Plenty!
Session 1: What actually happens when your baby travels from in there… to out here? In this session we take a look at the incredible process of physiological birth, and how you – and your birth partner – can create the optimal birth environment.
Session 2: In this session we cover medical interventions in childbirth: induction, pain relief, assisted birth, and caesarean birth. We also cover your rights and help you figure out how to make informed decisions in case things don’t quite go as you (birth) planned.
Session 3: Baby’s here! We cover the first few minutes, hours, and weeks of life, and talk about newborn feeding and sleeping patterns. This session is also a chance to practice some hands-on skills: how to confidently carry a newborn (yep, even including handing them over to someone else), how to change a nappy, and how to use the Baby Box sling with confidence!
Session 4: Whether you plan to nurse or use bottles, breastmilk or formula, this session covers feeding your baby. I think breastmilk is amazing – of course I do! I’m trained in breastfeeding support – but I also completely support you to make the feeding decision that’s right for your family, so don’t worry about feeling pressured here. We go over what to expect, how to tell if things are going well, and where to find support if you need it.
Session 5: It’s all too easy to focus all your attention on the baby, but it’s important to look after yourselves, too. In this session we talk about how to prepare for life postpartum.
I provide an inclusive and welcoming space for anyone who wants to learn how to prepare for their baby’s arrival!
It’s natural to feel apprehensive about labour and I firmly believe that understanding more about the whole process can help you feel calmer and more confident about it all. I will also cover how to look after your little one in the very early days and weeks, from holding your dinky little newborn with confidence (no floppy necks here) to bundling them up in the Baby Box wrap.
This is entirely up to you, but I would recommend booking a set of sessions that falls in your third trimester. This way you won’t have forgotten it all by the time the baby arrives, and you’re more likely to meet people who’ll be having their babies at roughly the same time as you.
At the beautiful Wee Retreat/Deep End in the south side of Glasgow.
Certainly! We spend a full session in the antenatal course covering everything you’ll need to know about getting started – what to expect when establishing a nursing relationship, how to know your baby is getting enough, ways of keeping your milk supply healthy, troubleshooting basic issues, and when to seek help (among many other things).
I also offer a private Preparing to breastfeed or chestfeed session for people who aren’t taking the full antenatal course.
They’re strongly encouraged to come along to the antenatal course, particularly if they are also your birth partner. There is plenty for them to learn – whether that’s how to support you and advocate for you through birth, or how to care for a newborn once they’ve made their way earthside. However, this isn’t a prerequisite and you’re more than welcome to bring a plus one of your choosing – or just turn up with your bump.