Welcome and intention setting

We begin with grounding and presence, arriving together in the space, acknowledging Country, and setting intentions for the weekend. This opening creates a sense of safety and shared purpose, inviting you to connect with your partner or support person and reflect on what you hope to learn or feel through this experience.

It’s an opportunity to slow down, breathe, and prepare to explore birth as both a physiological and emotional journey.

Pregnancy and birth physiology

We’ll explore the landscape of birth through anatomy, hormones, and the nervous system, and how fear and tension interact with the birthing process. This session builds confidence and understanding by helping you visualise how labour unfolds within your body. We’ll look at the pelvis, womb, and hormones that support physiological birth, and discuss how to create an oxytocin-rich environment that encourages safety and flow. Together, we’ll explore how knowledge reduces fear and increases trust in your body’s innate capacity to birth.

Birth as a rite of passage

Birth is both a physical and emotional transformation. It is a threshold experience that changes how we see ourselves. In this session, we’ll explore birth as a rite of passage and discuss how personal beliefs, culture, and the maternity system shape this experience.

You’ll learn about decision-making tools, communication strategies, and ways to advocate for yourself and your preferences within the hospital or home birth setting. The focus is on empowerment: understanding your choices, your rights, and how to navigate the system while protecting your sense of agency and connection.

Understanding labour

This session walks you through the sensations, emotions, and physical stages of labour, from the final days of pregnancy to the birth of your baby. You’ll learn what to expect during early, active, and transition phases, and how to recognise when it’s time to call your care provider or travel to hospital. We’ll explore the rhythm and energy of labour, how to work with your body’s cues, and ways to create an environment that supports oxytocin and reduces stress hormones. By the end, you’ll feel familiar with the flow of labour.

Comfort measures and support tools

In this practical, hands-on session, you’ll explore a variety of tools to support your body and mind during labour. We’ll cover massage and pressure techniques, breathwork, use of the rebozo, optimal positioning, maternal alignment and movement practices that promote comfort and help progress labour naturally.

You’ll learn to tune into your senses and intuition to find what feels best for you. Each couple will have time to practice these tools together, creating confidence and connection for the birthing day.

Partner and support roles

Birthwork is teamwork. This session gives partners and support people a clear understanding of their role in creating a calm, grounded, and responsive birthing space. You’ll practice practical comfort techniques such as counterpressure, positioning, and rebozo use, alongside emotional support tools like reassurance, presence, and rhythm.

We’ll also discuss ways partners can manage their own emotions, stay centred, and communicate effectively with care providers. By understanding both the physical and emotional needs of the birthing person, partners leave feeling equipped and confident.

The final weeks of pregnancy

As birth approaches, preparation shifts from planning to presence. This session focuses on supporting your body and mind in the final weeks. We’ll explore nervous system regulation, simple daily practices for balance, and ways to optimise baby’s position through alignment and movement.

You’ll learn about perineal massage, antenatal hand expression, and gentle techniques to encourage readiness for labour. These final weeks are a time for connection, rest, and preparation; physically, emotionally, and practically.

Part 1: Birth Mapping

Throughout our time together we return to our birth mapping workbook, to bring everything together — what you’ve learned, what feels right for you, and what you hope for — by jotting down the intentions and decisions as we go and this is the beginning of your birth map.

A birth map isn’t about controlling what happens; it’s about clarity, values, and communication.

Over the two days, you’ll explore your preferences for birth environment, comfort measures, interventions, and decision-making processes, and put these into a format you can share with your support team. We also cover common alternate pathways; such as induction, augmentation, assisted birth, or caesarean — and how to navigate them with awareness and choice.

This process helps you express what safety, respect, and support look like for you, so that your care team understands what matters most, whatever path your birth takes.