Pregnancy & Parenting Education Classes

The Women’s Health Directorate at Auckland District Health Board (DHB) provides an enhanced programme for fully funded pregnancy and parenting education. The service is for all women expecting their first baby, their partners and whānau, including young/teen parents, Māori, Pasifika and Asian parents, and parents for whom English is their second language.

Zoom to:

• Accessing the Classes
• Pregnancy and Parenting Topics
• Early Pregnancy Class Schedule - 20 Weeks Pregnant or Less
• Advanced Pregnancy and Parenting Classes - 28+ Weeks Pregnant
• Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Kaupapa Māori Childbirth Education Classes
• Pregnancy and parenting class with a Pacific focus
• Mokopuna Ora Healthy Pregnancy and Baby
• SmartStart
• Feelings of anxiety or depression during pregnancy or during those early parenting days?
• Those early weeks and beyond ...
• Pregnancy & Parenting Quick & Informative Videos
  

Courses Offered

Women and their partner/support person can access face to face pregnancy and parenting education across multiple locations within the Auckland DHB area. They include:

1. EARLY PREGNANCY CLASSES (20 weeks pregnant or less). Pregnant? What next? This is an early pregnancy session for all pregnant women 20 weeks pregnant or less, their partner/support person or whānau. It is a two hour information session to help answer all your pregnancy questions. You do not need to book – just turn up! See the early pregnancy class schedule below.
   
   
2. ADVANCED PREGNANCY AND PARENTING CLASSES (28+ weeks pregnant): These are for women who are 28+ weeks pregnant. It is more comprehensive than the early pregnancy session, and courses are six hours long. You may like to attend this after an early pregnancy class. You may choose a midweek course which consists of 2x3 hour classes run over two consecutive week nights, or one class of six hours on a Saturday.
   
   
3. WEAVING WAIORA WᾹNANGA, A KAUPAPA MᾹORI CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION WᾹNANGA:   Join the team at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for a kaupapa Māori pregnancy and parenting education experience. Explore te ao Māori in relation to traditional Māori birthing alongside current evidence based pregnancy and parenting education.
   
   
4. PREGNANCY & PARENTING WITH A PASIFIKA FOCUS: Are you looking for a class with a Pasifika flavour? Health Star Pacific in Panmure use Tapuaki, a Pasifika pregnancy and parenting programme that provides information to promote a healthy and safe pregnancy.

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Accessing the Classes

Women and their partner/support person can access face-to-face pregnancy and parenting education in community locations. 

The Early Pregnancy Classes (20 weeks pregnant or less) do not require any booking.  Just turn up!  Review the schedule on this page.

The Advanced Pregnancy & Parenting Classes (28+ weeks pregnant) consist of 2 x 3 hour classes run over 2 weeks, or a block course of 6 hours. Bookings are essential.

We will contact you in writing to confirm your booking. SHOULD YOU FAIL TO ATTEND AS BOOKED, WE CANNOT RE-BOOK YOU INTO ANOTHER CLASS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND FOR OUR CLASSES.

Please note that we do not accept bookings until women are 14 weeks pregnant. 

Ideally, you will be about 28 weeks pregnant when you attend a pregnancy and parenting class.

Classes are available in:

• Panmure (including Health Star Pacific classes)
• Glen Innes (Weaving Waiora Waananga)
• Meadowbank
• Auckland City Centre, High St
• Parnell (Birthcare)
• Mt Roskill
• Blockhouse Bay
• Waiheke Island

View the Pregnancy and Parenting Education Class Lists or

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Pregnancy and Parenting Topics Covered Include:

• The maternity system in New Zealand - the role of your Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) and other health professionals, choosing where to give birth, support networks in your community, your rights and responsibilities
• Changes in pregnancy - foetal development, supports and services
• Healthy pregnancy - healthy eating, exercise, and the effects of smoking, alcohol and drug use
• Pregnancy care - antenatal checks, screening, planning for birth, complications of pregnancy
• Labour and birth - choices and options, Lead Maternity Carer (LMC), labour signs and stages, managing pain, birthing, complications and immediate care after birth
• Postnatal care - care for mother and baby, family support, body changes, rights and responsibilities
• Breastfeeding and safe sleeping - infant nutrition and safe sleep practices
• Māori module - narratives of mothers’ experiences and considerations for Māori parents and whānau, and others interested
• Teen pregnancy module - focuses on meeting the needs of teenagers.

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Early Pregnancy Class Schedule - 20 Weeks Pregnant or Less

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Advanced Pregnancy and Parenting Classes - 28+ Weeks Pregnant

PLEASE NOTE:  All classes are NATURAL BIRTH CLASSES and are for women who are healthy and have a low risk of complications when giving birth.  A natural birth is where no medical intervention is planned.

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Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Kaupapa Māori Childbirth Education Classes

Join the team at Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei for kaupapa Māori pregnancy and parenting education classes.  Enjoy all the key messages, alongside exploring Te Ao Māori in relation to pregnancy and parenting - the status of wāhine hapū, whakapapa, ancestral stories, traditional birthing and parenting practices and much more.  Make your very own ipu whenua (container for the afterbirth), and learn the significance of the afterbirth.  Learn kupu Māori (Maori language) in relation to pregnancy and parenting.  This is an empowering journey for all new mātua/parents. It allows whānau to share their stories, bring out whānau knowledge and weave each other's experiences together for the wellbeing of our pēpī, tamariki, whānau and wider community.

Wānanga courses are available and are held over two days, 9am to 3pm.  There is a sleepover option if required.

Look for a course that suits you in the schedule above.

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Are you looking for a pregnancy and parenting class with a Pasifika focus?

Check out Health Star Pacific Community Health in Panmure who offers FREE pregnancy and parenting classes. Look for a course that suits you in the schedule above.

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SmartStart

SmartStart - A step by step guide for you and your baby!

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Mokopuna Ora Healthy Pregnancy and Baby

In addition to the face-to-face classes, there is a new website containing evidence-based pregnancy and parenting information.

To view the new "Mokopuna Ora Healthy Pregnancy and Baby" website please click here www.mokopunaora.nz.

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Feelings of anxiety or depression during pregnancy or during those early parenting days?

Having a baby brings a great deal of happiness, but it can also be a stressful time for many. The new journey for mothers, fathers and their whānau/family often brings change and requires a lot of support.  Up to 25% of women experience emotional turmoil and as many as one in eight suffer from depression during or after pregnancy.

HELP AND SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE! Check out www.depression.org.nz to find out about depression and anxiety symptoms, ways to help others, as well as finding services which can offer more support.  There is also information specific to the perinatal period available at Mothers Matter, www.mothersmatter.org.nz and Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa,  www.pada.nz.

You can be helped and supported through these challenging times.

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Private Providers of Pregnancy and Parenting Education

Pregnancy and parenting classes are also available through private childbirth education providers.  These can be located by searching online for Auckland Central antenatal classes.

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Those early weeks and beyond ...

The transition to parenthood is a time of many changes.  Plunket's Parenting Education Programme, PEPE, is a series of five FREE courses aimed at supporting parents through the different stages of their child's early development.  The courses are designed to support parents in their parenting role, build parent confidence and connect parents with other parents and the local supports and resources in their area.  The programme begins with "Your New Baby - parenting in the first six weeks" and steps parents all the way through their child's development to the age of 5 years.  Look online for more information or contact Plunket to find a course in your area - www.plunket.org.nz

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Pregnancy & Parenting Quick & Informative Videos

• Skin to Skin
• Keeping Baby Warm

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