This comprehensive 5 week course will covermany topics in relation to early parenting including; baby development, sleep, feeding, bonding, baby massage and the whole family's needs.
Session 1.
Bathing - Preparing the space, baby bath or family bath, supporting your
baby in the water - the benefits of bath time. Products - Recommended products. Options and choices re prams, cots, bassinettes, change tables and slings. Clothing
- What clothes will you need. Nappies - which kind will work best for you and your baby. Family pressures - how to deal with extended family, day-to-day management of your baby and family. Expectations vs reality. Nurturing for you as a mother - mothering the mother.
Sesson 2
Support - pre-birth and post-natal support - the first six weeks. Expectations from your partner and on your partner. Expectations on yourself as a mother and from others. Support for the father - bread winner vs father. How do men feel during this time of huge change. Supporting your relationship and the family as a whole.
Session 3
Your baby's development in the first 3 months. What to expect - each day is a new day. Supporting gross motor and fine motor development. Realistic expectations. Babies and illness - how to deal with high temperatures and fever. Available support. Appropriate action. Tuning into your baby and trusting your instincts. Baby listener, Priscilla Dunstan.
Session 4
Feeding - Breastfeeding - supportive advice. You and your baby finding your way, hands off from others. Your story - were you breastfed? was your partner breastfed? how this can impact your present experience. Expressing and bottle-feeding. Problems that may arise from lack of information and support. Sleep - Realistic expectations. Routine - what does it mean? Sleeping arrangements - co-sleeping, beside your bed, in the room, in another room? Separation anxiety - how it affects your nervous system and that of your baby. Sleep deprivation - for mum and dad, how to minimise it and find appropriate support.
Session 5
Baby Massage - Why massage your baby? When to massage, appropriate oils and safety. Benefits of baby massage include: reducing stress and aiding sleep, enhancing bonding and development. Learn how to give your baby a mini massage.
There will be time in all sessions for discussion and question and answer.
"I found out about Mothercraft through Lena Clarke (I'd attended Lena's Active birth workshop in Sept 2006). The Mothercraft course content looked exciting and stimulating, especially for me as a first time Mum who's last experience of little bubs was with her nieces nearly 20 years ago! The 3 women who held the course imparted such knowledge and wisdom.
Attending the course in the latter stages of my pregnancy, I realised that baby care was going to be a learned practice as well as intuitive and natural for all mothers. I felt
a lot more confident about caring for my baby after attending. Also, meeting with other new mums and pregnant women at Mothercraft was a wonderful way of networking, and sharing bits of information and experience - just observing the new mums and bubs together each week was enlightening for me.
I still have the course notes which I dip into regularly for support.
Thanks again to Sunderai, for organising a wonderful course and to Sunderai, Pinky and Melinda for sharing their knowledge and
wisdom"
Facilitators
Sunderai Felich, Pre-School, Mothercraft & Childbirth Educator and Director of Dial a Doula. Sunderai has 25 years experience in supporting couples in pregnancy, birth and parenting. Pinky Mckay, author of "Sleeping like a baby". Infant massage instructor and Lactation Consultant.
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Venue
766 Riversdale Road, Camberwell.
Cost $150 full course $30 per session
Bookings Essential
Phone Sunderai - 0401 626 883
It is also possible to attend individual sessions
