not in her head.” ~ Pam England

Birth Matters and women are amazing. Everyday someone is going the distance and doing what she has to do to birth her baby. Whether it is a fast birth, a slow birth, a birth that needs the hospitals help or not, we spend time acknowledging how big and important this event is, how amazing, how mind blowing it is to birth a baby or be with your partner and watching it all unfold – no matter how the baby is born.

Part of spiritual and holistic childbirth preparation includes acknowledging that unexpected, unwelcome events may happen during labor (even if you are prepared and do everything “right”.  (www.birthingfromwithin.com)

On the Sunshine Coast most hospitals offer ‘basic’ childbirth preparation classes. Making up your mind about what type of class you should take might involve working out what you are looking for. Hospital classes tend to be larger, but they may be less expensive than smaller, private classes, but is typically also focusing mainly on a very textbook facts way of looking at birth from only at the physical and medical aspects. The parent’s feelings and situations are often not addressed. Often hospital classes spend their time explaining stages of labour, hospital routines, and epidurals. So it depends entirely on whether that is enough for you and what you feel is good preparation for your specific journey. Birth Connections Birthing From Within Classes has a maximum of 6 couples pr. class. Feel free to contact me for more information.

Birth Connection’s Birthing From Within Classes offers:

  • more and goes deeper than your normal hospital class
  • is a mixture of useful information, self exploration and creative – interactive activities
  • birthing in awareness rather than teaching towards a specific type of birth
  • is about mobilising your inner strength and resources and creating a pain coping mindset
  • sees birth as a rite of passage, with all its joy and challenges
  • interesting and engaging sessions for mothers as well as fathers/other mothers/support people
  • increases your confidence and connection with your partner so you can meet your birth experience feeling empowered

 

Read more about the birthing from within philosophy on http://www.birthingfromwithin.com

A great benefit of taking Childbirth Preparation Classes is also meeting other expectant couples, hearing about other people’s journeys and choices, get inspired and creating networks that are so invaluable as community around new parenting.

Everyone is welcome regardless of their preferred birthing and parenting choices.

Classes are available as:

Located centrally on the Sunshine Coast, classes give expectant parents the opportunity to explore many issues and feel confident about this special event in their lives.

Classes are facilitated by Advanced Doula, Educator and Birthing From Within Mentor, Pernille Powell
Further information, Please contact Pernille on 0406 412 354 or pernille@birthconnection.com.au