Tag: perinatal educator

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Teaching about Caesarean Birth

Teaching about caesarean birth in antenatal classes is more important than ever, with caesarean rates rising worldwide.

Preparing expectant parents for the possibility of a Caesarean birth, sharing information about how to avoid a caesarean birth, educating them about their choices and birth rights are all part of what modern antenatal settings should be covering.

Offering parents-to-be evidence-based and up to date information will help your clients to feel more empowered during their pregnancy and birth.

In your classes, you’ll meet expectant parents for whom a caesarean birth isn’t on their radar at all, parents who already know a caesarean is their preference, and everyone in between.

How to facilitate teaching about Caesarean Birth

One option is that you give each participant in your class a role. Ask for a volunteer to be the person prepped for C-birth. Then hand out some c-birth prep cards with clips and strings on them to be “pinned” onto the volunteer.

C-birth prep card, printed on coloured card, laminated, strings and clips attached.

Discuss/explain each item where needed. It may be worthwhile pointing out that all of the prep items are the same for any operation and that only the foetal monitoring equipment is in addition for a Caesarean birth. Learning outcome here: Participants are aware that a lot of equipment is needed for theatre prep and reassured that this is normal.

Once the person is prepped, you can give everyone else a role play card of a person in the operating theatre. Ask the prepped person to sit or stand in the middle of the room. Then one by one have the medical staff roles step around the person. Again discussing and explaining everyone’s role. It is worthwhile to consider that this kind of role play with real people standing around a real person can feel very daunting and “too much” for some expectant parents.

For the past 10 years or so, I have been using some Playmobil, lego, and wooden characters for the “people in the theatre” role-play part. I deliberately added some non-scrubbed/medical-looking characters to keep it fun. I pass around the cards at random and ask clients to pick a random character out of a bag…

The parent-feedback has been very positive! I’ve received many messages saying how parents were feeling very prepared, remembering all the little people from the antenatal sessions.

I support the activity with epidural and caesarean birth information leaflets from the OAA (Labour Pains), send families a link to a gentle caesarean birth video, and have a caesarean birth photo story available for anyone who’d like to look at it.

We also talk about writing a caesarean birth plan, their caesarean birth options, and other things to consider.

Overall, expectant parents are keen to explore the options, the reasons for a caesarean, and how to make one less likely. They value the time spent on this topic, whether or not they go on to have a caesarean birth. My caesarean birth resources include crosswords, quizzes, a scavenger hunt and step-by-step visuals.

Let me know how you facilitate teaching about caesarean birth in your antenatal classes in the comments or get in touch!

Sources and further reading

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6 ways to include solo parents in antenatal classes

include solo parents in antenatal classes

If you’re used to running antenatal classes for couples, having solo parents attend can feel daunting at first. Here are six ways to include solo parents in your antenatal classes.

1. Language

Watch your language and take the parent’s lead. How do they introduce themselves to you and the group – as a single parent, sole parent, solo parent…? Mirror their language.

2. Self-massage

It’s always a good idea to teach self-massage and self-hypnosis. Here are some self-massage techniques:

Self-massage techniques to include solo parents in antenatal classes
Self-massage techniques to include solo parents in antenatal classes

3. Images

Include images of solo parents in your classes – a single person in a labour or birth position, a mother or father holding their baby, and so on. Check whether your visual aids show people labouring on their own. My positions for labour and birth poster, cards and printable flashcards all include images of solo parents.

Childbirth positions poster
Positions for childbirth
Resources for childbirth education

4. Storytelling

Share stories about solo parents you’ve supported (only using their names with their consent). For example: “A solo parent on a previous course found XYZ really helpful.”

5. Hypnobirthing and mindfulness

Hypnobirthing (self-hypnosis for birth) is a very popular choice with solo parents. Regular practice helps the birthing parent get ‘in the zone’ and focus on their body and baby. Mindfulness techniques have also become increasingly popular, especially with solo parents – focusing on the here and now, themselves, their body and their baby works wonders during labour and birth. See also The Importance of Teaching Solo Labour Skills.

6. Include solo skills as standard

Make including solo parents something you do in every class. Even if everyone in the room has a birth partner, you never know whether that partner will make it to the birth. Explain to expectant parents that there is likely to be a time – even a short one – when the birthing parent is on their own.

Further reading

Chloe Leighton-Bulleid: Self-massage techniques for pregnancy and postpartum

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Teaching about induction

Induction and augmentation of labour have become essential topics in childbirth education. Expectant parents need to know the pros and cons, the different options, and the reasons why induction may be recommended. In my opinion, teaching about induction and augmentation means exploring:

  • Common reasons for recommending induction: why it is recommended, how important the reason is, and what evidence supports it
  • The different methods of induction and augmentation, e.g. membrane sweep, pessary, breaking the waters, the drip
  • The timeline of induction and augmentation – what may be offered, when and why
  • “Self-induction” – how can we encourage labour to start on its own?
  • Reputable sources of information to support informed decision-making (some are listed below)
  • Their rights in childbirth (see Birthrights)
  • How to feel empowered if they agree to an induction (support, informed decision-making, what’s best for them and their baby in their individual situation)
  • How to adapt their birth plan

Teaching about induction and augmentation of labour ideas

Discussion

Have a discussion in class about reasons, ways and pros and cons of inducing labour. My induction discussion prompt cards are a visual way to encourage expectant parents to discuss the topic. They are also available as ready printed version and both versions include full instructions including links and references.

Induction of labour - pdf
induction of labour cards

Timeline

Explore what methods of induction and augmentation may be offered/happening when, using one of my labour timeline banners.

timeline banner - induction and augmentation of labour

Informed Decision Making Game

One of my personal favourites is an informed decision-making scenario game, which works brilliantly for teaching about induction and augmentation too. You start with a scenario and offer two or more options. Participants choose one, and each choice develops the story further, leading to different outcomes. Some outcomes depend on choices and others on chance, with a roll of a die or two. It’s a fun way to explore how different choices may affect the birth experience, and it works in person, online and as homework. You might also like my My Birth Story dice game.

informed decision-making games for perinatal education
informed decision-making games for perinatal education

Teaching about induction of labour using visuals

To suit different learning styles and preferences, use a mix of visuals, tactile activities and the written word! You’ll find a range of ready-printed visual aids and digital downloads in my shop.

Posters

Childbirth Interventions Posters

I like to hang posters on the walls or in the windows during sessions – they reinforce the information and help with retention. My induction of labour posters come as a PDF plus editable PowerPoint and Google Slides. Posters on “How to encourage labour to start” (pictured below) are always very well received by parents and birth workers too.

teaching about induction of labour

Workbooks/Journals/Worksheets

An antenatal class journal/workbook with images and information about childbirth and infant feeding is a lovely take-home resource. Parents can make notes during the class and recap at home.

Antenatal Class Journal - Booklet for parents-to-be

I can also create personalised workbooks, activities, posters and powerpoints for you to fit your branding and content preferences. Please get in touch!

Sources and further reading:

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Teaching about Waterbirth

Teaching about Waterbirth Teaching ideas for birthworkers

Teaching about waterbirth has become one of my favourite topics in recent years. With its many benefits and few downsides, waterbirth is a popular choice among birthing families in the UK.

Ideas for teaching about waterbirth in your antenatal classes

Paperchase: benefits for mother, partner, baby and midwife

Split the class into four groups, each with a sheet of flipchart paper headed: mother/birthing person, father/partner, baby/babies or midwife. Each group brainstorms the benefits of waterbirth for their person. After one minute, groups move on to the next chart and add to it, until every group has had a minute on each chart. Then share the findings as a whole group. This takes around 10–15 minutes.

Dry run with an inflatable pool

A dry run with an inflatable pool is a great way to teach about waterbirth. I usually have the partners set up the pool while I time how long it takes to inflate it and add the liner. Meanwhile, the birthing parents explore pictures of different pool birth environments and positions in the pool. Once the pool is up, we discuss how long it might take to fill and what else they might need. Then every family can try out the pool to get a feel for its size. Be careful when trying positions: an empty pool will tip over if someone leans over the edge, so always have someone at the opposite side to keep it steady.

Brainstorm: home vs hospital practicalities

This works as a whole-group or small-group activity. Give each group a sheet of flipchart paper divided into two sections, and ask families to compare the practicalities of a waterbirth at home and in a hospital or maternity unit.

Pictures: “Why did you pick…?”

Lay out a selection of photos and position cards, including photos of equipment families might need or choose for a waterbirth. Ask each person or family (depending on group size) to pick one picture. Then, as a whole group, share: Why did you choose it? What can we see? How does it make you feel? Any questions about it? I usually use this as an icebreaker and ‘information leveller’.

How do you teach about waterbirth? Please share your ideas with me!

Have you seen my positive birth video collection, including waterbirths? For background reading, see Benefits of Waterbirth.