Hastings Parents Centre offers a comprehensive childbirth education package to help you and your partner prepare for your new baby.
Our Childbirth Education course and Baby You courses are offered for the one fee of $190.00. You can also choose to become members at no additional cost.
The eight-week antenatal course is led by a qualified childbirth educator and covers the following topics:
Week 1 Introduction, anatomy, changes in pregnancy
Week 2 Exercise and stretching
Week 3 Dealing with pain, first stage of labour, self help in labour, medical assistance
Week 4 Second and third stages of labour, medical assistance, pain relief
Week 5 /6 Breast feeding, birthing plans, newborn baby, postnatal/first six weeks
Week 7 Parents panel/parenting
Week 8 Later postnatal (e.g: post natal depression, relationships, support groups)
Visit To Maternity Unit – there will be a visit to Ata Rangi Maternity Unit at Hawke’s Bay Hospital. Week 5, 6 or 7.
Infant CPR session (free 1 hour) will be held as an extra session (usually a Wednesday) during your course at the Red Cross Rooms.
Practical baby care session Is an additional option for new parents and can be organised for a Saturday or Sunday, during or soon after the course, to discuss baby bathing, baby clothes and equipment.
Baby & You Course
This is a 4 week course following the antenatal classes. It is an essential course for expectant parents, focusing on newborn babies up to 3 months old and covering a wide range of baby and mothering topics on the practical side of caring for a new baby including infant massage, feeding, sleeping, health and growth, changes (for mother, family, relationships), and child development.
Coffee Group Support
Coffee groups are formed from the Childbirth Education classes and provide an essential support network to all parents, particularly new mothers. They are an opportunity to enjoy some much needed social respite, share stories, advice, tips and as your babies develop, provide them with an enjoyable playtime with their "coffee group playmates".
Class dates for 2011
