Birth Rehearsals
Our birth rehearsals are not like other antenatal classes: they are a unique
form of birth preparation which uses a one-off session to ready expectant
mothers and expectant fathers for labour, whether you are having a hospital
birth, a water birth or a home birth.
Unlike other forms of childbirth education or parentcraft, Sitaram antenatal education includes physical, emotional and mental preparedness for birth for expectant couples.
It is a way of preparing for birth that teaches effective pain management for labour, practical positions for childbirth and strategies for mental and emotional support of the woman in labour.
It emphasises natural birth, normal physiological labour and having an active birth, in the sense of being confident in the abilities of the woman’s body to birth her baby well.
Our approach is widely recommended by local NHS midwives, independent midwives and doulas.
What to expect
Minimum theory maximum practice
- We offer practical skills to help you and your birth partner birth your baby:
- How will I know when I am / she is really in labour?
- How will I cope with pain?
- How can I help my partner cope with pain?
- What birthing positions work best?
- How can we keep calm during the birth?
- What do we need to know about the processes of normal physiological labour?
- What to do if labour is short?
- What to do it labour is long?
A yoga birth rehearsal offers answers to all these questions. The one-off session follows the progress of physiological birth.
It is a relaxed, effective way to learn practical coping skills for birth.
What you learn
- Practical responses to lots of different scenarios
- Coping strategies – For home birth, for hospital birth, for water birth, for first time mothers, for women who have had other labours
- Mock contractions in real time: what they are, why they happen,
- Practical experience of how to use breath and movement to get through them
- How partners can read signals of a woman in labour
- Experiential demonstration of the process of labour
- You get homework – what to do with everything you have learnt.
How it works
At each stage of the birthing process, you learn simple breathing, movement,
posture and visualisations to ease the birth of your baby.
You also cover the positioning and experience of your baby during birth, the role of the supportive birthing partner, and birthing positions.
The session works best when the pregnant woman is accompanied by her birthing partner, because then the partner can learn practical pain relief techniques as well as the breathing and movements which the woman hopes to use during the birth.
These sessions are designed to provide the pregnant woman and her birthing partner with a simple but complete yogic approach to the experience of late pregnancy, labour and birth. Women attend together with whoever they are planning to have with them during labour, including mothers, siblings and partner/s. We also run women-only sessions. The class framework covers the physiological process of labour, teaching specific, simple and accessible yoga practices to assist at each stage.
Topics covered include:
- optimal foetal positioning and the value of maternal posture in late pregnancy
- mental and emotional preparedness for birth
- breath and movement in labour for energy and pain management
- physical and emotional support for the labouring woman
- birthing positions
- visualisation and relaxation techniques to promote gentle birth
The class includes a deep relaxation practice introducing and utilising breathwork for partners that assists in the assimilation of the techniques taught, and students receive a revision sheet covering the practices covered. Fruits for refreshment are provided throughout, just as if you really were in labour/supporting a labouring woman.
Following the formal class there is an opportunity for discussion, with questions and answers and examples of coping strategies from from mums who have recently birthed their babies. This last part of the scheduled group sessions in the hospitals is conducted informally over a fruit feast.
Tried and tested
From the consistently appreciative feedback we've had from our students, we believe that this is the single most useful service that we offer. If you are only going to do one thing to prepare for your labour - then this could well be it. Many of our long-standing students return on second and sometimes third and fourth births to refresh their recollection of these really useful techniques. A sample of their comments are below, and more can be found here
'The positions and breathing techniques you showed us proved essential and successful . . Derek had the star role in supporting me - your birth preparation class really helped us' (Cathie, Derek, Sadie and Cameron)
'Thank you for all your help - the yoga was fantastic and really helped deliver her.' (Fran, Ian and Mia)
' . . .thank you for everything and what I am sure helped a long way to the safe and speedy arrival of baby Ziggy . . . we were lucky enough to have use of the big built in pool [in the hospital] and once in there that was all the pain relief I needed. Trouble was I did not want to come out! Once again thank you for what I consider to be sound, useful and supportive advice!' (Holly, Douglas, Skye and baby Ziggy)
Practicalities
Early booking essential - at least two weeks ahead of your planned birth rehearsal date. Please complete a booking form for the period you're interested in (.pdf format documents):
Then either pay online, or enclose a cheque with your form.
Full price: Per person £40.00 (inc. VAT)
Student rate: per person £30.00 (inc. VAT) documentary evidence required – please enclose with booking form
If paying with online you should complete the downloadable registration form, and send it to us with a copy of the paypal receipt as proof of payment.
(If you’re not one of our regular students, please could you include a completed antenatal registration form along with your booking form.)
We have now developed four different birth-location specific sessions, held at Kings Hospital, St Thomas' Hospital, in the Sitaram yoga room in Brixton Hill, and in the couple’s own home (in the case of individualised sessions). Sessions at King’s are generally for those planning to birth their their babies there. Sessions at St Thomas’ are strictly for those planning to birth their babies at St Thomas’.
Those planning a home birth, or a birth at any other hospital are encouraged to attend a session at Sitaram, or alternatively you can attend a session at King’s. Hospital sessions are limited to 12 couples, Sitaram sessions are limited to 5 couples.
One-to-one tuition and home visits are a good option for those who require alternative dates, or more bespoke tuition.