Parent education classes

Online Antenatal Course

This course will runs for 4 weeks, every Tuesday from 17.45-20.00. Suitable for couples from 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Class 1: Normal labour & birth and self-help techniques

Class 2: When assistance is needed and analgesia

Class 3: Infant feeding and bonding with your baby

Class 4: The immediate postnatal period and care of your new baby

To book a space go to:

DVH Parent Education Team Events | Eventbrite

NEW Online Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC) Workshop

Online VBAC workshop for parents who have had a previous caesarean birth and from 32 weeks of pregnancy. Held on the last Saturday of the month from 10.00-11.30.

To book a space go to:

DVH Parent Education Team Events | Eventbrite

Useful Information

See our Padlet for useful links and videos relating to antenatal education: DVH Antenatal Education Padlet
Maternity Department Presentation - COVID-19
For further information please access: Pregnancy Information Booklet for advice and guidance regarding your pregnancy.

The Maternity Department invites you to our online information sessions on caring for your new baby.

Every Wednesday evening between 18.00-20.00. Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/176462272407

Suitable for women and their partners from 30 weeks of pregnancy.

Come along to our home birth preparation classes and explore other options for you place of birth. Hear from other women and families who have had a home birth, speak to midwives, talk to other expectant parents and ask questions in our two hour drop-in sessions.

Dates: TBA

We are sorry that we have had to suspend our Hypnobirthing classes. To support you during this time we have attached some resources that will help you to gain a knowledge and understanding of the role Hypnobirthing can play in your birth.

Hypnobirthing course material

In addition you may find the following links useful:

Link to MP3 and relaxations: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/hypnobirthmidwivesuk
Hypnobirthing midwives UK - http://hypnobirthmidwivesuk.com/

A preparation for birth course in which you will learn about the wonderful process of labour and how you can positively influence it by acquiring positive perceptions and learning to relax and to create a positive environment for birth.

Description:

We recommend you choose a start date around week 30 to 32 of pregnancy.
10 hour course.
Runs for 4 consecutive Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays 7.00pm and 9.30pm
We also offer some weekend courses Sat and Sun 10.00am to 4.00pm (both days inclusive)
Cost £50 per person/couple

You must be booked to have your baby at Darent Valley Hospital in order to attend.

Dates: TBA

To avoid disappointment please book early.

Hypnobirthing is a complete antenatal programme focusing on a combination of childbirth education, self-hypnosis and deep relaxation techniques to help achieve a more comfortable birth. Hypnobirthing provides parents the tools they need to minimise the fear-tension-pain cycle, aiming for a more comfortable birth experience. Many women, midwives and doctors have seen that the use of Hypnobirthing techniques in the birthing process has a positive effect.

It is a method of self-help techniques that can continue to be employed when extra help is needed, enabling women to remain calm and in control and able to make informed choices in any type of birth. Women say that it helps them to cope better with labour and in particular to feel more in control of what is happening to them, which is known to be important (DOH 1993).

The deep relaxation and visualisation techniques taught in Hypnobirthing increase the production of endorphins and oxytocin, both of which are known to have beneficial effects in labour and birth. The aim of Hypnobirthing is for parents to achieve a calm, gentle birth. At Darent Valley Hospital we have developed a comprehensive Hypnobirthing course based on the Hypnobirth Midwives UK method.

Our course is unique in offering information on:

Understanding the process of labour and working with the body.
How to break the fear/tension/pain cycle.
Top tips for birth partners; the named birth partner will be trained to support the techniques.
How to achieve an active birth.
Practice positions and massage for labour.
Breathing and visualisation techniques for labour.
How the environment influences labour.
Hormones and their effect on birth.

Planned learning outcomes

Techniques of deep relaxation to help you eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain cycle.
To explode the myth that pain is a necessary accompaniment to labour.
How your body is naturally designed to conceive, nurture and birth your baby with ease and comfort.
To use your natural birthing instincts to birth your baby in a way that most mirrors the way that nature intended.
How you and your birthing companion can create a birthing environment that is calm and joyful.

The course is facilitated by midwives and support staff, who are also trained Hypnobirthing practitioners. Therefore we feel you will receive a high standard service delivered by professionals skilled in both areas.

During your course you will be asked to practice and train in the techniques at home to gain the maximum benefit during labour. You can attend with your birth partner.

The Hypnobirthing course is £50, to cover the materials and resources. This includes:

10 hours of hypnobirthing teaching time
The Hypnobirthing workbook
Light Refreshments

Please can you spare a few minutes to share your feedback on our hypnobirthing courses. You can do this by clicking on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SKHR52D.

Online Infant Feeding Class

Every Wednesday morning between 10.00-12.00. Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/176440727967

Recommended for 30 - 36 weeks

Online Labour and Birth Class

Every Tuesday evening between 18.00-20.00. To book your place visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/176234771947

Suitable for women and their partners from 30 weeks of pregnancy.

Discussing labour and birth options

Facilitated by Dianne Garland

Cost £30 per person/couple

Bookings: DIRECTLY THROUGH DIANNE GARLAND NOT THROUGH DARENT VALLEY WEBSITE

Email: dianne@MidwifeExpert.com

For more information on Labour and Birth, please access What happens during labour and birth
Obstetric Anaesthetic Association website: http://www.labourpains.com/home

The course has content you can trust. It was developed by Registered Midwives working with health professionals in the Solihull Approach team. It has the same content as the Solihull Approach face to face antenatal course, which has the same name ‘Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby’.

You can gain access using the code INVICTA

Visit www.inourplace.co.uk and apply code when prompted.

Please see our own antenatal videos in the subsection below.

Dates: TBA

If you have any queries please email: michelle.lyon1@nhs.net

The workshop is interactive and couples look at the benefits of water and the benefits of using water in labour.other couples planning a water birth;

Explore active birth and the use of water for complementing any birth experience;
Receive support in choosing to use water for labour.
Facilitated by Dianne Garland

Venue: Phillip Farrant Education Centre - Darent Valley Hospital (via main entrance)

Cost £15 per person/couple

Bookings: DIRECTLY THROUGH DIANNE GARLAND NOT THROUGH DARENT VALLEY WEBSITE

E-mail: dianne@MidwifeExpert.com

Contraception:

Contraception Choices www.contraceptionchoices.org/

Pregnancy:

DVH Maternity Service: Pregnancy Information Booklet

Bounty New Pregnancy App: Bounty pregnancy, birth & baby app | Bounty

NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/

Care of the New Baby:

DVH Maternity Service: New-born Baby Information Booklet