Fact Sheet Westmead Childbirth and Parenting Education Courses

WSP737 Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Classes | V1 June 2021 This written information is for guidance only and does not replace consultation and advice by your health care provider.

Fact Sheet Westmead Childbirth and Parenting Education Courses

At Westmead hospital we offer a range of childbirth and parenting courses to suit you and your support partner. We welcome all mothers and their birth support person.

For your convenience, you can choose from week day, evening or weekend classes. Courses available include

• Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop• Positive Birth and Parenting for Mandarin

Speakers• Positive Parenting Workshop• Positive Breastfeeding Workshop• Breastfeeding Information Session - Free• Antenatal breastfeeding education for women

with diabetes class - Free• Twins and More Workshop• Westmead Exercise and back care in pregnancy

class - Free

These classes allow you to learn about birth and parenting, meet others, and give you an opportunity to speak with our experienced educators.

Please consider booking into your chosen group from 12 weeks of pregnancy onwards. We advise that you book your session as soon as possible as sessions book out fast.

How do I Book? Bookings for classes can be made via the link on our website.

www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/ WNH/Childbirth-Parenting-Education/class-information-and-booking

Birth Unit Tour If you have some questions about what to expect during childbirth and would like to see the birth unit and understand how to get access into the hospital after

hours, then you can look at our virtual tour on our website. Watching this will give you some understanding of what to expect when you arrive at the birth unit, how to enter the hospital after hours, and some of the procedures that will occur during your stay. You can find the virtual tour online.

www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/ WNH/Clinics---services/Birth-Unit

A virtual tour is also available of our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit via the following link

www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/WNH/Clinics---services/Neonatal-Intensive-Care-Unit

There is no child minding available and it is recommended that you organise care for other children when you attend your course.

WSP737 Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Classes| V1 July 2021 This written information is for guidance only and does not replace consultation and advice by your health care provider.

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Fact Sheet Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Education Courses

Positive Birth and Parenting Workshops. Our educators provide you with information about the birth process and how to manage well through labour’s journey. We offer both weeknight or two-day programs. First-time parents-to-be benefit enormously from these workshops.

Weeknight Courses The Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop during the week are run over six consecutive weeks. Each session runs for 2 hours and 15 minutes. This provides a good length of time to understand and discuss information. Topics covered are listed below. Our weeknight courses also include information on breastfeeding and Women’s and Men’s only sessions. Classes are also available in Mandarin.

Two-Day Courses Our two-day courses are run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The workshop is six hours long and the sessions are one week apart. You’ll be offered a free three hour separate course on breastfeeding as it isn’t included in the two-day program.

Topics include but not limited to: • Mind and body working together during labour• Labouring at home and when to come to hospital• Positions for labour and birth – being active• Birth with confidence• Evidence based Techniques for labour and birth

o Acupressureo Massageo Breathing and relaxation

• Tour of the Birth Unit• Handling and care of baby• Helping your baby’s sleeping and waking

patterns• Being informed about common Obstetric

interventions• Calming an unsettled baby• Communicating with your baby• Parenting issues – including postnatal

depression, roles and identities• And more!

Cost: $210.00 for women birthing at Westmead Public Hospital Cost: $340.00 for women birthing somewhere else

Positive Parenting Workshop

This pre-birth workshop is held on Saturday afternoons 1:00pm to 5:00pm, and explores the reality of parenting. It is recommended that you attend this course from approximately 28 weeks of pregnancy.

If this is your first baby we strongly recommend that you attend the Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop. However, if you are booked in for a caesarean birth, this workshop is ideal for you.

Topics include but not limited to:

• Calming an unsettled baby• Communicating with your baby• Parenting issues – including postnatal

depression, roles and identities• Understanding your baby’s needs• Safety and equipment• And more!!

Cost: $50.00 for women birthing at Westmead Public Hospital Cost: $95.00 for women birthing somewhere else

WSP737 Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Classes| V1 July 2021 This written information is for guidance only and does not replace consultation and advice by your health care provider.

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Fact Sheet Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Education Courses

Positive Breastfeeding Workshop

The comprehensive Positive Breastfeeding Workshop runs for three hours. The workshop is held on either a Friday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm or a Saturday from 9.00 am to 12 noon. (3hrs)

It is ideal for women and their partner attending the two-day Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop, women who have had previous difficulties breastfeeding, or women who require additional information not provided in other programs. This program is interactive and more comprehensive than our two hour breastfeeding information session.

Topics include • Understanding how breastfeeding works• Positions for breastfeeding• Signs of successful breastfeeding• Normal behaviours for breastfed babies• Identifying possible breastfeeding problems and

what to do • Where to get help• Partner's role - a key to successful breastfeeding• Diet, medications and alcohol with breastfeeding• Feeling confident

Cost: • Free if you have booked a two-day Positive Birth

and Parenting Workshop• $35.00 for women birthing at Westmead Public

Hospital• $65.00 for women birthing somewhere else

Breastfeeding Information Session – Free Held twice a month, on either a Tuesday or Thursday from 10:00 am – 12 noon. (2hrs). You may be about to become a mother for the first time or you may have had previous difficulties breastfeeding. The breastfeeding information sessions aim to answer all of your questions and explain any myths that you may have heard regarding breastfeeding your baby.

Topics include • Why breastfeeding is important and the risks of

not breastfeeding• How your breasts make milk- supply and

demand• Skin to skin contact and the first feed• Feeding cues and when to feed baby• Positioning and attachment of baby at the breast• Rooming in- staying close to baby• Normal newborn behaviour• Signs baby is feeding well• Normal weight changes for baby and breast

changes for mum • Community supports• Returning to work- expressing breast milk• Impact of dummies and bottle feeding on

breastfeeding• Common breastfeeding problems• Contraception

Antenatal breastfeeding education for women with diabetes class – Free

You need to have diabetes and be at least 34 weeks pregnant to attend this education session. These sessions run fortnightly on Thursdays for one hour from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. This education session is face to face only.

This breastfeeding workshop gives you the correct information and support for breastfeeding your baby and is facilitated by a member of the lactation team. It will provide additional information not covered in other programs.

WSP737 Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Classes| V1 July 2021 This written information is for guidance only and does not replace consultation and advice by your health care provider.

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Fact Sheet Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Education Courses

Topics include • How to prepare for breastfeeding• Expressing and storing your breast milk prior to

baby's birth • Postnatal care of diabetic women• How to manage your diabetes in labour• What happens to you and your baby after birth• What happens if my baby needs to go to the Special

Care Nursery

Twins and More Workshop This is an additional workshop for those couples expecting twins or more. Parents-to-be of multiples are encouraged to attend this workshop before 34 weeks gestation if possible. Videos specific to multiple birth and parenting are shown. The educator is a mother of twins.

This program is offered on a Saturday throughout the year. The workshop starts at 9am and finishes at 1pm. This program is discounted for those who have booked into the Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop. Make sure you include your booking number when completing the registration.

We advise that you first attend our Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop before the Twins course

Cost: $35.00 for women if attending the positive birth and parenting workshop, $70 if birthing at Westmead Hospital and $120 if birthing else where.

Westmead exercise and back care in pregnancy class- Free The pregnancy and back care class is designed for women who are interested in keeping fit and healthy during their pregnancy. It is facilitated by a physiotherapist who specialises in pregnancy related issues. There is plenty of opportunity for discussion and questions. The class is for women of any gestation, however we recommend you book into the first available session. You are eligible to attend this workshop once only. Women experiencing low back and pelvice girdle pain are encouraged to attend.

This class is for women only. You will explore:

• Changes and discomforts of pregnancy• Back and pelvic pain: management strategies• Exercises to help you stay fit and feel good in

pregnancy, including a brief gentle exercise session

• Pelvic floor muscle function• Fitness and exercise guidelines

WSP737 Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Classes| V1 July 2021 This written information is for guidance only and does not replace consultation and advice by your health care provider.

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Fact Sheet Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Education Courses

Cancellations and refunds

Cancellations or refund requests are made through logging into Eventbrite. Alternatively you can email us:

[email protected]

Our cancellation and refund policy is found on this webpage

www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/WNH/ Childbirth---Parenting-Education/Terms-and-conditions

Rescheduling Subject to availability rescheduling your course can occur. Go to the 'tickets' page of your Eventbrite account. Select your order and then click on "transfer". You can then choose "change event" to transfer to. A list of classes will come on a drop-down list.

Health Fund Certificate of AttendanceTo claim a rebate, you require an itemised certificate of attendance please email us.

[email protected]

Where are the groups held?

All childbirth and parenting education sessions are held in the Westmead Education and Conference centre (WECC) located via entrance 4, Level 2, G Block at Westmead Hospital. Light meals, snacks and drinks are available for purchase in the hospital’s food court.

Car parking

Westmead Hospital has parking, and there is a cost involved. Parking can be challenging. The train station and bus stops are within easy walking distance of the hospital. Security patrols parking and fines will be issued for illegal parking. A concessional rate is available for those attending our childbirth and parenting classes. Please speak to our educators at your workshop, who will provide you with a concessional rate form to give to secure parking office located near entrance 4.

We welcome further feedback on

this brochure as a way on

continually improving our service.

Send your feedback to:

[email protected]