• What to expect and how to prepare for the first few days, weeks and months from an emotional perspective.

• Learn the key challenges new parents face and how to overcome them.

• Emotional regulation theory and strategies for both parents’ self-regulation and co-regulation with your baby.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) strategies for overcoming difficult situations.

• An overview of perinatal mental health, including postpartum depression, anxiety, birth trauma and more.

• Enhancing infant attachment and parental bonding.

• Family values, expectations, wellbeing planning and managing relationships.

• How to navigate unsolicited advice and information overload.

• How to manage worries and feel confident in making the best parenting decisions for your whānau.

• An introduction to the concept of matrescence - the transition into motherhood.

• An understanding of the common changes experienced by mothers and strategies for navigating motherhood with confidence.

• Language to describe common, challenging motherhood experiences, which can enhance communication, support and feeling validated.

• Specific strategies for managing parents' sleep, identity crisis, the unknown and more.

For this part, Mums and Dads/partners/your support person are split into two groups.

• Mums/birthing people cover an understanding of breastfeeding and techniques, facilitated by a midwife.

• Dads/partners/support people discuss potential challenges they may face in their role, and strategies for coping with these. This discussion is facilitated by an experienced father.

The feeding section for Mums/birthing people covers:

• How to position and latch a baby to ensure that each feed is effective.

• Questions such as “Does it matter if I breastfeed my baby?”

• Common worries and solutions.

• How bonding occurs between a baby and a parent.

These sessions are succinct but aim to set up new parents for success…whatever that looks like for you.

• What is happening in the body during the various stages of childbirth.

  • How does labour feel?

  • How do I know when it has started?

• Different ways people experience labour.

  • What can you do to maximise your chances of a physiological birth?

  • What supports your body to labour effectively?

  • What natural and medical pain relief options are there and how do these work?

• Most importantly, we look at the ways people feel about their births once their little one has arrived. How important is it that your labour and birth experience matched your birth plan?

Amy and Kelly from Liberty Physio will cover:

• Antenatal exercise

• Preparation for birth

• Common pelvic health conditions postpartum (stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse)

• Return to exercise postpartum

• Understanding what to expect and what is normal newborn sleep.

• How to support your baby to settle and sleep.

• Navigating misinformation (strict routines, language and various philosophies).

• Learn evidence-based information to guide you to follow your baby’s cues.

• How to support yourself and your baby.

• Further resources for future support.

Please note this section is held as an online webinar, separate to the face-to-face days.