Antenatal Classes for Women and Their Birth Partners
with Ruth Armes

The course goes into significantly more depth than NHS antenatal classes and is a perfect alternative to NCT antenatal classes for those hoping for a natural birth.

The birth preparation course is taught in 3 parts, and you can attend 1, 2 or all 3 elements to meet your needs. You can also choose to attend any of the dates from different months. The 2 day courses are taught by Ruth, in New Malden, and the breastfeeding evening is taught by Anna Page, a breastfeeding specialist, in Kingston.

On the first day we concentrate on normal labour, and how best to enable it. We cover these topics:

• The stages of labour: early labour, 1^st stage labour - getting dilated, transition, 2^nd stage - pushing, 3^rd stage labour - the birth of the placenta.
• What is an ‘Active Birth’? Gain the knowledge and skills to manage labour using your own resources.
• Pain & helping to manage it. Positions, breathing, relaxation & massage for labour.
• The partner's role. Learn how to be a really effective birth partner.

The first day is also a great refresher for anyone having their second or subsequent baby. It is a reminder of the three stages of labour and all the practical ways you can help yourself manage the experience effectively.

The second day will cover medical interventions in labour - how to avoid them, how to know when they are necessary, and how to make the best of them. The topics covered include:

• Pharmaceutical pain relief.
• Monitoring the baby during labour.
• Interventions in labour-including induction, acceleration, episiotomy, and forceps.
• Caesarean section.

The breastfeeding evening will be run by a breastfeeding counsellor. It will cover:

• The physiology and benefits of breastfeeding.
• Good positioning for mother and baby.
• Avoiding problems; establishing good breastfeeding practices in the early weeks.
• Partner support for successful breastfeeding.
• Expressing milk.

The breastfeeding counsellor will then be available to you postnatally, to help you overcome any difficulties you might experience and to give you support.

Cost and Dates

The costs per couple are:

• Day 1 - Active Birth - £95
• Day 2 - Interventions and how to manage them - £75
• Breastfeeding evening - £25

Courses can fill up, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Course	Day 1 9:30-4:30	Day 2 10:00-4:00	Breastfeeding 7:30-10:00pm
November 2011	Sat 12th Nov	Sun 13th Nov	Tue 15th Nov

If you would like to receive a booking form either fill out my online registration form, or email me, Ruth@BirthChoiceUK.com or phone on 020 8395 9435.

Testimonials

"A big THANK YOU Ruth !!! Without the yoga and your couples classes we would never have been half as prepared as we were."
Lisa - first time mum

"Again, thanks to you and your classes and your wonderful course, Neil and I were able to feel totally empowered and in control and have the outcome that everyone was happy with, and a gorgeous little boy thrown in for free!"
Ali - 3rd time mum and second time of doing the course!

"Thank you for all your help and advice, Ruth - it helped us to really think through and assess our hopes and desires when faced with the changes in direction that labour took us. I don't think I could have faced or handled an induction in quite the same way without the knowledge that you provided to us."
Jo - first time mum