Course Description

• Pre-labour signs
• Signs of labour & when to call your caregiver
• Stages and phases of labour
• Labour & birth positions
• Partner support
• Alternative pain relief/comfort
• Understanding medications & interventions
• Postpartum and recovery

•    Nourishing the pregnant body and mind
•    The anatomy and physiology of birth
•    How labour looks, sounds, and feels
•    Birthing your baby
•    Role of the Support person(s)

• Making a birth plan that works for you
• What to bring with you to your planned place of birth
• When to go to your planned place of birth
• What happens when you get to there
• Common medical routines and interventions in birth: benefits, risks, and choice
• Common challenges in labour and birth

• The pitfalls of not preparing for the reality of pain
• The immense value of normal labour pain
• Managing expectations
• Coping with labour pain with breathing, visualization, motion, nutrition, rest, and positions
• Optimal fetal positioning

• The Gate Theory of Pain Inhibition in Action
• Mother Massage
• Inducing Relaxation
• Pregnant Women: Exploring Concerns Surrounding Birth
• Partners: What Worries You?
• Role Playing, practice and demonstrations

• What to expect during baby’s first few months of life
• Newborn appearance and communication
• Soothing techniques
• Sleep (cribs, bassinets, co-sleeping and safety)
• Diapering (cloth and disposable)
• Bathing your newborn

• Breastfeeding resources
• Breastfeeding challenges and troubleshooting
• Baby-led Breastfeeding
• Latching a baby onto the breast
• Breastfeeding positions
• Learn about your baby’s hunger cues
• How to know if your baby is getting enough

• Meet other moms and bring your baby
• Enjoy the company of other moms
• Share breastfeeding concerns and stories
• Discuss many topics like co-sleeping, share-sleeping
• Share community resources