Active Birth Preparation Classes
Antenatal Classes in Penzance to Optimise Physiology and Prepare You for Birth
A One-Day Birth Workshop in Penzance.
This is a full-day, in-person antenatal workshop for you and your partner or birth partner, offering time to slow down, learn together, and ask questions.
The day includes:
A clear, accessible understanding of how labour and birth work physiologically
What helps labour progress, and what can interrupt it
The role of hormones in birth, and how environment, emotions, and support affect them
Practical comfort and coping tools for labour and birth
Movement, positioning, and the use of gravity
Breathing and relaxation techniques that support your body and mind in labour
Hands-on ways partners can offer physical and emotional support
How to make informed decisions during pregnancy and birth
Time for questions, discussion, and reflection
The emphasis throughout the day is on understanding, awareness, and practical preparation.
👉 What We Cover During the Day
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How the uterus and cervix begin to ready themselves before labour starts
Creating conditions that support labour to begin and progress naturally
How babies position themselves in late pregnancy and ways to encourage optimal positioning
Understanding the difference between early labour and established labour
When and how to make contact with your midwife or birth unit
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What the first stage of labour is and how it typically unfolds
How labour begins and the signs that it is establishing
The role of hormones in starting and sustaining labour
How environment, safety, and support influence hormone flow
Understanding the shape of the pelvis, the pelvic openings, and how movement of the sacrum supports birth
Practical ways to support labour at home and in a hospital setting using movement, rest and breathing, massage and water - from the bath to birth pools
Understanding pain, intensity, and coping mechanisms
What it can mean when the waters break or leak
How the baby moves into and through the pelvis during labour
Factors that can slow or disrupt labour, and how to minimise them
Creating the optimum environment in home, at the hospital or birth centre
Other pain relief options
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What the second stage of labour involves
Positions and movements that support the baby’s descent
Partner-supported birthing positions
The role of breathing and the pelvic floor during birth
How transition fits into the overall flow of labour
Supporting the body to birth the baby with awareness and care, the birth pause and that first meeting
The Third Stage - the placenta
What happens after the baby is born
Understanding choices around active and physiological management of the placenta
The role of hormones immediately after birth
Creating a calm, supportive environment to welcome your baby
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Induction of Labour
What induction of labour means
The different methods used to induce labour
Situations where induction may be recommended
How to weigh up benefits, risks, and alternatives
Medical Pain Relief
An overview of medical pain relief options
When medical support can be helpful
How different forms of pain relief can affect labour at various stages
Caesarean Birth
The different types of caesarean birth
Understanding epidural and spinal anaesthesia
Supporting a calm, informed caesarean experience
Assisted Birth
When additional assistance may be suggested
An overview of ventouse and forceps birth
What these interventions involve and how they are used
The day is focused on helping you to optimise the normal physiological processes of labour and birth, for those wanting a natural birth, minimising interventions, while making informed decisions about their care.
However, throughout my career, I worked across all areas of maternity care; from homebirths and birth centres to busy hospital delivery suites, giving me a deep understanding of the many different paths a birth can take.
About Your Teacher Evony
I’m a former local community midwife with a passion for optimising our ability to birth naturally, with confidence in our ability and a sense of joy and empowerment.
From homebirths in St Ives to Sennen; to being a core midwife on the Truro Birthing Unit during the pandemic, sharing skills and knowledge of how we can support the innate physiological process; this is my total passion.
Since 2022 I have practiced as a doula and welcomed two little grandchildren into my life, one born in the birth unit and one at home here in Penzance.
I bring my experience attending 100s maybe a 1000 births, my pregnancy yoga training and hypnobirth experience. Birth usually works beautifully if we let it; but sometimes it needs our help and I bring that respect and wisdom too.
A one day workshop for you and your birth partner to build your confidence and prepare for an active, positive birth.
Includes:
PDF booklet of the day,
Whatsapp group for continued support
Light lunch and teas
Bring your own birth ball if you have one, pillows, small blanket and a thin scarf.
Drop a message in the form below to be notified when dates and venue are released.
Join The Waitlist
Dates and venue to be confirmed - but aiming for our first workshop by end of January/Early Feb. Drop your details and I’ll message you once I’ve got the details.