How can I help you?

When it comes to Birth, Breastfeeding and Parenting Preparation

I can help you explore all your options so you can choose a path that feels authentic and positive. It’s really important to get into the right mindset for labour and birth, to understand the physiology, and to learn ways to support your own process. My prenatal sessions are designed towards meeting your needs and prioritising what is important to you. I offer group courses in Lisbon, and individual sessions at your home, and online.

Group Course: 4 sessions at The Nudge, Lisboa

Initial half-hour online session to chat and know more - Free

Cost of course : €240

In this birth and breastfeeding preparation course, we will cover all you need to know about labour, birth and breastfeeding, and how to start out with confidence. The aim is that you are well-prepared for this transformative journey into parenthood. You will learn about physiology, best positions, massage, breathing, movement, essential oils, alternative forms of pain relief, and many tools to help you through this amazing rite of passage. You will also learn about what to expect if things don’t go according to plan, and how to stay calm, even when things get intense.

Course and Sessions Outline

Session 1 - Introduction

  • Introductions

  • Physiology of Birth – how birth works, and how to allow it to unfold smoothly

  • Place of birth - home or hospital?

  • Birth partners and how they can help - partners, midwives, doulas, doctors…

  • Previous pregnancies/birth experiences – how they impact your choices

  • Worries and Fears

  • Hopes and Intentions

    Session 2 - Labour and Birth

  • Nutrition and hydration

  • Preparing for labour – pelvic floor, yoga, breathing, hypnobirthing, exercise

  • What labour looks like – early stages and onwards

  • Pain relief - essential oils, water, massage, tens machine, epidural…

  • Active labour – what to expect and how it progresses

  • Going from home to hospital in a hospital birth – when and how?

  • What to take with you to hospital

  • Best positions for labour and birth

  • Transition, ‘pushing’, and crowning

  • Birthing the placenta

  • After Baby comes – skin to skin and early feeding

     

    Session 3 - Birth Plan and Unexpected Situations

  • Preparing your birth wishes – what to include

  • Pain relief options

  • What if unexpected things happen… waters break first, there’s bleeding, baby is in the breech position, or baby’s movements change

  • Common interventions in labour and birth – such as induction for postdates and augmentation

  • What happens during a c-section?

  • What happens in an emergency?

  • How to make informed decisions that are aligned with your preferences

     

    Session 4 - Breastfeeding and Baby Care

  • Breastfeeding in the first 6 weeks – how the physiology works and how to avoid problems from the start

  • Learn how to hand express colostrum

  • Early newborn care

Cost: €240

Next course dates April-May 2025:

11 Apr 2-4pm

25 Apr 2-4pm

2 May 2-4pm

9 May 2-4pm

If you miss one of the sessions, that’s ok as we can make it up at another time.

Location:

THE NUDGE, LISBOA

Address:  R. do Almada 32, 1200-259 Lisboa

​Parking Location

Parking Calçada do Combro

Tv. André Valente 6, 1200-452 Lisboa

Public entrance is on Travesse Andre Valente

This course is fully booked. Email me or WhatsApp to register interest in a future course, or to set up a call and find out more about my courses.

 

Individual Sessions:

Initial half-hour online session to chat and get to know each other - Free

Cost - €75/session

First and Second Trimesters - Questions that may come up

  • What is the best place for me to give birth? Home? Hospital? Birth centre?

  • Who will be with me at the birth?

  • What do midwives, doulas and doctors do? How to choose the best caregiver

  • How can I involve my partner?

  • What’s the best way to prepare for birth?

  • What foods are healthy?

  • Should I be taking supplements?

  • What helps with nausea and insomnia?

  • What scans should I have?

  • Why so many blood tests?

  • What about exercise?

  • Can I have sex?

  • I suffered a miscarriage before, will this pregnancy be the same?

  • My mood is low, what can I do to feel better?

  • My worries, fears and hopes for this pregnancy

  • How do I look after a baby?

The Third trimester

  • Understanding the physiology of birth - how it works best

  • Exploring labour, birth and postpartum preferences

  • Birth rights - my body, my choice

  • Preparing the birth plan

  • What does labour look and feel like?

  • What are the best movements and positions for labour and birth?

  • Optimal fetal positioning - staying active and aligning the pelvis

  • Breathing techniques

  • Pelvic floor exercises

  • Practises that help prepare the mind and body - hypnobirthing, yoga, breathwork, acupuncture, osteopathy, mindfulness

  • What are my pain-relief options?

  • How will I know when to go to hospital?

  • Who will look after my older child?

  • This baby is past her due date - what must I do?

  • What if nothing goes to plan? Exploring unexpected situations

  • Breastfeeding - Understanding the physiology of breastfeeding - the first few days and weeks - Will it just happen? Will I have enough milk? How long is the right time to breastfeed? How will I continue when I go back to work?

  • I’m so tired and uncomfortable… how can I get some sleep?

  • What happens after the baby comes? The immediate postpartum period and the first few days and weeks

  • The ‘Babymoon’ - Baby care in the fourth trimester - skin to skin, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, bathing, cord care, baby massage

  • Connecting with other families

The Fourth Trimester - When Baby is Earthside

This session can be either preparatory at about 36 weeks for €75, or a postnatal visit once baby is born for €95. Some people choose to have both.

  • Breastfeeding and baby care