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'Supporting our clients to achieve a positive birth'
Background
Over thirty-two years ago, my passion for birth and parenting education began. After a traumatic birth experience, I wanted to change experiences for other birthing women and their partners through birth and parenting education. I aimed to empower expectant parents to make choices right for them. Knowledge is power, but how we deliver that knowledge is critical to getting the best outcomes. I will share the knowledge and research evidence I've gathered over my career to help you facilitate evidence-based education programs for expectant parents to help them achieve a positive birth.
AimTo explore how to facilitate evidence-based education programs for expectant parents to help them achieve a positive birth
MethodsFirst, I’ll take a look at how birth practices have changed over the past 30 years, especially with the rise in intervention rates (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024). I’ll also do a quick comparison of different birthing environments and models of care. Then, I’ll dive into private midwifery practice statistics to see how they stack up against national birth trends. After that, I’ll explore the latest research to help guide doulas and childbirth educators in their practice, including key topics and skills that should be part of their programs.
Discussion
Thinking carefully about the design of childbirth and parenting programs enables effective, dynamic and practical facilitation. To help with effective program planning, I plan to look at
Next, I’ll go over key topics to include in an education program to help participants prepare for a physiological birth. I’ll also share the latest research on why birth and parenting education programs are so beneficial.
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Maternity models of care in Australia. Web report. Last updated 13 Dec 2024.
Balaskas, J. (1992). Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally. Harvard Common Press. Harvard.
Bilgin, N. C. et al. (2020) ‘Effect of childbirth education on the perceptions of childbirth and breastfeeding self-efficacy and the obstetric outcomes of nulliparous women’, Health Care for Women International, 41(2), pp. 188–204. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2019.1672171.
Duncan, L. G. et al. (2017) ‘Benefits of preparing for childbirth with mindfulness training: A randomized controlled trial with active comparison’, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 17(1), pp. 1–11. doi: 10.1186/s12884-017-1319-3.
Ferguson, S., Davis, D. and Browne, J. (2013) ‘Does antenatal education affect labour and birth? A structured review of the literature’, Women and Birth, 26(1), p. e5. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2012.09.003.
Gagnon, A. J. and Sandall, J. (2007) ‘Individual or group antenatal education for childbirth or parenthood, or both’, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3). doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002869.pub2.
Gluck, O. et al. (2020) ‘The impact of childbirth education classes on delivery outcome’, International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 148(3), pp. 300–304. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.13016.
Haapio, S. et al. (2017) ‘Effects of extended childbirth education by midwives on the childbirth fear of first-time mothers: an RCT’, Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 31(2), pp. 293–301. doi: 10.1111/scs.12346.
Hatamleh, R. et al. (2019) ‘The effects of a childbirth preparation course on birth outcomes among nulliparous Jordanian women’, Midwifery, 72, pp. 23–29. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2019.02.002.
İsbir, G. G. et al. (2016) ‘The effects of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, maternal self-efficacy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following childbirth: an experimental study’, Applied Nursing Research, 32, pp. 227–232.
Levett, K. M. et al. (2016) ‘Complementary therapies for labour and birth study: a randomised controlled trial of antenatal integrative medicine for pain management in labour’, BMJ open, 6(e010691), p. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2015-010691. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010691.
Madhavanprabhakaran, G. K., D’Souza, M. S. and Nairy, K. (2017) ‘Effectiveness of Childbirth Education on Nulliparous Women’s Knowledge of Childbirth Preparation, Pregnancy Anxiety and Pregnancy Outcomes’, Nursing and Midwifery Studies, 6(1), pp. 1–10. doi: 10.5812/nmsjournal.32526.
Mueller, C. G., Webb, P. J. and Morgan, S. (2020) ‘The Effects of Childbirth Education on Maternity Outcomes and Maternal Satisfaction’, The Journal of Perinatal Education, 29(1), pp. 16–22. doi: 10.1891/1058-1243.29.1.16.
Serçekuş, P. and Başkale, H. (2016) ‘Effects of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, maternal self-efficacy and parental attachment’, Midwifery, 34, pp. 166–172. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2015.11.016.
Over thirty-two years ago, my passion for birth and parenting education began. After a traumatic birth experience, I wanted to change experiences for other birthing women and their partners through birth and parenting education. I aimed to empower expectant parents to make choices right for them. Knowledge is power, but how we deliver that knowledge is critical to getting the best outcomes. I will share the knowledge and research evidence I've gathered over my career to help you facilitate evidence-based education programs for expectant parents to help them achieve a positive birth.
AimTo explore how to facilitate evidence-based education programs for expectant parents to help them achieve a positive birth
MethodsFirst, I’ll take a look at how birth practices have changed over the past 30 years, especially with the rise in intervention rates (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024). I’ll also do a quick comparison of different birthing environments and models of care. Then, I’ll dive into private midwifery practice statistics to see how they stack up against national birth trends. After that, I’ll explore the latest research to help guide doulas and childbirth educators in their practice, including key topics and skills that should be part of their programs.
Discussion
Thinking carefully about the design of childbirth and parenting programs enables effective, dynamic and practical facilitation. To help with effective program planning, I plan to look at
- The teaching spaces
- Facilitating rather than teaching
- Creating excitement and engaging the group (no more boring sessions)
- Storytelling
- Effective use of teaching aids
Next, I’ll go over key topics to include in an education program to help participants prepare for a physiological birth. I’ll also share the latest research on why birth and parenting education programs are so beneficial.
References
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Maternity models of care in Australia. Web report. Last updated 13 Dec 2024.
Balaskas, J. (1992). Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally. Harvard Common Press. Harvard.
Bilgin, N. C. et al. (2020) ‘Effect of childbirth education on the perceptions of childbirth and breastfeeding self-efficacy and the obstetric outcomes of nulliparous women’, Health Care for Women International, 41(2), pp. 188–204. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2019.1672171.
Duncan, L. G. et al. (2017) ‘Benefits of preparing for childbirth with mindfulness training: A randomized controlled trial with active comparison’, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 17(1), pp. 1–11. doi: 10.1186/s12884-017-1319-3.
Ferguson, S., Davis, D. and Browne, J. (2013) ‘Does antenatal education affect labour and birth? A structured review of the literature’, Women and Birth, 26(1), p. e5. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2012.09.003.
Gagnon, A. J. and Sandall, J. (2007) ‘Individual or group antenatal education for childbirth or parenthood, or both’, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3). doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002869.pub2.
Gluck, O. et al. (2020) ‘The impact of childbirth education classes on delivery outcome’, International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 148(3), pp. 300–304. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.13016.
Haapio, S. et al. (2017) ‘Effects of extended childbirth education by midwives on the childbirth fear of first-time mothers: an RCT’, Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 31(2), pp. 293–301. doi: 10.1111/scs.12346.
Hatamleh, R. et al. (2019) ‘The effects of a childbirth preparation course on birth outcomes among nulliparous Jordanian women’, Midwifery, 72, pp. 23–29. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2019.02.002.
İsbir, G. G. et al. (2016) ‘The effects of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, maternal self-efficacy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following childbirth: an experimental study’, Applied Nursing Research, 32, pp. 227–232.
Levett, K. M. et al. (2016) ‘Complementary therapies for labour and birth study: a randomised controlled trial of antenatal integrative medicine for pain management in labour’, BMJ open, 6(e010691), p. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2015-010691. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010691.
Madhavanprabhakaran, G. K., D’Souza, M. S. and Nairy, K. (2017) ‘Effectiveness of Childbirth Education on Nulliparous Women’s Knowledge of Childbirth Preparation, Pregnancy Anxiety and Pregnancy Outcomes’, Nursing and Midwifery Studies, 6(1), pp. 1–10. doi: 10.5812/nmsjournal.32526.
Mueller, C. G., Webb, P. J. and Morgan, S. (2020) ‘The Effects of Childbirth Education on Maternity Outcomes and Maternal Satisfaction’, The Journal of Perinatal Education, 29(1), pp. 16–22. doi: 10.1891/1058-1243.29.1.16.
Serçekuş, P. and Başkale, H. (2016) ‘Effects of antenatal education on fear of childbirth, maternal self-efficacy and parental attachment’, Midwifery, 34, pp. 166–172. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2015.11.016.
Jane Palmer
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Jane Palmer, has worked in the field of childbirth education for over 32 years. After qualifying as a midwife in 1997, Jane entered private midwifery practice a few years later. Today, she maintains a small clinical practice as a private midwife, lactation consultant and childbirth educator.
Additionally, Jane job shares the role of Consumer Health Education and Information Manager at Westmead Hospital. Her role includes development of childbirth education programs, managing all parenthood education programs and consumer information in print and online. Jane also manages the company Birth International. Since 2010, Jane has facilitated a variety of workshops for midwives and maternity care professionals. |
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Speaker Sponsor ~ Birth International
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Birth International is a leading organization dedicated to supporting the global birthing community by providing high-quality education and resources. Through training programs, workshops, and advocacy, we empower birth professionals to offer compassionate and evidence-based care, ensuring a positive birth experience for families around the world.
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Speaker Sponsor ~ Dial a Doula
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Dial a Doula is one of Melbourne’s oldest face to face doula training organisations, we have been training birth and postnatal doula’s for over 25 years. With this experience, we have seen the many ways our doulas have been able to support birth and postpartum. Past Dial a Doula students have started organisations such as Birth For Human Kind, they’ve been involved in setting up Doula Network Australia, there are past students who have built strong and lasting relationships with private midwives in homebirths, public & private hospitals; and some have worked alongside incredible Obstetricians.
Dial a Doula training is aligned with anyone who feels they want to hold space and support pregnant or postnatal people and families, through the most amazing and sometimes challenging time in their lives; our doulas come from varying backgrounds, with layers of experience, some are drawn to studying with us because they love birth; or someone they knew had a traumatic experience in birth or postnatally, and they wanted to do all they could to support people during this important time in their lives; some have had a really positive experience and feel called to support people in birth or postnatally; we have many doulas who were deciding whether to study midwifery or to become a doula, and they knew that in their heart they wanted to offer continuous care and support during pregnancy, birth and postnatally. Our doulas are personable, empathetic, warm hearted, passionate and want to support birth and postpartum in whatever space feels right for each birthing or postnatal person. https://www.dialadoula.com.au/ |
Retracing, rekindling and reclaiming inner knowing
for more attuned birthing in our modern times
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