The ISLHD Maternity Service Childbirth and Early Parenting 'Preparing the Nest' Program provides education and information sharing for pregnant, birthing and postnatal women as well as their support people.
There are face to face workshops, virtual workshops and video modules available. For more information on these, please click on the headings below:
Childbirth Education Workshops ("Antenatal Classes")
Currently our Face to Face Childbirth Education Workshops have been suspended.
We thank you for your patience and will have the Face to Face workshops available as soon as possible.
Alternatively please book into a Virtual Childbirth or Breastfeeding group led by one of our ISLHD Maternity Service midwives.
Bookings for Virtual (online) antenatal education groups:
Enquiries:
Wollongong Ph. 4253 4256
Shoalhaven Ph. 4429 2929
Milton Ulladulla Hospital Ph. 4454 9116
Cost: Free
Childbirth Classes:
Day: Saturday (once a month) from 10am to 12midday.
Time: 2 hours
Venue: Pexip Virtual Meeting Room -a secure Virtual (online) Platform.
Breastfeeding Classes:
Day: every Friday from 1-2pm.
Time: 1 hour
Venue: Pexip Virtual Meeting Room - a secure Virtual (online) Platform.
GDM information (by Wollongong Hospital midwife):
Day: once a month on a Monday from 1-2pm.
Time: 1 hour
Venue: Pexip Virtual Meeting Room - a secure Virtual (online) Platform.
You can also watch the following "Preparing the Nest" Videos to gain further information about:
- Labour and Birth
- Supporting a woman in labour and birth
- Breastfeeding
- Skin to Skin time with a newborn baby
- Neonatal Nursery: When special care is needed
- Postnatal care of a woman.
Virtual Breastfeeding, Labour and Birth Groups
Virtual Labour and Birth Workshops run for two hours and are led by an experienced midwife. These free groups are held on Saturdays. To book into one of these free groups, please speak to the Antenatal Staff at your next visit.
Virtual Breastfeeding Workshops run weekly on Fridays from 1pm-2pm. These groups are led by and experienced Midwife or a Lactation Consultant.
To book into one of these groups, please speak to the Antenatal Staff at your next visit.
When you book into one of these groups you will be sent a link via text for you to connect to our virtual group.
The Work of Birth: Strategies for resilience and comfort video
How to support a woman in labour video
The First Hour: Skin to Skin time with your baby video
Breastfeeding: Myths and Mysteries video
Motherhood: Caring for yourself after birth video
The Neonatal Nursery: When special care is needed video
Antenatal Hand Expressing of breastmilk/colostrum video
Sometimes, depending upon your pregnancy, some women are encouraged to express breastmilk from 36 weeks of pregnancy to have a small store of milk available for baby when they are born.
The following video explains how to hand express during pregnancy. Please remember, it is very normal for you to only get very small amounts of colostrum (sometimes only a drop), but every drop helps! The amount of milk you make while you are pregnant does not predict the amount you will make for your baby after it is born.
Postnatal Physiotherapy Classes
Childbirth Classes with a Burmese interpreter
Our Multicultural health team offer childbirth classes with a Burmese interpreter.
Dates are to be confirmed. For more information, please
call Becca on Ph. 0416 799 019 or Sofia on Ph. 0499 941 801
Need an Interpreter? Professional interpreters are available if you need help to communicate with staff. Our staff can also ask for an interpreter. The service is free and confidential. We will book the interpreter for you. You can also call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 if you need to speak to us before your appointment. Click here for more information about the Illawarra Health Care Interpreter Service.