Whether you’re preparing to welcome your first baby, growing your family or supporting someone you love through labour, birth and the early stages of parenting, you’re in the right place.
This course takes you through every stage — from preparing for labour to caring for your new baby — with guidance that’s practical, reassuring, and grounded in real midwifery experience.
You’ll learn how labour and birth unfold not just physically, but emotionally and hormonally too — and what can influence the experience. You’ll explore your options for maternity care and birth settings so you can find what truly suits you and your family.
Together, we’ll look at ways to prepare for labour, from helpful daily habits to simple tools and support plans that make a real difference. You’ll discover how to create a calm, supportive environment and use evidence-based techniques to manage pain, stay in control, and make decisions that feel right for you.
We’ll also unpack common interventions, helping you understand your options and feel empowered to choose what aligns with your preferences and values. After birth, you’ll be supported through the early days — learning how to care for yourself as you recover, nurture your baby, and adjust to life together.
You’ll gain practical newborn care skills like bathing, settling, swaddling, and nappy changing, alongside guidance for feeding — whether that’s breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or combining both — so you can feel confident, supported, and prepared for whatever comes your way.
Curriculum
- 11 Modules
- 73 Topics
- 52 Weeks
- IntroductionThe introduction will take around 5 minutes to complete.2
- Module 1: Understanding Labour and BirthAllow 20 minutes to complete this module.6
- Module 2: Preparing for Labour and BirthYou can expect this module to take 25 minutes to complete.7
- Module 3: Care during Labour and BirthThis module will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.7
- Module 4: Strategies for Coping (including Non-Pharmacological and Pharmacological Pain Relief Options)It’s recommended allowing approximately 25 minutes for this module.8
- 5.1Topic 4.1 Reframing Pain – the Power of your Mindset
- 5.2Topic 4.2 Breathing Techniques
- 5.3Topic 4.3 Movement, Massage, Touch and Acupressure
- 5.4Topic 4.4 The TENS Machine
- 5.5Topic 4.5 Sterile Water Injections
- 5.6Topic 4.6 Nitrous Oxide Gas, Opioids and Epidural
- 5.7Topic 4.7 Water Immersion and Waterbirth
- 5.8Topic 4.8 Your Support Person
- Module 5: Interventions and AssistanceThis module is designed to take approximately 25 minutes to complete.7
- Module 6: Meeting Your BabyExpect to take around 25 minutes on this module.7
- Module 7: The Fourth TrimesterThis module takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.8
- 8.1Topic 7.1 The first few days
- 8.2Topic 7.2 What to Expect During your Hospital Stay
- 8.3Topic 7.3 Birth Recovery
- 8.4Topic 7.4 Postpartum Bleeding – What is it, Why, and How Much is Too Much?
- 8.5Topic 7.5 Self-Care
- 8.6Topic 7.6 Things No One Tells You About the Postpartum Phase
- 8.7Topic 7.7. Baby Blues & Postnatal Depression
- 8.8Topic 7.8 Postpartum Plan
- Module 8: The NewbornPlan approximately 35 minutes to complete this module.8
- Module 9: FeedingThis final module will take approximately 50 minutes to complete.9
- 10.1Topic 9.1 The Physiology of Lactation
- 10.29.2 Antenatal Expressing – How and Why
- 10.39.3 Breastfeeding Off to a Good Start
- 10.4Topic 9.4 Breastfeeding Attachment & Positioning
- 10.5Topic 9.5 How Do I Know My Baby is Getting Enough Milk?
- 10.6Topic 9.6 Breast Expressing
- 10.79.7 Bottle-Feeding & Mix Feeding
- 10.8Topic 9.8 Experiencing Issues – Damaged Nipples, Engorgement, Block Ducts & Mastitis
- 10.9Topic 9.9 Starting Solid Food
- Closing NotesThe closing notes will take around 5 minutes to complete.4