BOOK EARLY!  LIMITED CLASSES!

Pregnancy & Parenting Education Classes - am I eligible?

Women’s Health at Te Whatu Ora l Te Toka Tumai provides an enhanced programme for fully funded pregnancy and parenting education. The service is for all women expecting their first baby, their partners and whānau, including young/teen parents, Māori, Pasifika and Asian parents, and parents for whom English is their second language.  To qualify for this service you must live in the Te Toka Tumai boundary and be a resident of New Zealand or have visa eligibility for healthcare services.

Please stay home if you are unwell and book into another class.  Mask wearing is preferred and hand hygiene required. If you have any concerns attending a face to face class, please register for one of our Zoom classes.

Zoom to:

• Registering for a Class
• What Classes are Available?
• Pregnancy and Parenting Topics
• Schedule of All Classes
• National Women's Health Service
• SmartStart - step by step guide for you and your baby
• Feelings of anxiety or depression during pregnancy or during those early parenting days?
• Those early weeks and beyond ...
• Pregnancy & Parenting Quick & Informative Videos
  
• Te Whatu Ora l Te Toka Tumai pregnancy and parenting pamphlet

What classes are available?

Women and their partner/support person can access Zoom, and face to face pregnancy and parenting education across multiple locations within the Te Toka Tumai area. We offer the following classes:

1. EARLY PREGNANCY CLASS: This class is for pregnant women and their partner/support person who are 12-16 weeks pregnant. It is a two hour Zoom information session to help answer all your early pregnancy questions. See the early pregnancy class schedule below then register for a class.

2. ADVANCED PREGNANCY AND PARENTING CLASS: This class is more comprehensive than the early pregnancy class, and courses are six hours long. We recommend you attend this after an early pregnancy class. You may choose from a range of class options midweek or on a Saturday - 2 x 3 hour classes run over 2 weeks, 3 x 2 hour classes over 3 weeks, or a block course of 6.5 hours on a Saturday. We offer face to face and Zoom classes. See the advanced pregnancy class schedule below then register for a class. We accept registrations from 16 weeks into pregnancy, and register to attend a class from 28 weeks into your pregnancy. Please book early to avoid disappointment. These classes fill quickly.

3. BREASTFEEDING CLASS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN:  This is a FREE two hour breastfeeding class facilitated by lactation consultants. Your partner/support person is encouraged to attend with you. This class is for you whether this is your first pregnancy, or if you have found breastfeeding challenging with your previous baby or babies. You can register for a class at any time, but plan to attend a class from 28 weeks into your pregnancy. The session covers

• What to expect when breastfeeding
• How to establish breastfeeding
• How to access breastfeeding help when problems occur

Classes are held in the evening at Onehunga and Sandringham, and are also online.  These classes are popular so REGISTER EARLY.

Scroll to see the schedule, or simply register below for a class.

4. CALMBIRTH CLASS

Te Toka Tumai is pleased to partner with Calmbirth to provide partially funded Calmbirth classes.  This is an exceptional opportunity for couples to learn and prepare for the birth of their baby.  Calmbirth connects the psychology and physiology of birth to provide you and your partner with practical tools to support your labour and birth experience.  This programme usually costs $500 per couple. Calmbirth require a non-refundable part payment of $99 (in person class) or $79 (Zoom class) per couple, payable on confirmation of the booking.  To qualify you must be eligible for healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand, live within Te Toka Tumai, plan on giving birth at Auckland Hospital and plan on having a normal birth (not elective Caesarean Section). Places are limited! The Calmbirth class is for 12 hours run over 4 consecutive week nights for 3 hours via Zoom, or a weekend face to face class. Classes are best attended between 28-34 weeks into pregnancy. We accept bookings from 20 weeks into pregnancy.

Click here to see the Calmbirth information leaflet for more details and real life experiences of couples who have completed the course. 

Registering for a Class - BOOK EARLY, LIMITED CLASSES!

We will contact you to confirm your booking for a class.  Your registration is not confirmed  UNTIL YOU RECEIVE EMAIL CONFIRMATION from our scheduler.

SHOULD YOU FAIL TO ATTEND AS BOOKED, WE CANNOT  GUARANTEE YOU A PLACE IN ANOTHER CLASS. IT IS ALSO UNLIKELY WE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE CHANGES ONCE CONFIRMED.  

Classes are held in the following locations:

• Meadowbank
• Auckland City Centre, High St
• Royal Oak
• Mt Roskill

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Pregnancy and Parenting topics covered include:

• The maternity system in New Zealand - the role of your Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) and other health professionals, choosing where to give birth, support networks in your community, your rights and responsibilities
• Changes in pregnancy - foetal development, supports and services
• Healthy pregnancy - healthy eating, exercise, and the effects of smoking, alcohol and drug use
• Pregnancy care - antenatal checks, screening, planning for birth, complications of pregnancy
• Labour and birth - choices and options, Lead Maternity Carer (LMC), labour signs and stages, managing pain, birthing, complications and immediate care after birth
• Postnatal care - care for mother and baby, family support, body changes, rights and responsibilities
• Breastfeeding and safe sleeping - infant nutrition and safe sleep practices

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Pregnancy and Parenting Class Schedule - BOOK EARLY!

PLEASE NOTE:  All pregnancy & parenting classes are NATURAL BIRTH CLASSES and are for women who are healthy and have a low risk of complications when giving birth.  A natural or normal birth is where no medical intervention is planned.

National Women's Health Service

Are you looking for information on health services for women and babies who need maternity, newborn, gynaecology and fertility care?  National Women’s Health is part of Te Toka Tumai.  We provide high quality health services with a focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for women, babies, and whānau.  Take a look at all they have to offer - http://nationalwomenshealth.adhb.govt.nz/

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SmartStart

SmartStart - A step by step guide for you and your baby!

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Feelings of anxiety or depression during pregnancy or during those early parenting days?

Having a baby brings a great deal of happiness, but it can also be a stressful time for many. The new journey for mothers, fathers and their whānau/family often brings change and requires a lot of support.  Up to 25% of women experience emotional turmoil and as many as one in eight suffer from depression during or after pregnancy.

HELP AND SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE! Check out www.depression.org.nz to find out about depression and anxiety symptoms, ways to help others, as well as finding services which can offer more support.  There is also information specific to the perinatal period available at Mothers Matter, www.mothersmatter.org.nz and Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa,  www.pada.nz.

You can be helped and supported through these challenging times.

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Private Providers of Pregnancy and Parenting Education

Pregnancy and parenting classes are also available through private childbirth education providers.  These can be located by searching online for Auckland Central antenatal classes.  Fees may apply.

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Those early weeks and beyond ...

The transition to parenthood is a time of many changes.  Plunket's Parenting Education Programme, PEPE, is a series of five FREE courses aimed at supporting parents through the different stages of their child's early development.  The courses are designed to support parents in their parenting role, build parent confidence and connect parents with other parents and the local supports and resources in their area.  The programme begins with "Your New Baby - parenting in the first six weeks" and steps parents all the way through their child's development to the age of 5 years.  Look online for more information or contact Plunket to find a course in your area - www.plunket.org.nz

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Pregnancy & Parenting Quick & Informative Videos

• Skin to Skin
• Keeping Baby Warm
• Safe Sleep

• Helping your baby into a good position for labour and birth

  • It’s important to start preparing your body in the last few weeks of pregnancy for labour and birth with your breath, with mobility and movement and by choosing positions that help and support your baby to be in an optimal position for birth. Use these simple and practical techniques to help you enjoy more ease and comfort during birth.

• Looking after your early labour at home
  • Learn what you can do at home in early labour to lay a good foundation for your labour and birth.
• Unsafe Sleep Environments
  • Watch this for handy tips on what to avoid to ensure every sleep is a safe sleep for your baby.
• Partner/Whānau Support
  • Here are some helpful ways to support your partner in those early and often challenging days.

Breastfeeding:

• Introduction to Breastfeeding
• How is breast milk made?
• How will you know your baby is getting enough?
• What causes sore nipples?
• Where can you get help from?

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 Te Whatu Ora l Te Toka Tumai Pregnancy and Parenting Pamphlet

Pregnancy and Parenting Education for you and your Whānau

Take a look at our revised Pregnancy and Parenting pamphlet and get a glimpse of what Te Toka Tumai offers expectant mothers and whānau.

Pregnancy & Parenting Pamphlet

 
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