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")
Saturday workshops can be booked for pregnant women and their support person through the ISLHD Maternity Service.
Workshops are held on selected dates from 09:30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Topics included in the workshop as follows:
Preparing for Birth
- Valuing the important last days of pregnancy
- How to manage confidently at in early labour
- How to support a woman in labour
- Making wise decisions in late pregnancy and labour
- Practical strategies for normal birth. Emotional & Physical Preparation
The Work of Birth
- Understanding the stages of labour
- Managing labour : Relaxation, Rhythm and Ritual
- Practical Strategies and comfort options
- Adapting to unexpected journeys
- Active birth positions, movement and support
- Birth and Baby
Breastfeeding and Parenting
- How the breasts are preparing for breastfeeding during pregnancy
- The day of birth: skin to skin and colostrum feeds
- What to expect in the first few days
- Sleep and settling techniques
- Strategies for a managing Early Parenting
- Support after discharge
Enquiries:
Wollongong phone 4253 4256
Shoalhaven phone 4429 2929
Milton Ulladulla Hospital phone 4454 9116
Cost: Free
Breastfeeding Classes (by Wollongong Hospital midwife):
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.
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 at Wollongong Hospital 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.