We offer face-to-face pre-birth education at North Canberra Hospital.
About this service
We hold three classes at North Canberra Hospital:
- Childbirth Education
- Next Birth After Caesarean
- Breastfeeding.
Our Childbirth Education classes cover the process of normal labour and birth, when to call in labour, variations in labour and birth, postnatal expectations, newborn babies and breastfeeding. We have two options for Childbirth Education Classes. The first is a weekend series, with a full day Saturday and half day Sunday afternoon. The second is a series of four classes on a Tuesday evening from 6pm to 8pm.
The Next Birth After Caesarean class is for women who have had a previous caesarean birth and are considering their options of vaginal birth or repeat caesarean section. These classes are held once a month on a Sunday morning from 9am to 12pm.
You and any support people are also encouraged to attend breastfeeding classes at North Canberra Hospital. The classes are available to all women planning to birth at North Canberra Hospital during pregnancy and birth and are held twice a week:
- Mondays from 10am to 11am
- Fridays from 10am to 11am
The classes are held in Nancy's Room (Parent Education Room) in the Maternity Ward on Level 2, Marian Building at North Canberra Hospital. Please ask your treating team for more information.
Childbirth Education classes are also offered at Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.
Who we care for
We care for people having their baby/babies at North Canberra Hospital.
How to access this service
Contact the Antenatal Clinic on (02) 5103 6359 to make an appointment with a midwife and to book your parent education classes.
What to expect
We cover topics including:
- late pregnancy changes
- when to call Birth Suite
- normal physiological birth
- ways to manage labour
- the importance of support people
- assisted birth and caesarean
- medicated pain relief options
- induction of labour
- what to expect postnatally
- breastfeeding
- normal baby behaviour in the first few weeks.
Resources
- Labour and birth video
- Demonstration of perineal massage
- Baby’s movements
- Optimal positioning Resource 1
- Optimal positioning Resource 2
- Optimal positioning Resource 3
- Signs of labour starting
- Labour and Birthing fact sheets
- Pain relief options in labour
- Massage in labour
- Acupressure in labour
- Ways to support your partner in labour
Where we’re located
We are based at North Canberra Hospital (formerly Calvary Public Hospital Bruce).