Online Antenatal Classes

Upcoming Schedule:

• Wednesdays, 6th July to 10th August, 7.00  - 9.15pm 
• Wednesdays,  21st September to 26th October, 7.00 - 9.15pm 

 Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Now that you are pregnant you will want to know more about what is happening as your pēpē grows inside you.  You will also want information to make choices that work best for both of you, and your whānau.

Parents Centre’s Antenatal programmes are designed to provide you with accurate, evidence-based information from which to make informed decisions in a setting that is fun, interactive and engaging whether it is via zoom or face to face.

Our facilitators are highly-skilled in ensuring that being online these programmes are still very interactive, fun and engaging, and great for making new friends.  Being online programmes doesn’t mean they will be boring, one-way discussions, lectures or power-point presentations - we pride ourselves in making the classes interactive so that you’re involved in the learning and have an enjoyable experience

Our facilitators create a safe non-judgemental space for expectant parents to ask questions and seek information to make informed decisions about many aspects of your pregnancy, labour and birth, feeding and parenting your new-born baby.  Parents Centre antenatal programmes also cater for all situations, such as when labour doesn’t go to plan or when breast-feeding is challenging.

Through these programmes you will form support groups that will be there for you when you go through the first few months…or even years!  Where we can we will also link you into your local Centre’s coffee groups or postnatal programmes.  To network with other parents at the same stage as you, experiencing similar challenges and joys, is confidence boosting and very rewarding.  These coffee groups can become a lifeline especially if you find the early months more challenging than you expected.

Topics covered in the course include:

• Brief overview of pregnancy topics
• Choices in childbirth
• Your labour journey
• Managing strategies
• Dad's and Partners role
• Breastfeeding
• Transition to parenthood
• Responsive parenting
• Practical parenting

When you sign up for these Antenatal classes you will also become a member of Parents Centre Aotearoa.  Membership benefits include 20% discount at The Baby Factory (bi-monthly), various discounts at: The Sleep Store, Resene, Baby On The Move and Resene.

Being a Parent

For expecting and new parents, with 0-3m olds

In this Course

• Postpartum Hormones
• Emotional, Physical & Relational Changes
• Pelvic Health & Safely Returning to Exercise
• Postpartum Nutrition
• Practical Parenting Tips

Testimonial
"I'm a new parent, my daughter Jasmine is 6 weeks old.  I'm so pleased I found this course, as so much of what I've been looking at is all about the baby and what she should be doing at each stage.  I definitely had the baby blues at the beginning and I'm keeping track of myself to make sure it doesn't go any further than that, but its so nice to have something that's more focused on what this new journey is like for parents.  I've shared the course with the rest of my antenatal class too!" - Trina

When a child is born, so are the parents.
Parenthood is a complex yet extremely rewarding world. The transition into parenthood can however feel demanding, overwhelming and full of uncertainty – amongst the beauty and joy it brings with it. This is a universal phenomenon, but the nurturing of the postpartum parent is not often addressed.

The Fourth Trimester is the transitional period between birth and 12 weeks postpartum during which your newborn is adjusting to the world. It is during this period that the parents too are adjusting to motherhood and fatherhood. Often the parents can be left feeling isolated, unsure and drained as sleep deprivation and the challenges of raising a child set in.

This workshop is all about you as the newborn parent. The focus is on the emotional, physical and relational changes that come with the transition into parenthood. The Becoming a Parent course deep dives into postpartum hormones, unlocks the inner discovery of the ‘new you,’ covers pelvic floor health, postpartum nutrition, safely returning to exercise and so much more. It also offers practical parenting tips and strategies for your early parenting days. It differs to the Baby & You Programme by focusing on nurturing you, the parent, as opposed to exploring the avenues in which baby grows alongside you.

Make healing a priority for you and your family. Rebuild yourself, surround yourself with a caring community of parents encountering similar experiences and thrive in your early parenthood.

Pip’s Bio:
Pip Findlay is an Early Parenting Educator with a passion for the wellbeing of new parents. Becoming a parent is a wonderful yet overwhelming and all-consuming experience, and Pip enjoys working with first-time parents to support and guide them into entering their new roles and the world of parenthood – an area that is so often overlooked. Pip is a mum of two herself, with a background in Relationship Marketing. It is through this skillset that she has formed a team of eight experts within the motherhood field that now sit on her Fourth Trimester Panel – an online toolkit to guide new parents through the first three months of parenthood as it specifically relates to them.  You can learn more about this here.

Baby Bites – Nutritious Beginnings

This Baby Bites workshop is offered to parents with babies aged between 4-7 months age and is run by a registered dietician - Priscilla Natalia.

These 1.5hr session provides parents and carers with the latest evidence-based nutrition information according to the appropriate age and stages of infant development.  This is an interactive session with a Q&A at the end.

Topics include - when, what and how to start complimentary solids, appropriate textures, and variety of solids to offer your infant, nutritional requirements, allergies and intolerances. This is an opportunity for parents to ask nutrition related questions in a friendly yet professional forum

First Aid for Babies and Young Children

There is 1.5 to 2 hours of content including Q&A.

In this course

• Infant and Child CPR
• Choking
• Common incidents such as: burns, head injuries, fevers, febrile seizures and respiratory distress.

Thriving in the Newborn Months with Teeny Tiny

Although it may seem like not a lot is happening with a newborn, rapid changes are going on behind the scenes.  

• Brain Development – the first year of development
• Overstimulation – how much is too much ?
• Primitive Reflexes – these underpin all movement.
• Help my baby hates Tummy Time – what do I do ?
• Baby Furniture what do I need what to buy/ not to buy ?
• Language and Literacy - do I read to my baby yet?
• Toys - how much to stimulate.
• Lots of time to answer your individual questions.

We will fill you in on all the movement milestones, brain and reflex development, talk about appropriate furniture, books, toys and play to help baby thrive, and answer all your burning questions in a safe and fun environment.

Ideal to attend when your baby is between 1-3m, please get to know your baby for the first 4 weeks and then Wendy looks forward to meeting you both.

Please allow 1.5 hours for the Content Review and Q&A presented via Zoom. You will get the opportunity to ask individual questions and learn with other parents of Teeny Tiny’s at the same stage.

Presented by Teeny Tiny  Wendy is an Early Childhood and Movement Educator with a passion for supporting new parents and their Teeny Tinies to thrive.

On the Move with Teeny Tiny

There are a whole new set of challenges and milestones to enjoy in the 3-6 month stage. With your Teeny Tiny beginning to roll around and working towards sitting up, the next stage of development is in full swing.

• Rolling - the first independent movement milestone - why, how, when and what is a Teddy Bear roll?
• When will my baby find their feet?
• Sitting - latest advice and thinking and moving towards solid food
• Balance System  - interactive playtime ideas to develop this through upside down time
• Baby Furniture - what do I really need? 
• Lots of time to opportunities for individual questions.

This workshop provides tips and practical advice on rolling and sitting, and gives fun ways to develop your baby's balance system. We look at some fun ideas for interactive playtime to stretch your baby's imagination and physicality your now that they have so much more awake time. Plus, we will also discuss the next stage of baby furniture, the pros and cons, offered in a safe and fun environment.

Ideal to attend when your baby is between 3-6m or has strong head control and is showing signs of pivoting, twisting, rotating – getting ready to roll.

Please allow 1.5 hours for the Content Review and Q&A presented via Zoom. You will get the opportunity to ask individual questions and learn with other parents of Teeny Tiny’s at the same stage.

Presented by Teeny Tiny Wendy is an Early Childhood and Movement Educator with a passion for supporting new parents and their Teeny Tinies to thrive.

Come Catch Me Crawler with Teeny Tiny

Having a mobile little person is a whole different ball game! Time has flown by and your baby is starting to explore their environment.

• Together, we will learn all about crawling- the various styles, what is important, and how to encourage this new movement. 
• This can be a worrying time for parents, as you figure out how to make your house safe while still encouraging and supporting this new phase – what is the right balance?
• Time for an upgrade to your books and what toys stimulate the developing mind of your 6-10 month old.
• It may also be time to start considering Early Childhood Education options too. So, we help you out with priceless advice and suggestions of quality indicators including tips on how to take the first steps towards this.

Ideal to attend when your baby is between 6-10m or has mastered the rolling milestone and is up on all fours preparing to take off crawling.

Please allow 1.5 hours for the Content Review and Q&A presented via Zoom. You will get the opportunity to ask individual questions and learn with other parents of Teeny Tiny’s at the same stage.

Presented by Teeny Tiny  Wendy is an Early Childhood and Movement Educator with a passion for supporting new parents and their Teeny Tinies to thrive.

Wobbly Walkers (Toddler Time) - with Teeny Tiny

Teeny Tinies are now busy testing talking, trialling boundaries and taking risks.

It's full steam ahead now as you enter the toddler years – 

• Movement milestones like pulling up, standing, walking and running.
• When to introduce the first wheeled toys.
• Time to further develop those fine motor skills, spatial awareness and start getting into problem-solving. 
• Behaviour, parenting styles, outdoor play and music all covered too.
• This is also a crucial period for language development, we share clear ideas to encourage your toddler's language skills
• How to make bath time fun and educational.

Ideal to attend when your baby is between 10-18m, or is pulling up to stand, cruising your furniture or walking.

Please allow 1.5 hours for the Content Review and Q&A presented via Zoom. You will get the opportunity to ask individual questions and learn with other parents of Teeny Tiny’s at the same stage.

Presented by Teeny Tiny  Wendy is an Early Childhood and Movement Educator with a passion for supporting new parents and their Teeny Tinies to thrive.

Toilet Learning with Looloo Solutions

Tried to move on from nappies but were unsuccessful? Not yet started this journey and looking for direction?

This webinar is designed for parents who are looking for ideas and tips to support this transition and journey, in a gentle child-centred approach. If you and your child is ready to move on from nappies, this is the online webinar for you.

Sessions go for 1 to 1.5 hours starting at 8pm with Q&A and is run by Looloo Solutions.