Birth and Beyond

All of the sessions in our Complete Package, from labour and birth through to baby massage, are taught with the same group of parents so there are ample and ongoing opportunities to develop that all important support network.

As our classes and courses are currently online you may attend any of our classes for any location, however as many parents still want to meet other local mums and dads, we have scheduled classes to match geographical areas and continuity teams. We hope that this will make it easier for you to meet up in person as government guidance allows.

Our Birth and Beyond Complete packages include everything a first time parent* needs! All sessions are taught online via Facebook Rooms which works like Zoom so all members of the Birth and Beyond group can see each other and interact, and the sessions will be led by one of our experienced midwives! This means you will receive the most up to date, evidence based,  accurate information and you will have the ability to ask questions and get them answered by one of our midwives. You also then have the ability to ask questions to your midwife course leader on the Facebook group even in between the live sessions.

• Hormone Regulation, early labour, the 5R’s and birth partner role.
• Labour, Birth and Pain Relief.
• Hypnobirthing ** (includes MP3's, book) techniques to help you stay calm however you birth you baby.
• Six-week Royal Relaxation course
• Caesarean Birth, Induction and Instrumental birth. 
• Postnatal Recovery and transition to parenthood
• Early days with a baby including the golden hour, the 4^th trimester, practical baby care and infant feeding.
• First aid for new parents 
• Baby massage course once all babies have been born.

Visit our Eventbrite page for more information and to book your space.

* Experienced parents are also very welcome.

** Hypnobirthing techniques are taught in this class. If you have you a mental health diagnosis, this class may not be suitable. Please discuss with your Mental Health Team or Jasmine Team prior to booking.

Our Birth and Beyond Refresher course has been designed for parents who have had a baby before!

During this three hour workshop we will:

• Recognise the difference between 1st and subsequent pregnancies.
• Revise knowledge of birthing hormones and how to utilise them.
• Discuss the signs of labour and when to call. 
• Refresh knowledge on the stages/phases of labour and birth including the differences with subsequent births.
• Learn/revise the Hormone enhancing five R's.
• Explore birth partner role.
• Revise the importance of skin to skin contact and the golden hour.
• Explore creating birth and postnatal wellbeing plans including a plan for siblings.
• Highlight the importance of bump bonding and finding opportunities to do so.
• Develop an awareness of typical behaviours of siblings when a new baby arrives and brainstorm strategies for supporting siblings.
• Revise knowledge of where, when and how to access reliable, evidence- based advice, information and support. 

You will also receive a complimentary six week online Royal Relaxation Course and access to a Refresher Facebook group

For available dates and to book please visit  Eventbrite. 

At the Royal Surrey we strongly believe that Hypnobirthing is for everyone. Whether you plan to birth at home, or in theatre, in the pool or with an epidural, hypnobirthing will give you the tools to feel calmer and in control. Our courses are completely unbiased and support all mums on their birth journeys regardless of how they are choosing to birth their babies.

Our hypnobirthing education is taught by our Parent Education team, experienced practising midwives who are also qualified hypnobirthing practitioners. During this course you will receive:

• Three hour LIVE presentation of the Hypnobirthing Workshop presented by one of our Midwife Hypnobirthing teachers using Facebook live.
• Hypnobirthing audios to download.
• Hypnobirthing manual.
• Discounted access to our six-week Royal Relaxation Course (£10 off RRP).
• Continued support from the private Facebook group for Hypnobirthing mums at The Royal Surrey. On here, hints and tips will be shared as well as birth stories.
• Questions answered by qualified midwives.

Hypnobirthing techniques are taught in this class. If you have you a mental health diagnosis, this class may not be suitable. Please discuss with your Mental Health Team or Jasmine Team prior to booking.

For available dates, venues and to book please visit our Eventbrite and select the Birth and Beyond Hypnobirthing class you and your partner would like to attend. 

We regret that this class is currently unavailable.

This class offers hypnobirthing education for mums who are having a caesarean section or more medicalised method to birth their babies, including techniques to keep you calm before, during and after the birth of your baby. 

Specific techniques/affirmations are taught that can be used to help you stay focused and relaxed in theatre as they are tailored to the theatre environment and a surgical birth.

Hypnobirthing techniques are taught in this class. If you have you a mental health diagnosis, this class may not be suitable. Please discuss with your Mental Health Team or Jasmine Team prior to booking.

Helping mums to relax.

Spending a little bit of time every week on relaxation has such a positive effect on the pregnant person and their developing baby-reducing adrenaline and cortisol and promoting the love hormone Oxytocin. 

During the 30-45 minute lunch time session, we will focus on ways of increasing relaxation and letting go of fear. 

Each week we will have a live discussion on the scheduled topic followed by time for questions. There will also be a pre-recorded hypnobirthing script or relaxation technique uploaded weekly and recommendations for things to work on during the week. 

All resources will remain in the private group for the duration of the course and for up to a week after the final session, giving you plenty of time to catch up with the topics at your connivence and plenty of opportunities to listen to and practice the relaxation techniques. Some of the resources will be made availableat the end of the course so that you can continue your practice.

Topics explored include:

• Quietening the mind.
• Affirmations.
• Positive words and positive stories.
• Creating a calm environment for birth wherever that takes place.
• Pregnancy well-being plans.
• Writing a post birth plan.

To book your space visit our Eventbrite page here. 

We are delighted to be able to offer our very popular Waterbirth Workshop from the safety and comfort of your own home. There are many reasons why parents may consider the use of water in labour including as an aid to relaxation or as a form of natural pain relief.

This class will take you through the BRAINS decisioning making mnemonic to help you decided if water is something you wish to include in your birth plan and will help you to know what to expect when using the pool.

Over the course of the evening, we will explore:

Why water birth?

• The benefits of water for the birthing person and baby.
• Waterbirth provision at Royal Surrey Maternity.

Safety, Risks and Special Considerations 

• What are the risks of labouring and birthing in water? 
• When/why you might be advised to get out of the pool? 
• The Consultant Led pool room and who can access it. 

Caring for you and your baby in the water

• How we can maintain safety and support you in your choice to labour and/or birth in water. 
• What to wear. 
• Pharmacological pain relief (drugs) and the use of water. 
• The Birth Partners role and coping methods which complement the use of the pool.

Please note that due to the nature of the class we will be sharing images of labour and birth in water.

This session is taught online via Facebook Rooms, which works like Zoom. All members of the class can see each other and interact if they wish (although you can switch off your camera if you prefer). This session is led by one of our experienced Parent Education Midwives with a passion for waterbirth. This means you will receive the most up to date, evidence-based and accurate information and you will have the ability to ask questions and have them answered by an experienced practicing Midwife.

To book your space visit Eventbrite here.

This informal First Aid for New Parents class is taught online giving parents the opportunity to learn basic resuscitation and choking management for both infants (0-1yr) and children (1yr – puberty), in accordance with the Resuscitation Council UK guidelines, from the safety and comfort of their own homes.

This course is taught using a number of different resources including:

• 1.5-hour Live discussion with one of our Parent Education Midwives in Facebook Rooms.
• Purpose made videos on the management of choking in the infant and the management of an unresponsive infant (CPR/BLS) which are only viewable within the group.
• Downloadable documents. 
• Links to reliable resources of additional information.

During the live element of this course, we will discuss how to adapt the techniques shown the videos to older children and even adults. The facilitator will also discuss the management of burns, bleeding, fevers, seizures and broken bones. There will be an opportunity to ask questions about these subjects and the video content during the live sessions.

The cost of the course includes access to an exclusive private Facebook page in which you can view the purpose made education videos and documents. You will be able to access the contents of the page for four weeks after the live event giving you ample opportunity to review the resources in your own time, at your own pace.

We regret that this course is not currently available as a standalone course. The same information is covered in our Birth and Beyond Complete package.

A lot of pregnant couple's time and attention is focused on the birth of the baby, but what do you do afterwards? This three-hour class will cover everything you need to know about the early days of parenting such as nappy changing, sleeping, and bathing, as well as the transition into parenthood and postnatal recovery for mum. (Please note breastfeeding is taught separately by attending the Antenatal Breastfeeding Class).

This class is perfect for parents who want a recap if they have had a baby before, or for parents who want to add to their antenatal education (this class is included in Birth and Beyond Complete).

We regret that this course is not currently available as a standalone course. This course is available as part of our Birth and Beyond Complete package

At the Royal Surrey County Hospital, we recognise the benefits of baby massage for both mums and babies. We now offer baby massage classes which can be attended any time from birth (but most babies enjoy it most from 6 weeks) and the classes are midwife and nurse-led (this class is included in Birth and Beyond Complete).

Facebook:

All of our classes are taught using Facebook rooms. We have looked in. to many different platforms, and we have found that Facebook best meets our requirements. Not is the platform widely used it allows us to provide live education to large number of people, it has tools that allow us to share helpful resources, links and videos and it helps to foster our communities. Clients will need to have access to a Facebook account to attend our. They must read and agree to the Facebook group’s rules to be accepted into the class.

Please note that while the Facebook groups are private, and any comments or contributions are only visible to other members it may be possible for your friends list to see that you are a member of the group. We also ask that you respect the groups confidentiality and if you recognise another group member you maintain their privacy.

Pseudonyms can be used within the group however it is the client’s responsibility to inform the education of the name under which they are booked with the Royal Surrey. Space is given to give actual names when signing up to a class or the client can email the team ahead of their joining request.

For Clients who are not comfortable use Facebook, even anonymously, we are able to provide a digital pack of information links as shared in our free classes however this option doesn’t replicate our online teaching and no class alternatives are offered.

Refunds:

Paid classes: You are able to claim a complete refund up to 30 days prior to the start of your chosen event. Please take note of the recommended gestation/due dates for the courses. Attendees are welcome at any gestation, but we recommend that you book your classes in good time. We are unable to provide refunds for courses (whole or incomplete) where the individual has been unable to attend due to going in to labour at term (37 weeks+).