Parent education at St John of God Geelong Hospital

The childbirth and parenting class is offered as a one day workshop covering birth and parenting skills, and also as a split class over two week days to provide more options for our expectant parents. The ideal time to do these classes are around 32-34 weeks gestation.

Birth topics

Birth topics covered in the class include:

• normal labour and normal birth
• admission to hospital
• pain management
• non pharmacological/pharmacological/other possibilities
• induction and augmentation
• fetal heart rate monitoring
• medically assisted birth caesarean/forceps and vacuum.

Parenting topics

Parenting topics covered in the class include:

• estimating the workload
• normal newborn behaviour
• crying, settling and sleep
• prevention of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
• breastfeeding
• perinatal emotional health
• routine postnatal ward care
• postnatal healing and recovery
• basic baby care
• pet safety. 

Upcoming dates

New 2025 class dates available. Please register your interest via the booking links below.

Time

• Sunday: 10.00am to 3.00pm
• Monday: 6.00pm to 8.00pm
• Wednesday: 6.00pm to 8.00pm

Cost

An out of pocket expense will occur for uninsured patients and those giving birth at hospitals other than St John of God Geelong Hospital.

There is no out of pocket expense for privately insured patients giving birth at St John of God Geelong Hospital.

Bookings

Please register into a class that suits your availability.

• Register for the Sunday full day workshop

If you are attending this class on two separate days, please ensure you register for both part 1 and part 2. If you are scheduled for a caesarean, you need only register for the parenting class (part 2). 

• Register for childbirth (part 1)
• Register for parenting (part 2)

The birth skills and partner support workshop is a skills based course focusing on creating a positive mindset and teaching practical skills for both yourself and your birth partner to use in the lead up to and during the birthing day. The intention is to build confidence and create a positive birth experience. The techniques can be utilised no matter how your birth journey unfolds. All attendees will receive a hard copy of ‘Preparing for Birth’. The ideal time to attend this workshop is between 26 - 36 weeks of gestation.

These classes are suitable for the following:

• first birth
• subsequent birth
• next birth after a caesarean (NBAC).

Topics

Topics covered in the class include:

• birth partner’s role
• changing perceptions around pain
• optimising baby’s position in pregnancy
• breathing and relaxation techniques
• massage and acupressure
• labour and birth positions

Details

• Time: 9.00am - 4.30pm
• Spaces: 8 couples/16 attendees
• Cost: $300 for yourself and your support person
• Bookings: Register on the event page.

To further support our mums, we provide breastfeeding education classes. The classes are hosted by our experienced lactation consultants who provide advice and education sessions to increase your knowledge surrounding feeding cues the positioning and attachment of the baby at the breast and other important information a breastfeeding mother needs to know.

This class is suitable for first time mothers and second time mothers who may have experienced difficulties feeding their first baby.

We recommend you attend this session between 32-36 weeks of pregnancy.

All classes for 2024 are now fully booked. If you wish to be placed on a waitlist please email: [email protected]

2025 class details

• Cost: $75 per class. Expectant women are welcome to bring their partner/husband/support person to the class. If you would like to bring along an additional person to any session(s) they need to be booked-in prior to attendance and there is an additional cost incurred.
• Bookings: Register your interest.

Our lactation clinic offers one hour consultations aiming to provide education and support to women who require additional assistance with breastfeeding. The lactation clinic is staffed by experienced lactation consultants who provide support and specialised breastfeeding advice in a relaxed and confidential atmosphere. We also offer antenatal consultations to pregnant women with breastfeeding concerns or previous breastfeeding difficulties. 

How we help

The St John of God Geelong Hospital Lactation Clinic can help with issues including:

• positioning and attachment advice
• management of sore nipples
• assessment of milk supply
• medications and breastfeeding
• feeding support for twins or triplets
• cleft lip and or palate
• mastitis
• breast and nipple thrush
• tongue-tie
• any other breastfeeding concerns, including concerns arising during pregnancy.

Details

We welcome anyone to make appointments at the lactation clinic, regardless of their birth hospital.

• Location: Lactation Clinic, Level 3, Women’s Health Unit, 80 Myers Street Geelong 3220
• Opening hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 9.00am to 12.00pm (by appointment only)
• Cost: $100 per consultation for mums birthing at St John of God Geelong Hospital; $150 for mums birthing elsewhere
• Booking: To make an appointment please register here.