Want to know more about birth and baby care
to help you feel more ready, prepared and organised?
You've found the most comprehensive and best-value
birth and parenting preparation courses in Sydney!
Relax. You are in the right place!
Preparation for your "Transition into Parenthood" encompassing: normal active birth, newborn baby care, mother crafting, supporting mothers, helping fathers support mothers, Calmbirth®, breastfeeding, parenting information and birth support. This has been my life's work. I am Julie Clarke and my passion is providing high quality childbirth and parenting education preparation courses for pregnant couples.
I'm a fully trained childbirth and parenting educator and a calmbirth® specialist, with over 20 years experience, conducting courses in Sylvania, south of Sydney.
Motivated pregnant couples are attracted to my coursess for my advanced knowledge of Active Birth and her warm, balanced, encouraging approach.
The comfortable course venue, my home, is in Sylvania, a southern suburb of Sydney, just 20 minutes drive south of the airport.
I conduct the two most popular courses, with 6 week or 2 day or 1 day choices and a good variety of date options for 2012.
For over 20 years I have had the pleasure of meeting with expectant parents, conducting parenting and birth preparation courses, acting as a support person during labour and of course mothering my own sons. I know from experience that information; preparation, comfort and teamwork can make all the difference during pregnancy and early parenthood. I understand that you don't want dogma but balanced facts, useful insider tips . I am always prepared with comfy cushions, plenty of cold and hot beverages and my naturally gentle and warm approach. I conduct courses regularly throughout the whole year and in a variety of formats, so I can rest assured that I will have a course that suits you whether you are a shift worker, organising around babysitters or running low on time. My classes are held in a purpose built classroom, designed with pregnant bodies in mind in Sylvania a suburb of Southern Sydney. The drive is just 20 minutes south of Sydney Airport. I can of course recommend some lovely accommodation close by if you are not Sydney based.
Julie teaches two very popular courses: calmbirth® course and the Transition into Parenthood course. Discounts apply when booking both courses.
- Transition into Parenthood is Julie's birth and babycare course which is focussed on active birth and newborn care on are well regarded and respected as the most comprehensive and best-value birth and parenting preparation courses currently available in Sydney.
- Calmbirth® courses: Julie also conducts the popular calmbirth® course which is focussed on how to respond to the labour with unique breathing, relaxation, imagery and encourages you, with a generous discount, to do both courses as the ideal preparation for having your baby. Difference between Hypnobirthing and Calmbirth
- Julie has recently refurbished her lovely course room making it even more comfortable, and she has completely updated and revised her extensive course notes provided to participants.
- Julie provides Doula birth support and baby care support exclusively for the couples who attend her courses. Julie Doula.
Best time to commence these courses is between 25 and 35 weeks of pregnancy.
View the pages on this website for the best guidance
on courses to suit you and partner at convenient times and dates.
Click on the headings at the top of this page the drop downs will guide you.
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In these classes, expectant parents will learn:
- What to expect during pregnancy, birth and parenting
- How to take the fear out of normal childbirth and why you'd want to
- Guidance on working with the anatomy and physiology of normal birth
- How "real" birth differs from Hollywood sterotypes and why
- Variations on “textbook” labor, and how to respond to them
- The physical and emotional roadmap of the birth experience
- Comfort measures for labor and birth including practical tools and strategies,
- Risks and benefits of common interventions and how to avoid needing them
- How to communicate with your caregiver to get the type of birth that you desire
- How to write a birth plan and a post natal plan
- Feeding, sleeping, settling, what to buy/avoid, safety, practicalities of baby care
- How Dad can thrive in his role in supporting Mum and what he can do
- Bonding and working as a team throughout parenting years
Calmbirth Courses
Venue: Sylvania, Sydney
This brilliant, empowering and beautiful course imparts the knowledge of birth preparation techniques such as: calm focused breathing, relaxation, positive imagery, attitudes/expectancy and safe, natural strategies for reducing medical intervention to achieve a rewarding, easier, more comfortable stress-free birthing experience. More calmbirth information.
calmbirth® is a pre natal education program for pregnant couples preparing for a positive birth experience consisting of approximately 12 ½ hours duration. The aim of the program is to help pregnant couples attending the classes eliminate the fear, experienced by many, in relation to their approaching labour and birth.
During the classes, couples discover how the laboring mother’s body responds physiologically when fear is present. They also learn practical skills of Relaxation, Breathing and Creative Visualization which are used during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and beyond.
calmbirth® class book and CD are made available at the cost price of $40, at the first session, to take home for your own reference and continued practise (updated and revised July 2011).
Book this calmbirth® course together with the one-day or two-day workshop of birth and baby care for the best preparation for parenting.
Options to choose from for course times:
- two Saturday daytime (9.00am to 3.30pm)
- Saturday/Sunday special weekend (9.00am to 3.30pm)
- two Sunday daytime (9.00am to 3.30pm)
- two weekdays (9.00am to 3.30pm) good for refreshers and school mums and shift workers
Cost: only $350/couple or singles
Refreshers: if you have already done the calmbirth course with Julie before, you will receive a 50% discount to have a refresher. Contact Julie to find out more.
2xThursday: 16 and 23 February 2012 (daytime course* - good for school mums/shiftworkers)
calmbirth courses are also available during the week on specified days for shift workers, school mums or those who simply prefer to attend weekdays
Click here to book Julie's courses More information about calmbirth
Myths and misconceptions: the difference between hypnobirthing and calmbirth
Discover the calmbirth technique
Read more about the calmbirth course or download our brochure Book securely online now with your credit card.
Doing both courses gives you the best preparation for labour and the newborn period. The best time to commence is between 25 and 35 weeks of pregnancy.
Enrol here online now or view all course dates for 2012
If you would prefer to pay over the phone with your credit card, or to arrange other payment options,
contact Julie on her direct landline 02 9544 6441 or her personal mobile 0401 265 530
Pre-payment is required to secure your place in the courses unless alternative arranged with Julie
Childbirth and Parenting Two Saturday Condensed Course
Cost: $350 only per couple next available course coming up will be 3 and 10 March, 2012 - places still available ring Julie 9544 6441 want more dates?
Two excellent sessions on consecutive Saturdays from 9am to 4pm. 
This course covers far more than the usual standard hospital class. On the first Saturday, we cover pregnancy, what to expect during labour, including active birth options. Strategies for keeping birth as normal as possible and minimising the possibility of unnecessary medical interventions. How to recognise labour, what to do in response, great tips for partners to be supportive and helpful, comfort measures to use during labour, partner's role and what to expect, women's self-help strategies for labour and much more.
On the second Saturday, our focus is the newborn period, the first 12 weeks at home with a new baby, covering all the important must know practicalities: how to dress the baby, what to buy, how to wrap, feed, settle, sleep and much more. What is normal and what to expect of a newborn baby during the early weeks. Course notes provided at cost price for only $30
The atmosphere in Julie's classroom is stress-free, peaceful and relaxed. Particpants are encouraged to eat, drink and be very comfortable during each session.
Julie has thought of everything to make a wonderful, interesting learning experience, with participants kicking off shoes at the door, entering a very comfortable classroom lounge to rest on purpose designed seating, comfortable for pregnant women with generous cushions.
The group size for each session is limited to allow for participation and interaction. Special Note: For cesaerean section mothers day two can be booked with Julie over the phone 9544 6441.
All dates available Book securely online now with your credit card.
Childbirth and Parenting One-day Super Condensed Sunday Workshop
Sunday from 9am to 4:30pm - Cost: only $300/couple. This course covers "everything possible to cover" in just one day and is very popular.
This super condensed course is very quick and convenient course as it only involves attendance for one day, starting at 9am. All dates available
It is the most time efficient course available anywhere, covering: Pregnancy, Labour and Birth in the morning, and then Baby care and Parenting during the newborn period, the first twelve weeks, in the afternoon.
Course materials are made freely available as part of the super-condensed package, as well as unlimited variety of teas and coffees, delicious snacks and full comprehensive course notes.
Julie normally only runs this one day super condensed course once a month or once every two months, so if it's what you're after be sure to book in as quickly as you can to secure your position. There are limited places in each course. BYO lunch, be reassured that refrigeration and a microwave are available for your use. Very comfortable air-conditioned venue.
This course is brilliantly designed for shift workers, very busy couples, particularly those who are very busy with their own business to run and can't spare much time at a course.
Couples will fly from interstate to attend the one day course with Julie, based on recommendation from friends and midwives.
Next Super Condensed Course Available is: 12th of February, 2012 Full info here Quick Book here
Special Note: For cesaerean section mothers the afternoon segment can be booked with Julie over the phone 9544 6441.
Refreshers: This course is also terrific for couples who are wanting to refresh their knowledge, having already had a baby, and now needing to prepare for their second, third, fourth or subsequent baby.
Read more about what is covered in the Super Condensed Sunday course
Book securely online now with your credit card.
See all dates available for 2012
Childbirth and Babycare Six Evenings @ 7pm Course
Cost: only $350 per couple Next Course Available is 22 Feb to 26 March, 2012 Full Info Here Quick Book Here.JPG)
Six excellent sessions on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. This is the most popular of all of Julie's courses with a reputation of being thorough, fun, interesting and social. This course ticks all the boxes for couples who are motivated to learn as much as they can and are able to attend one night per week. The course completely replaces hospital classes. Many midwives and obstetricians recommend this course over the hospital course, they see a significant difference in preparedness and confidence in the couples who have attended Julie's courses.
This is an interesting and comprehensive course including group interaction, this popular course provides the information you need to make choices. Suitable from 20 weeks, it helps signpost the way through the last weeks of pregancy, what to expect in labour, birth including practicalities of baby care, the first weeks with a newborn and parenting.
dates available for 2012
Covering labour and birth, breathing, active birth positioning, and includes a special focus on skills and techniques for keeping birth normal and.JPG)
minimising the use of medical intervention when appropriate.
Complimentary Inclusions:
- Julie arranges a special "baby party" for the evening course group exclusively as a fun social get-together she refers to as a post natal reunion
- Each couple will receive a Bao Bag containing samples of high quality products for pregnancy and parenthood
Read more about the Six Evenings @ 7pm Course
Book securely online now
See all dates available for 2012
Refreshers: if you have already done the calmbirth course with Julie before, you will receive a 50% discount to have a refresher. Contact Julie to find out more.
calmbirth courses are also available during the week on specified days for shift workers,
school mums or those who simply prefer to attend weekdays
Next Day Calmbirth Course Available will be: 2xThursday: 16 and 23 February 2012 (daytime course* - good for school mums/shiftworkers)
Click here to book Julie's courses
More information about calmbirth
Differences between Hypnobirthing and Calmbirth
then use the registration form and let Julie know which dates you'd like be sure to click submit at the conclusion of filling in the rego form otherwise she won't receive it.
Read more about the calmbirth course or download our brochure
Book securely online now with your credit card.
Each couple will receive a Bao Bag containing samples of high quality products for pregnancy and parenthood
Julie conducts two types of birth preparation courses, with plenty of date options:
- calmbirth® course - focused on breathing, relaxation and visualisation for labour only $350/couple
- the birth and baby course - known as Transition Into Parenthood includes active birth and baby care only $350/couple
- Best option: $100 discount for combined booking of both courses calmbirth® and TIP for only $600/couple. Excellent value
Health Funds
Julie is a registered provider with the following Australian private health funds:
- HCF Health Fund Provider Number: A125696
- Manchester Unity Health Fund Provider Number: 05446441
- Grand United Health Fund Provider Number: 7380
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Want to learn a little more about what I teach?
Read some birth stories, here. Birth really can be beautiful.
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Make a booking into one of my courses.
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All Course Dates for 2012Birth and Baby One Sunday Super Condensed Course
Condensed Active Birth and Baby Course 2xSaturdays
Julie Clarke has been helping couples to prepare for childbirth and looking after a baby for over 20 years, with compassion and sensitivity. Secure your position in a class by booking online now
Find calmbirth on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/pages/calmbirth-practitioner/133224405306
Find Transition into Parenthood here: www.facebook.com/pages/Transition-into-Parenthood/266903737951