Fact Sheet

Westmead Childbirth and Parenting Education Courses

Birth Unit Tour

At Westmead hospital we offer a range of childbirth and
parenting courses to suit you and your support partner.
We welcome all mothers and their birth support person.
For your convenience, you can choose from week day,
evening or weekend classes.
Courses available include
• Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop
• Positive Birth and Parenting for Mandarin
Speakers
• Positive Parenting Workshop
• Positive Breastfeeding Workshop
• Breastfeeding Information Session - Free
• Antenatal breastfeeding education for women
with diabetes class - Free
• Twins and More Workshop
• Westmead Exercise and back care in pregnancy
class - Free
If you have some questions about what to expect during
childbirth and would like to see the birth unit and
understand how to get access into the hospital after
hours, then you can look at our virtual tour on our
website. Watching this will give you some understanding
of what to expect when you arrive at the birth unit, how to
enter the hospital after hours, and some of the
procedures that will occur during your stay. You can find
the virtual tour
at https://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/WNH/Clinics---
services/Birth-Unit

These classes allow you to learn about birth and

parenting, meet others, and give you an opportunity to
speak with our experienced educators.

Please consider booking into your chosen group from 12

weeks of pregnancy onwards. We advise that you book
your session as soon as possible as sessions book out
fast.
How do I Book?
A virtual tour is also available of our Neonatal Intensive
Bookings for courses can be made via the link on our Care Unit via the following link
website. https://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/WNH/Clinics---
https://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/wnh/home/home services/Neonatal-Intensive-Care-Unit

There is no child minding available and it is

recommended that you organise care for other
children when you attend your course.

WSP737 Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Classes| V3 March 2022 This written information is for guidance only and does not
replace consultation and advice by your health care provider.
 Fact Sheet
Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Education Classes

Positive Birth and Parenting Workshops.
Our educators provide you with information about the
birth process and how to manage well through labour’s
journey.We offer both weeknight or two-day programs.
Weeknight Courses
The Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop during the
week are run over six consecutive weeks. Each session
runs for 2 hours and 15 minutes. This provides a good
length of time to understand and discuss information.
Topics covered are listed below. Our weeknight courses
also include information on breastfeeding and a
“Women’s and Men’s only” session. Weeknight courses
are also available in Mandarin.
. Topics include but not limited to:
Two-Day Courses
Our two-day courses are run on Fridays, Saturdays and
Sundays. The workshop is six hours long and the
sessions are one week apart. You’ll be offered a free
three hour separate course on breastfeeding as it isn’t
included in the two-day program.
First-time parents-to-be benefit enormously from these
workshops.
Topics include but not limited to:
Cost: $210.00 for women birthing at Westmead Public
Hospital Cost: $340.00 for women birthing somewhere
else
Positive Parenting Workshop
This pre-birth workshop is held on Saturday afternoons
1:00pm to 5:00pm, and explores the reality of parenting. It
is recommended that you attend this course from
approximately 28 weeks of pregnancy.
If this is your first baby we strongly recommend that you
attend the Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop. If you
are planning a caesarean birth, this workshop is ideal for
you.
• Calming an unsettled baby
• Communicating with your baby
• Parenting issues – including postnatal
depression, roles and identities
• Understanding your baby’s needs
• Safety and equipment
• And more!!
Cost: $50.00 for women birthing at Westmead Public
Hospital Cost: $95.00 for women birthing somewhere
else

• Mind and body working together during labour

• Labouring at home and when to come to hospital
• Positions for labour and birth – being active
• Birthing with confidence
• Evidence based Techniques for labour and birth
o Acupressure
o Massage
o Breathing and relaxation
• Tour of the Birth Unit
• Handling and care of baby
• Helping your baby’s sleeping and waking
patterns
• Special circumstances: Medicine as back up
• Calming an unsettled baby
• Communicating with your baby
• Parenting issues – including postnatal
depression, roles and identities
• And more!

WSP737 Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Classes| V3 March 2022 This written information is for guidance only and does not
replace consultation and advice by your health care provider.

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 Fact Sheet
Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Education Classes
Positive Breastfeeding Workshop
The comprehensive Positive Breastfeeding Workshop
runs for three hours. The workshop is held on either a
Friday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm or a Saturday from 9.00
am to 12 noon. (3hrs)
It is ideal for women and their partner attending the two-
day Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop, women who
have had previous difficulties breastfeeding, or women
who require additional information not provided in other
programs. This program is interactive and more
comprehensive than our two hour breastfeeding
information session.
Topics include
• Understanding how breastfeeding works
• Positions for breastfeeding
• Signs of successful breastfeeding
• Normal behaviours for breastfed babies
• Identifying possible breastfeeding problems and
what to do
• Where to get help
• Partner's role - a key to successful breastfeeding
• Diet, medications and alcohol with breastfeeding
• Feeling confident
Cost: Free if you have booked a two-day Positive Birth
and Parenting Workshop
• $35.00 for women birthing at Westmead Public
Hospital
• $65.00 for women birthing somewhere else
WSP737 Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Classes| V3 March 2022
Breastfeeding Information Session
Held twice a month, on either a Tuesday or Thursday
from 10:00 am – 12 noon. (2hrs)
You may be about to become a mother for the first time
or you may have had previous difficulties breastfeeding.
The breastfeeding information sessions aim to answer all
of your questions and explain any myths that you may
have heard regarding breastfeeding your baby.
Topics include
• Why breastfeeding is important and the risks of
not breastfeeding
• How your breasts make milk- supply and
demand
• Skin to skin contact and the first feed
• Feeding cues and when to feed baby
• Positioning and attachment of baby at the breast
• Rooming in- staying close to baby
• Normal newborn behaviour
• Signs baby is feeding well
• Normal weight changes for baby and breast
changes for mum
• Community supports
• Returning to work- expressing breast milk
• Impact of dummies and bottle feeding on
breastfeeding
• Common breastfeeding problems
• Contraception
Cost: $10.00 per ticket (one ticket per couple)
Antenatal breastfeeding education for women
with diabetes class – Free
You need to have diabetes and be at least 34 weeks
pregnant to attend this education session.
These sessions run fortnightly on Thursdays for one hour
from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. This education session is face
to face only.
This breastfeeding workshop gives you the correct
information and support for breastfeeding your baby and
is facilitated by a member of the lactation team. It will
This written information is for guidance only and does not
replace consultation and advice by your health care provider.
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 Fact Sheet
Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Education Classes

provide additional information not covered in other

programs.

Topics include

• How to prepare for breastfeeding

• Expressing and storing your breast milk prior to
baby's birth
• Postnatal care of diabetic women
• How to manage your diabetes in labour
• What happens to you and your baby after birth
• What happens if my baby needs to go to the Special
Care Nursery Westmead exercise and back care in pregnancy
class
Twins and More Workshop
The pregnancy and back care class is designed for
This is an additional workshop for those couples women who are interested in keeping fit and healthy
expecting twins or more. Parents-to-be of multiples are during their pregnancy. It is facilitated by a
encouraged to attend this workshop before 34 weeks physiotherapist who specialises in pregnancy related
gestation if possible. Videos specific to multiple birth and issues. There is plenty of opportunity for discussion and
parenting are shown. The educator is a mother of twins. questions. The class is for women of any gestation,
however we recommend you book into the first available
session. You are eligible to attend this workshop once
This program is offered on a Saturday throughout the only.
year. The workshop starts at 9am and finishes at 1pm.
WOMEN EXPERIENCING LOW BACK AND PELVIC
This program is discounted for those who have booked GIRDLE PAIN ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND
into the Positive Birth and Parenting Workshop. Make
sure you include your booking number when completing
the registration. This class is for women only. You will explore:

We advise that you first attend the 'Labour and Birth'
classes before this workshop.
This is a 4 hour workshop. I think it should read $35 if
attending the positive birth and parenting workshop, $70
on its own and $120 if birthing else where.Cost:
$35.00 for women birthing at Westmead Public Hospital
Cost: $60.00 for women birthing elsewhere
• Changes and discomforts of pregnancy
• Back and pelvic pain: management strategies
• Exercises to help you stay fit and feel good in
pregnancy, including a brief gentle exercise
session
• Pelvic floor muscle function
• Fitness and exercise guidelines

Cost: $10.00 per person

WSP737 Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Classes| V3 March 2022 This written information is for guidance only and does not
replace consultation and advice by your health care provider.

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 Fact Sheet
Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Education Classes

Cancellations, refunds and rescheduling Car parking

Cancellations or refund requests are made through
logging into Eventbrite. Alternatively you can contact
Westmead Hospital has parking, and there is a cost
involved. Parking can be challenging. The train station and
bus stops are within easy walking distance of the hospital.
Security patrols parking and fines will be issued for illegal
parking.

A concessional rate is available for those attending our

childbirth and parenting classes. Please speak to our
WSLHD-Westmead- educators at your workshop, who will provide you with a
parentingeducation@health.nsw.gov.au concessional rate form to give to secure parking office
located near entrance 4.
Our cancellation and refund policy is found on this
webpage
https://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/WNH/Childbirth---
parenting-education/Terms-and-conditions

Rescheduling
Subject to availability rescheduling your course can
occur. Go to the 'tickets' page of your Eventbrite account.
Select your order and then click on "transfer". You can
then choose "change event" to transfer to. A list of
classes will come on a drop-down list.
Health Fund Certificate of Attendance
To claim a rebate, you require an itemised certificate of
attendance. Please email

WSLHD-Westmead-
ParentingEducation@health.nsw.gov.au

Where are the groups held?

All childbirth and parenting education sessions are held
in the Westmead Education and Conference centre
(WECC) located via entrance 4, Level 2, G Block at
Westmead Hospital. Light meals, snacks and drinks are
available for purchase in the hospital’s food court.

WSP737 Westmead Childbirth & Parenting Classes| V3 March 2022 This written information is for guidance only and does not
replace consultation and advice by your health care provider.

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