The Birth Preparation Course
The Birthkind Birth Preparation Course is a full antenatal course designed to help you feel calm, confident and informed about birth and beyond.
Birthkind antenatal classes are run in Cirencester, but parents from the Cotswolds and any surrounding towns are welcome, including Fairford, Lechlade, Cricklade, Malmesbury, Tetbury, Stroud, Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Below are the details of what we cover in each session, as well as extra topics that are covered in your digital guides
Session plans
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Understanding how labour and birth work
The hormones involved in labour and birth
How your uterus works
Preparing your body and mind for labour (breathing techniques, relaxation, optimal position of baby for labour, positive affirmations)
The phases of labour and how to support your body through each phase
Pain relief options
Birth environment
Place of birth options
The birth of your placenta
Perineal care and stitches
Birth preferences
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Interventions in birth
Induction of labour
C-section
Assisted births (eg. forceps)
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Bonding and connecting
Feeding your baby
Vitamin K
Tests offered to your baby
Jaundice
Nappies
Your recovery
Your nourishment
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Feeding continued
Newborn sleep
Support networks
Mental health and wellbeing/ postpartum hormones
Normal newborn behaviour
Extra information
All Birthkind classes are held at Sam & Jak’s, a restaurant in the town centre of Cirencester
Birthkind classes are always designed and delivered by a midwife
Classes run from 6pm and finish at around 8pm
Your digital birth guide covers everything that we discuss in class, as well as lots of extra information and tools such as birth preference templates and birth bag lists
Your birth partner will receive their own preparation guide including practical tips to prepare for birth, how to support you in labour and ideas for connecting with baby after birth