Category: 20 – 24 weeks

Childbirth Education workshops are designed for you and your partner to feel education, empowered and ready for the labour and birth of your baby and to prepare you for the transition to parenting.

***Key Points***

Childbirth Education or Antenatal Education provides you with the opportunity to inform yourself to help you make informed decisions during your pregnancy and birth journey.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many classes are now available online, rather than in person.

However, there are still limited options for face to face classes.

Education can come from many sources including the hospital, private midwives, private doulas and private childbirth education providers. Some classes are offered free and other classes or videos will be at cost to you.

***Key Points***

***CBE options***

There are many other options for Childbirth Education, you can refine your search by choosing your preferred option – such as whether you want independent classes or hospital classes or other classes specific to your needs, for example in your language, one-on-one, active birth or water birth.

Talk to your care provider about other options. Your hospital may provide workshops for families when english is not your first language, when you are a young mum or are having twins or triplets.

***CBE options***

***Independent CBE options***

Independent workshops include workshops such as

Calmbirth 
The Calmbirth® program is founded on research from neuroscience, midwifery, obstetrics and epigenetics; and uses the extensive understanding of the relaxation response and its influence on birth
Calmbirth is a program that explores the mind-body connection. How the hormones of pregnancy and then labour and birth interact in a synergy that nurtures new life and gives birth to a child.

Calmbirth® is a stand-alone program that understands the mind-body connection in childbirth and how a woman’s emotional state influences the birth both mentally and physically.

Hypnobirthing Australia
The Hypnobirthing Australia™ program is a unique and comprehensive antenatal education program catering to Australian needs, that builds knowledge and uses techniques such as relaxation, self-hypnosis, breathing & movement for a safer, easier and gentle birth.

Hypnobirthing Australia™ classes prepare you with the knowledge, confidence and tools you need to birth calmly and regardless of how your baby enters this world – be it vaginally, caesarean section, home birth, hospital birth or water birth.

Lamaze Workshops
Lamaze workshops are Independent Childbirth education workshops that provides information parents need, to better understand and make decisions throughout their pregnancy. Lamaze provides a resource parents can use to empower themselves, to help them understand the choices they have in pregnancy, childbirth and parenting. Lamaze inspires couples to experience birth with knowledge and confidence.

Other examples include SheBirth or independent classes facilitated by a doula or Childbirth Educator.

Before deciding of what is right for you and your partner you should consider

• Who is facilitating the workshop?
• What is their background?
• What training have they undertaken to provide this education?
• Are they governed by any code of conduct, regulation or guidelines

***Independent CBE options***

If you love the app you will love our Childbirth Education Birth preparation course

Talkingbirth Birth Preparation Modules

20 week ultrasound content page description

Regular antenatal care is a key component of a healthy pregnancy and provides an opportunity to receive advice, information and support, while engaging in shared decision making about your  pregnancy that is designed to suit your individual pregnancy needs.

KEY POINTS

Antenatal care should be woman centred acknowledging pregnancy is a normal life event for most.

Antenatal care improves pregnancy outcomes for both mother and baby by recognising potential problems in pregnancy early.

The range of routine antenatal care visits range from 7 – 12 throughout the course of pregnancy with the average being around 10 visits.

During each visit your midwife or doctor will discuss screening test and arrange these as required.

It’s good if your partner, a friend or a family member can go with you to antenatal appointments.

Antenatal appointments keep track of your health and your baby’s health and are a great time to ask questions, discuss concerns and get health and lifestyle support throughout your pregnancy.  All antenatal visits require a directed clinical assessment at each visit, with a focus on general wellbeing and early diagnosis of pregnancy complications.

The clinical assessment should include a –

• blood pressure check
• urine dip stick, usually you do this yourself
• weight and how you can achieve a healthy weight gain
• measure your tummy, otherwise called a symphysis-fundal height (SFH) measurement
• listen to your baby’s heartbeat using a handheld doppler, this is always lovely to hear
• and ask about your baby’s movements from approximately 20 weeks of pregnancy onwards.

The midwife or doctor may also

• recommend blood tests, screening tests and other tests when appropriate and talk about test results.
• discuss healthy eating options and foods that aren’t recommended in pregnancy.
• ask about your lifestyle and help you get support for lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, or giving up alcohol or other drugs
• ask about your work and home environment and your family situation and support throughout your pregnancy.

Many women attend antenatal visits every 4-6 weeks until 28 weeks of pregnancy, then every 2-3 weeks until 36 weeks of pregnancy. After this, you’ll probably have weekly or fortnightly visits until birth.  The number and timing of pregnancy appointments could be more or less than this, depending on your health and your baby’s health. For example, if you have a high-risk pregnancy you might have more pregnancy appointments. Your midwife or doctor will talk with you about the appointments you need and why.

Having access to maternity care that is culturally appropriate and personally acceptable is important throughout antenatal care. Your midwife or doctor will ideally provide informed choice, and where possible include you in both the planning and monitoring of your pregnancy care.

Choice in pregnancy care is important and your midwife or doctor will provide access to appropriate information about the benefits and potential risks of each and every option of your pregnancy care as it applies to yours and your baby’s individual needs at each antenatal visit appointment. Be sure to ask questions at each visit too.