Medical pain relief · Monitoring · Assisted birth · Caesarean birth · Birth rights · Perineal tears

We'll take an honest, evidence-based look at the medical side of birth so that interventions feel less unfamiliar if they become part of your experience.

We'll cover your medical pain relief options, fetal monitoring, assisted birth and Caesarean birth (planned and unplanned), alongside perineal tears, episiotomy and ways to prepare your perineum for birth. Most importantly, we'll explore informed consent, your birth rights and practical tools for making decisions - helping you feel involved in your care however birth unfolds.

The postnatal ward · Going home · Physical recovery · Emotional wellbeing · Practical baby care (theory)

What actually happens once your baby is here?

We'll talk through those first hours and days after birth, what to expect on the postnatal ward and preparing to go home, before getting honest about physical and emotional recovery - from bleeding, stitches and Caesarean recovery to baby blues, postnatal mental health and looking after yourself while caring for a newborn.

We'll also cover the theory of practical baby care, including nappies, bathing and dressing, and talk about crying, newborn behaviour, preparing your home and what you actually need for those early weeks.

Breastfeeding · Formula feeding · Newborn sleep · Babywearing · Matrescence

Our final core session focuses on some of the biggest parts of everyday life with your new baby.

We'll explore feeding without judgement - including breastfeeding, expressing and formula feeding - with preparation for getting feeding off to the best possible start and understanding how to tell whether your baby is getting enough milk.

We'll also demystify newborn sleep, including what's biologically normal, safe sleep and realistic expectations for those early weeks, as well as exploring babywearing and how it can support life with a newborn.

And we'll talk honestly about matrescence and the transition into parenthood - the emotional, physical and identity shift that happens alongside learning how to care for your baby.