Natural Active Birth Classes
Studies show that active births tend to be faster, less painful and safer for both mother and baby. These weekly classes are about enjoying your pregnancy, focusing on the positives, as well as providing you with the information and practical and physical guidance you need, to build your faith in yourself as a birthing woman.
Birth is a natural physiological process shared by women throughout the ages. Being active in labour means following your own guidance rather than being passively “managed” by others.
Mondays 6.30pm till 8.30pm at Newton Natural Health, Newton Abbot with Helen Barker - 01363 777256 or 07989 595853
Mondays 6.30pm till 8.30pm at The Institute, Yonder Street, Ottery St. Mary with Karin Walters - 01404 813784
Tuesdays 6.45-8.30pm at Shobrooke Village Hall, Nr. Crediton with Helen Barker - 01363 777256 or 07989 595853
Thursdays 6.30pm till 8.30pm at Exeter Natural Health Centre, Queen's Walk, Exeter EX4 3RP with Karin Walters - 01404 813784
Thursdays 6.30pm till 8.30pm at Surestart, Victoria House, Barnstaple EX32 8NP with Josie Mitchell - 01271 858481
"Thank you so much for all your loving guidance and support - it certainly, certainly made a difference"... Fiona
"I would really recommend Natural Active Birth whether you want a home or hospital birthing experience. It can teach useful coping techniques whether you’re a first time Mum or not. I got my natural home birth second time around with bells on!!" ... Vicki
What do the classes involve?
Relaxation and breathing:
Breathing exercises and simple meditation are the keys to inner strength. Relaxation calms the mind and body. It helps you to induce the state of mind necessary to allow the natural process of birth to unfold.
Massage and conscious relaxation, where you direct parts of your body to relax, as well as learning to focus inward on the rhythm of your breathing helps develop the ability to concentrate and stay centred, while coping with pain and stress. It will empower you to cope better with the intensity and pain of labour and birth.
“I really loved the classes. They gave me the confidence to have a home birth. I enjoyed going to the classes every week, taking time out of my busy life to relax and spend with the baby. I found the relaxation techniques very helpful and felt confident to stand up for what I wanted.” ... Chloe
Yoga:
Yoga is a great form of exercise in pregnancy. It gives you physical stamina and mental strength and it makes you feel good. The simple exercises are perfectly adaptable to beginner and advanced level. They help with common ailments of pregnancy such as backache, cramps, rib pain, insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome and heartburn. Good postural awareness helps you realign your changing body and creates more space for the baby. This helps to encourage it into an advantageous position for birth. Stretches to open the chest and shoulders provide more space to breathe and pelvic floor exercises are invaluable for post natal recovery. Yoga helps you to discover trust and confidence in your natural resources.
Birth preparation:
Practising movements and positions for use during labour and birth builds your confidence as you discover what suits you best. Over time your body will absorb this knowledge enabling you to move easily, freely and instinctively in labour.
The baby’s position at the beginning of labour is of great importance for your chances of having a straightforward natural birth. We look at ways of encouraging the babies into a favourable position and at how to persuade them to turn if they have settled into an unfavourable one.
The classes help you choose and prepare your birth environment to aid the natural physiological process of labour, birth and bonding. They help you to understand the different stages of labour, so that you know what to expect. They help you build trust in your ability to to give birth naturally.
Classes often end with a visit from a former class member and her newborn baby – hearing these accounts of birth and the early days of motherhood will make the whole event much more real and will broaden your perspective.
“I came to the Natural Active Birth classes all the way through my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. I loved that evening. You arrive feeling fat and tired and you leave feeling like a goddess – wonderful!” ... Helen
You may join the classes at any time, from as early as 3 months into your pregnancy, unless the classes are oversubscribed. The classes are ongoing so you can attend as few or as many as you like. A minimum of six classes is recommended. The more you do the more prepared you will be..
Most classes are just for women - however the first class of every month partners are invited to join the classes to practice massage, relaxation, breathing etc.
Please wear comfortable clothing and if possible bring two cushions and an exercise mat/ blanket for your comfort along to the classes.
Payment:
The basic fee for one class is £8 per person – concessions are available by agreement (normally £5). You are welcome to come along for a try-out class. At the end of the class you either just pay for that class, if you are not sure, or you book and pay for 4 sessions. The payment fee is non-refundable.
If you are unable to attend a session you can transfer the payment only if you let your teacher know the day before the session, so that the space can be offered to someone else.
From 4 weeks before your due date you pay only for the classes you attend, on the day.
To book classes with Patricia Whitworth please call 01392 438586 or email birthwiseyoga@hotmail.co.uk
To book classes with Helen Barker please call 01363 777256 or email helen@birthwise.net
To book classes with Karin Walters please call 01404 813784 or email karin@birthwise.net
To book classes with Josie Mitchell please call 01271 858481 or email ntnjosephine@talktalk.net
"I found the classes invaluable. After a stressful, hospital induced first birth I really wanted a natural home birth for my second child. Attending Natural Active Birth classes helped me (and my husband) to learn positions and breathing techniques for coping with contractions. It also gave valuable hints on helping to get your baby into an optimum position for birth. When I did go into labour, (11 days overdue) the positions we had learnt at Active Birth really helped me cope and breathe/chant through the contractions and helped with pain control. In fact, I coped so well, I didn’t even realize how close we were to the actual birth! Our midwife turned up 3 minutes before Leila was born so I managed with no pain relief at all and just with my husband and the dog for company. I’m convinced that without the Active Birth classes, I would have been much more panicked than I was - I would have lost control of my breathing and ‘myself’, and one position in particular, was almost miraculous in its pain relief in the first stage of labour."...Vicky
Birthwise Devon for pregnancy and birth, natural childbirth, natural child birth, natural birth, prenatal yoga, pregnancy yoga, natural active birth, pregnancy massage, empowered childbirth, pregnancy classes, antenatal classes and alternative birth. We run classes in Newton Abbot, Barnstable, Exeter and Ottery St. Mary.
