Complete Birth Preparation Class

Birth School Classes

Spaces are limited for the group class so booking early is essential to avoid missing out. I offer an 'early bird' discount. Use code MUM2BE5 to access 5% off any group class when booked a month before the course start date!

The Complete Birth Preparation Course

What teaching options are there?

1:1 (in your home)
1:1 Online
Group Class in person

What does the Full Course include?

10 hours of teaching and learning (detailed below).
The Complete Course Manual to use at home.
6 Guided Relaxation tracks to use at home.
Positive Affirmation track to use at home
Personal 1:1 support right up to your babies birth.
Birth planning support and guidance.
Tea and cakes and a chance to chat!
A gift box of surprise treats!

What will you learn?

Learn alongside your birth partner in a safe and inclusive environment. Meet new parents-to-be who are at the same stage in their pregnancy journey with you and create your own support network of mums and dads you can call on when baby arrives. The people you meet on your birth education journey might just be the new parents of your baby's best friend!

Antenatal and Birth Education.

Learn from a qualified teacher with over 10 years teaching experience and able to adapt content to all learning styles. Antenatal education can be a bit dry and boring, especially in the traditional sense. Our classes are fun and interactive, you won't even realise you're learning! They also fully involve you and your birth partner every step of the way. Learn what actually happens when you give birth, from the first stage of labour all the way through to after baby is born. Discover the physiology of your uterus and how it works alongside your birthing hormones, to birth your baby. Information is always evidence based and will help you with your birth planning. Explore your birthing rights, and how to make informed decisions regarding your labour and birth choices, whatever journey your birth takes.

Mental Preparation

One of the key areas that makes our course different - learning about birth is only half the battle if you are not mentally prepared for the journey ahead. Challenging any fears you have and building a positive mindset for birth is crucial to a positive birth experience. Think of this part as Birth Psychology and exploring how you both really feel about birth. We will learn how to get in the right mental head space for birth, exploring the use of affirmations, the language of birth and watching positive birth videos so that you will begin to feel excited, confident and feeling really ready to meet your baby.

Practical Birth Preparation

Its all very well learning about birth and feeling ready, but we have to also be prepared practically. What to include in your birth bag, how to plan your perfect birthing environment, what positions to use in labour and how to write an effective birth plan are also important to your birth preparation. As well as this we will focus specifically on you and your birth partner and how they can best support you in birth - from the different birthing positions you might want to try and their role, to light touch massage, birth affirmations and how they can advocate for you.

Relaxation and Breathing Exercises

Breathing in birth and labour isn't the same as normal day-to-day breathing. We need to breathe most efficiently so that our birthing muscles have as much oxygen as possible. As part of each class we will learn breathing techniques to help you relax quickly and deeply and support you in your birth. We will learn different breaths to practise for each stage of your labour and how to use this breath to help you birth your baby more gently. This is also a great opportunity to take some time just for you and your partner to connect with your baby. We will listen to guided meditations and you will be taught all about self-hypnosis and hypnobirthing to help you relax and release any tensions and fears you may have. As this is taught at the end of each class, you will leave feeling deeply relaxed, calm and confident. You may find you also have a great nights sleep as well.

Who is this course suitable for?

Anyone and Everyone! There is an option for all (provided you are having a baby of course!) A personal 1:1 course may be ideal for you if you would like the course altered to suit your specific circumstances - after all there isn't a one size fits all when it comes to pregnancy and birth and every one is different. With private coaching your course will be tailored to you and your birth partner to give you the ultimate experience. However, if you choose to take part in a group, you have the added bonus of meeting new expectant parents who are on the journey with you. You can make friends and share the ups and downs of pregnancy whether you are the birthing person or the partner, and when baby arrives, you have people you can call on for baby walks, cake and coffees! As a teacher, I do try to make the group classes in person enjoyable and fun for all - you won't be sitting listening to me drone on for hours. They are interactive and include games and plenty of time for discussion that is more natural than an online setting. However, as a mum of 2, I also understand that getting out of the house in the evening when babies are in bed can be a challenge, and this is where the online course may be perfect for you. Whichever course you opt for, you won't regret your decision in planning to make the day when you meet your baby special!

Book a 1:1 Course £295

Book the next Group £195

Book an Online 1:1 Course £250

What makes The Stirling Birth School classes so different?

Firstly, and perhaps most obviously - me! Your teacher! A qualified teacher of 14 years, confident in teaching and adapting my approach to ensure I meet the needs of those I work with. Most other classes are taught by birth workers or midwives and whilst they may have the knowledge about birth, that does not mean they are necessarily the best at teaching it. I know how to make my classes engaging so that you actually do learn EVERYTHING there is to know about birth!

Secondly - what I teach - the content! Ensuring you really understand birth, what happens and your choices is my number one priority. It makes me so frustrated that we are not taught about birth at school when we are taught about everything else - and there is so much to know! There is so much you can do to make your birth experience better and as women I really feel we have a right to this information. Too many women are left traumatised from their birth experiences because things happen that they don't feel they have any control over. You do have control! And I feel really strongly about ensuring you feel empowered to take it!

Lastly, that what I teach is relevant and evidence based! You deserve a course that is as up to date with the most recent evidence as possible! Unfortunately the lag between evidence and it being a part of the NHS Policies and guidelines can be up to 20 years! 20 years ago there was evidence that delaying cutting the cord was beneficial to babies, and it has taken until very recently for that to come into practise. I ensure I stay abreast of any new developments in birth science so that you are really able to make informed decisions and I will always point you in the direction of the most recent research to support you.

That said, which ever birth course you choose, the goal for each remains the same. On completion of your course it is hoped you will feel:

Able to advocate for the birth experience that you want!
Able to make choices and decisions in birth confidently - fully understanding ALL your options.
Able to look forward optimistically to a safe, calm, comfortable and stress free birth.
Able to work with your birthing partner more effectively, so that they are better able to support you in birth.
Able to release any fears that may be associated with childbirth.
Able to trust your body to work naturally and in harmony with your baby.
Able to stay calm, relaxed and in control throughout your labour.

And gain the positive belief that giving birth can be the most wonderful experience.