Details and further workshops to be announced as information comes to hand ~ stay tuned!

Timetable to be announced.

~ Celebrations of Pregnancy and Birth ~

Angela Kirby - Birth Art

Start this wonderful day of celebrating birth with a guided meditation on the birthing journey followed by mandalas, drawing and finally a discussion.’ Art Therapist Angela Kirby will be facilitating a birth art session for those who wish to explore their beliefs, emotions, hopes and fears surrounding birth through artistic expression. A fun and non-threatening exploration for all skill levels. Numbers are limited for this very special workshop conducted in the Art Room at 9am.

Birth Stories Circle

A precious insight into the Beautiful Birth experiences of a group of women who are honoured to be able to share their journeys with you. So often in our society women perpetuate the culture of fear towards birth with 'shock and awe' tellings of birth experiences. Come along, listen, ask questions and feel the warmth, strength and empowerment that comes when you own and honour yours and your babies birth journey.

Michelle How - Why and How To Plan for a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean)

Using photos from my recent homebirth after caesarean, I will share my personal story as well as talk about the importance of vbac and how to plan for a vbac, whether it be in hospital or at home. There will be a focus on how crucial it is to consider your care provider and support team, and the benefits of consumer groups in providing information and understanding. Through sharing my very personal photographs I hope to highlight why mother-to-mother support is vital in helping the birthing woman to both plan her vbac and to deal with the emotional issues surrounding previous birth/s. I will briefly speak about the risks of vaginal birth and homebirth after caesarean, as well as the risks of repeat surgery, and also about what happens when the homebirth, or the vbac, ‘fails’. As I have no formal qualifications, and no experience in hbac transfer or repeat caesarean section, there will not be a big focus on these areas..

Michele’s Biography
Michelle How is just a mum. Just a mum who for her first pregnancy, planned a homebirth and ended up with a caesarean section for failure to wait (aka failure to progress). Just a mum who joined a consumer group and found support and understanding, then volunteered with the group and became the secretary. Just a mum who had an empowering and joyous vaginal birth after caesarean. Just a mum wanting to share why she believes it’s important to plan for a vbac, and how to do it.

Sally Amazon - Mother Blessing Ceremony – sacred birth celebration

Mother Blessing Ceremony - ‘a beautiful way to way to nurture and honour a woman during a very sacred time…’ This workshop will introduce participants to the purpose and benefits of ritual and ceremony in pregnancy to enhance the experience of pregnancy and birth as a sacred and profoundly powerful event in a woman’s life. Stepping into the sacred circle, participants will discover the origins of the Mother Blessing Ceremony and experience some elements of the Ceremony itself. In our culture of fear and medical intervention, participants will be invited to instead consider birthing as a time of enhanced intuition, a time when, given the right support, women will access their innate wisdom to birth consciously and positively. Participants may be invited to join in with belly dance moves if time permits. Belly casting – as an art form and to memorialize a pregnancy. Participants in the Mother Blessing Ceremony workshop will also be taken through the process of belly casting. Belly casts can be created in plaster or concrete and each will be on view. The techniques that could be used to decorate a belly cast will be discussed. There will be discussion throughout. .

~ Preparations for Natural Birth ~

'Ask a Midwife'

A group of midwives will be available for you to ask any questions you may have about birth and babies.

Pru Davey - Pre-Natal Yoga

This pre-natal yoga session will outline a few of the most beneficial practices that women can do easily at home on a daily basis. This will include some postures, pranayamas (breathing practices) and meditation. The room is carpeted, but please feel free to bring a mat or something to sit on.’
Pru's Biography
Pru has been a midwife for 29 years and has been a prenatal yoga teacher for 14 years, training in the Satyananda tradition. During this time pregnant and birthing women have been her greatest teachers and she has used this lived knowledge to weave yoga classes that support women on their journey of preparation for birth, mothering and building families. Pru currently works as a midwife at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and teaches 2 weekly classes of yoga.

Clare Barr

Clare will be presenting a talk on the pelvic floor: its role and its importance during the antenatal, postnatal period and beyond. She will discuss how to maintain correct function of the pelvic floor muscles in order to improve the birth experience, rehabilitation after birth, and prevent common complications such as incontinence and prolapsed.
Clare’s Biography
Clare joined Physiotherapy Pilates Proactive in October 2007. She moved to Adelaide from Melbourne in February 2007 and worked at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Clare recently completed her Post-Graduate Certificate in Women's Health (Pelvic Floor). In addition to working at Physiotherapy Pilates Proactive, Clare is working with renowned Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist, Dr Patricia Neumann.

Clare has a special interest in Women's Health/Continence issues, and the role of the pelvic floor in Spinal and Respiratory condition management. Clare is passionate about enhancing each client's quality of life, by helping them to have confidence and autonomy in management of pain and/or movement dysfunction.

Aviva Sheb’a – Beautiful birth from the vocalising and dance perspectives

Movement in utero is the first thing we do. At birth, we move, we breathe, then we vocalise. Throughout our lives, the way we move, breathe and use our voices affects everything we do, and they ways we interact with the world. If we’re comfortable with our movement, our bodies and our voices, everything else is easier. Giving birth can be the most beautiful movement, sound and breath we make. It can be orgasmic. We need information on what is going on within us and around us, but information can only go so far. Birthing our babies depends particularly on our feeling at home in our bodies, at home with our natural processes, at home in ourselves. Trust is essential, but the birthing team and our bodies can’t give us a beautiful birthing experience – we need to create it. Dancers know our bodies and minds are extraordinary. Singers know the value of vocalising to free the spirit. Recognising just how amazing and wonderful we humans can be is spiritually uplifting, energising, orgasmic; the essence of beautiful, orgasmic, blissful birth. What a way to bring your child into the world! This presentation will introduce ways to prepare for birth from a dance and vocal perspective. Expectant parents/families, childbirth educators, midwives, doulas and others directly involved in birthing will gain insights you may not previously have had.
Aviva’s Biography
Aviva Sheb'a graduated forty years ago as a dancer, singer, actor and teacher. She studied Active Birthing in Amsterdam with colleagues of Janet and Arthur Balaskas, Jonathan and Edith Shaw. Aviva brought her birthing knowledge to Australia in 1983, teaching at the Childbirth Education Association and Vaucluse Hospital, Melbourne. She says her children’s births were her greatest orgasms ever. On four continents, Aviva’s students have gained from her vast knowledge, passion, enthusiasm, wit and sincerity.

Aviva Sheb'a Mobile: 0431937981, email: aviva@avivasheba.com

Jenny Blythe – Practical preparation for Pregnancy

There is a middle path that meanders between 'trust your instincts' you will know how to birth naturally and then 'if you don't' you can have medical intervention. You can take this path in pregnancy -preparing for birth through body-awareness and skills that literally make space for yourself, body and baby to embrace and integrate changes. Enjoy learning about practical skills for natural birth in this workshop.

Jen Watkins - Mama Milk - Tips for Successful Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is natural, but it is also learned and the first hours and weeks with a new baby can be a challenging time. With support most women can and do breastfeed. This workshop, suitable for pregant women and their partners /support people, will offer practical information and ideas about how to get breastfeeding started, avoiding problems and where to find support if you need it.
Jen’s Biography
A qualified Childbirth Educator and Birth Companion (or Doula), Jen Watkins is passionate about birth and baby classes that are relaxed, interesting, and informative. Stamp out boring, old-fashioned classes that feel like being back at school! She has been running Birth-Wise classes, workshops and private sessions for the last 9 years. She also does other interesting birth-related things like belly casts!

Fatherhood - Finding the Balance - Forum

A forum for Dads and Dads to be, exploring issues surrounding birth, facilitated by a new Dad and a Dad of three.

~Additional Workshops in Adelaide ~

Workshops with Aviva Sheb’a

Beer and Bubs - send him to the pub to learn...

Beer and Bubs a one night session at the pub where dads can learn practical techniques on how to support their partner through the birth of their baby.

* What should you never say to a woman in labour?
* How can a bloke actively help with pain relief?
* What can be done to make the birth faster and easier?
* Why is the first hour after the birth so important to your baby?
* Why is it a bad idea to be texting your mother while you're on the job?

All this and more is covered in a fast paced session where the beer flows and the atmosphere is informal and conversational. Chat with a another dad who has been there and learn the kind of things that are not covered in the usual antenatal classes.

"I learned more in two hours at this workshop than I did in seven weeks of hospital antenatal classes" Doug

The first Beer and Bubs in Adelaide will be held by Lucy Perry (founder of Beer and Bubs in Sydney) on Saturday 2 May, 12pm sharp at The Lion Hotel, Melbourne Street, North Adelaide. Cost $40 per person, includes lunch and nibbles, drinks additional.

Call Paula 0411 983 723 or Helen 0412 225 532 to book.

Looking forward to seeing you.