Belly To Birth

From understanding birth to preparing for it

During the workshop, Gayle takes you through the journey of meeting your baby, from the physiology and early stages of labour through to birth, skin-to-skin and your baby’s first breastfeed.

You’ll explore:

• The hormones and physiology of labour

• The stages of labour and what to expect

• Breathing techniques for labour and birth

• Yoga, movement and practical labour positions

• Supporting the body’s natural birthing process

• Vaginal birth

• Medical assistance and intervention

• Caesarean birth

• Skin-to-skin after delivery

• Your baby’s first breastfeed

Rather than simply talking about these concepts, you’ll have the opportunity to explore and practise techniques together, ask questions and develop a clearer idea of how you would like to approach the birth of your baby.

Helping partners become confident birth partners

Birth partners often want to help, but when labour begins, knowing how to help can be much harder.

An important part of Belly to Birth is helping your partner understand what you may be experiencing and giving them practical ways to support you through it.

You’ll prepare together so that your partner understands how to support breathing and movement, offer physical and emotional reassurance, remain calm as labour progresses, and work alongside you and your birth team.

Rather than feeling like an observer, your partner can become an active and confident part of the process.

Preparing for birth, however it unfolds

Birth doesn’t always follow a plan.

Belly to Birth explores physiological vaginal birth as well as medical assistance and Caesarean birth, helping you understand the different paths birth may take.

The goal isn’t to prepare for one particular type of birth. It’s to give you knowledge, practical skills and confidence that remain useful even when circumstances change.

When should we attend?

Belly to Birth is a once-off, four-hour workshop offered on the second Saturday of each month.

We recommend attending approximately two months before your due date, close enough for what you learn to feel relevant, while still giving you time to practise the techniques at home.

Please attend with the person who is most likely to support you during labour.

Before your workshop

Gayle recommends doing a little preparation together before the class.

On YouTube, search for and watch:

Two positive natural childbirth videos
Two positive Caesarean birth videos

Seeing different births beforehand provides a useful visual introduction to the birthing process and gives you both a starting point for discussion during the workshop.

Leave feeling prepared as a team

Belly to Birth isn’t about memorising a birth plan. It’s about understanding the process, practising useful skills and helping both of you feel prepared for the day you meet your baby.

For the birthing mother: knowledge, practical tools and confidence.
For the birth partner: understanding, a meaningful role and the skills to support you.