Watch Pregnant women learning Breathing and Birthing positions
This 1/2 day workshop facilitated by Suzanne Swan is primarily for you, the pregnant woman, to learn the skills involved in birthing your baby naturally. As well as exploring Active Birth Skills, you will practice yoga poses relevant to birthing, like standing, squatting, lunging, all fours, and resting postures. Learn how to relax and breathe through labour and birth, utilise visualisation and vocalisation techniques to integrate the labour sensations, and optimise your baby’s position to ease 1st and 2nd stage birthing positions.
The Transformational Birth workshop is your best opportunity to learn and be prepared for a physiological birth, increasing confidence in yourself and your ability to navigate the birth journey successfully.
BONUS
› Access to online relaxation & yoga videos
› 28-page practice booklet
WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE WORKSHOP?
“I found the breathing techniques to be an incredible help to me and numerous staff commended me on my breathing and asked where I had learnt this. I was able to achieve the birth I wanted thanks to your help, as well as encouragement from my mum, with no pain relief needed and the confidence to actively be involved in decisions around my son’s birth, ultimately achieving a natural birth seemingly against the odds.”
“The hands-on practical approach allowed us to envisage using this in a real-life setting which was important to us. Suzanne’s approach is nurturing and informative, and you know that you’re in capable hands with so much experience. We also appreciated her approach in providing us with confidence to make decisions that best suit us, but also reinforcing that sometimes medical input is needed, and that’s okay too. The post-lunch relaxation was also great in keeping energy levels up, and the take-home workbook has been really good for us to refresh a few things.”
Relax and breathe calm and peace to your baby
In a state of relaxation, the brain exhibits alpha waves and these automatically result in the release of endorphins, the body’ natural painkillers. In labour, relaxation also increases the release of the hormone oxytocin and cause the muscles within the pelvis to become elastic.
Reduce stress and shorten your labour
A positive image of birth is the cornerstone of a safe, happy birth experience. If you believe your body is meant to give birth efficiently, naturally and without complications and that birth is a joyful event, you are more than halfway to a safe, natural birth
Making space for baby to rotate
Your baby's position is shaped by your abdominal and pelvic muscles, ligaments and connective tissue. Learning to release tension or torsion in the soft tissues and pelvis may be helpful in promoting labour.
Respond creatively to challenges
The mind has a natural mechanism for supporting sustained, vigilant and engaged attention. This is the type of attention you need during labour to sustain complete trust in your body.
Reduce fear and the experience of pain
When you focus on your breath in a relaxed way you can easily engage in the process of labour, creating for yourself an altered state of consciousness that will allow the optimal birthing hormones to release spontaneously and ensure the safest possible birth for you and your baby.
Find your voice and know what to ask for
Strong sensations in labour can be decreased and the whole body nourished by toning through the hours of giving birth. In labour the low sounds create more space than high notes.
Use upright birthing positions to shorten labour
Become comfortable with a range of movements and learn by doing rather than just reading from a book or pictures. The action of changing positions may give you a sense of control by providing focus and relieving the stress of feeling overwhelmed during labour.
Increase your focus and confidence in birthing your baby in your preferred position
The benefits of being upright include a reduction in the length of pushing time as gravity can help bring the baby, there is better supply of oxygen to the baby, the baby can get in a better position and less pressure on the pelvic floor
Your investment
› $150 (inc GST)
› Involves four hours of Practical Birthing Skills
› Access to Relaxation and Active Birth Yoga videos to review your learning (10 videos)
› You will receive a 28-page practice booklet
Enjoy the company of other pregnant women as you learn the benefits of physiological birth. The workshop is held in our beautiful Paddington studio. All yoga equipment like bolsters, blankets, and blocks are available. It is recommended you attend from 20-39 weeks pregnant.
Janet Balaskas
Founder of Active Birth Movement
“Many thanks for the active birth workshop. It was my third time attending the workshop and I really appreciate the preparation for birth and the empowering and strong woman headspace that your classes have given me each pregnancy. I ended up having a good birth in the birth centre of a beautiful baby boy named Lucas. Thank-you for your support.”
MIRANDA
Registered Midwife
“The pregnancy active birth workshop gave me the confidence and knowledge to deliver my baby boy without medications or intervention. Suzanne has a wealth of knowledge and helped me to understand what actions I need to take to prepare myself and to move my baby into an ideal birthing position. I recommend Yogababy to all my friends! ”
PRUE
“When I joined the workshop, I was terrified of giving birth and thought it would only be safe under highly supervised and medicative conditions. The workshop allowed me to connect with myself and my growing baby and this gave me the confidence to work with my body to aim for a natural birth. My labour, though painful, was a positive and pleasurable experience. Thanks again for offering this wonderful class and for your mentorship throughout.”
MICHELLE
“Suzanne approaches this essential birthing preparation course with humour and inclusiveness. There are anatomical props to help demystify and educate on your baby’s journey from womb to world. I thoroughly recommend the Active Birth workshop to all pregnant women to have a positive and prepared mindset for birth!”
CAITLIN
“The hands on practical approach allowing us to envisage using this in a real life setting which was important to us. The approach Suzanne used - not forceful, but nurturing and informative and you know that you’re in capable hands with so much experience. We also appreciated her approach in providing us with confidence to make decisions that best suit us , but also reinforcing that sometimes medical input is needed and that’s okay too. The post lunch relaxation was also great in keeping energy levels up, and the take home work book has been really good for us to refresh a few things. ”
Include your Birthing Partner
Like any adventure in life, it is good to know what skills are required to make the most of any situation that presents. Our experience shows that having your partner involved in the birth preparation process and working hands-on as a team with you will promote a positive birth experience and enhance family bonding. You can attend the Couples Active Birth workshop from 24 weeks.
Better Birth Bundle – Save 10%
+ Couples Active Birth workshop (normally $450)
+ Transformational Birth workshop (normally $150)
Check the calendar for available dates
Use the button below to purchase your discounted coupon to use when booking your workshops
All for $550 ($50 Discount)
Set your own pace - try our Online Active Birth Skills Course. 3 Months Access.
8 Comprehensive lessons - Pre-recorded live-streamed Videos
“I took the Active Birth Skills online course, and I would highly recommend it to any momma to be! Such a wonderful course that teaches you invaluable skills for your labour and is also great for your body during pregnancy. I really felt calm and prepared before and during labour and was able to manage the pain through vocalisation and movements learnt in this course.”
CHRISTINE
A refund (less 20% admin fee) will be given when you withdraw two weeks or more prior to the commencement. If you cancel 13 days or less, a 50% refund on fees paid will be given. No refund if you cancel within 24 hours of the workshop commencing.
Special circumstance for Workshops: If you go into labour on the day of the workshop, we will not issue any refund if you are over 37 weeks, which is considered full term, however we will offer a 50% refund for withdrawal due to premature labour. To request a refund, please apply by email
Services such as Yoga and Childbirth Education are not covered by government subsidies. Hence, health funds no longer provide rebates for workshops.
If you are limited with time or the location does not suit you can do a private session with Suzanne, either at home or online to cover the Active Birth Skills with your partner. Look at Suzanne’s availability here.
As well as exploring Active Birth Skills such as Breathing in Labour, you will be learning to move, releasing tension from your pelvis, and strengthening your buttocks & legs. You will be practicing yoga postures that are relevant to birth like standing, squatting, lunging, all fours and resting postures. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques are also included. There is clear evidence that using upright positions in the first stage of labour reduces the duration of labour, the risk of caesarean birth and the need for an epidural. The workshop is primarily for you to learn the skills involved in birthing your baby naturally. Learn active birth skills and keep healthy by learning mind-body techniques to reduce fear and the experience of pain, help your keep calm and respond creatively, all while increasing your focus and confidence in your natural instincts.
During pregnancy the hormone Relaxin is released to allow the pelvis to open wider for childbirth. Therefore, it is important to focus on strengthening and avoid over stretching. You will be guided safely by your experienced yoga teacher and given options to vary the poses according to your specific pregnancy conditions
During pregnancy, there is an added incentive to develop calmness and contentment – you are calm for two. The peace of heart experienced by the pregnant woman is also felt by her baby. It is not only essential to develop strength and stamina for labour, but beyond.
It is also important to be happy and healthy while 'with child'. The deeper sense of relaxation and release of stress achieved through specific breathing techniques benefit both mother and unborn child. A regular practice assists women in achieving a more positive experience of pregnancy and birth.
Attend the Pregnancy Active Birth or the Couples Active Birth workshop to learn how to stay calm during labour and practice active birthing skills like breathing, vocalisation, massage and birthing positions.
It is important that you understand that yogababy cannot be responsible for providing additional make‐ups or issuing any credit for classes missed because of scheduling conflicts, vacations, illness, emergencies, or other circumstances beyond your control. Classes that are not used by the end of the course are forfeited. If you withdraw fully from the workshop 13 days or less before its commencement a 50% refund on fees will be given. With fourteen days or more notice a 20% admin fee will be retained.
This workshop is for pregnant women only. Your partner can attend the [Couples Active Birth workshop][1] with you to learn and practice active birthing skills like breathing, vocalisation, massage and birthing positions. You can request the [Better Birth Bundle][2] and do both workshops saving you 10%.
The hands on practical approach allowing us to envisage using this in a real life setting which was important to us. The approach Suzanne used - not forceful, but nurturing and informative and you know that you’re in capable hands with so much experience. We also appreciated her approach in providing us with confidence to make decisions that best suit us , but also reinforcing that sometimes medical input is needed and that’s okay too. The post lunch relaxation was also great in keeping energy levels up, and the take home work book has been really good for us to refresh a few things. [2]: /active-birth-workshop-form [1]: /couples-active-birth-workshop
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