Watch our parent education videos and find helpful resources on the WNHS Consumer Library (external site)

In Australia, overseas visitors, overseas students and patients who are not eligible for Medicare under their current VISA arrangements are required to pay for the cost of their childbirth and parenting programs. Please contact the Overseas Liaison Officer on (08) 6457 8709 or email OPH.PPLO@health.wa.gov.au to obtain information regarding fees for your programs.

Antenatal Exercise Class

This class is run by a physiotherapist and aims to help you enjoy a fit and healthy pregnancy.

These classes run every Thursday (except for public holidays) from 5.00pm to 6.00pm and 6.15pm to 7.15pm in the Makuru Room, F Block, Osborne Park Hospital.

Classes commence after 20 weeks of pregnancy and require a completed referral from the OPH antenatal clinic or your GP providing details of your current pregnancy. Please come to your first class 15 minutes early to complete paperwork.

Please bring your referral, a water bottle and supportive footwear. Bookings through Eventbrite are essential. Childcare arrangements will need to be made for your other children as they are not permitted to attend.

Birth preparation classes from 30 weeks of pregnancy

Pregnant women and their support persons can attend four Tuesday evening sessions (6.15pm to 8.30pm) hosted by midwives via our online telehealth parent education from the comfort of their own home. Partners who may not be in Perth can also remotely join the sessions e.g. FIFO partners.

Topics covered include:

• Preparing your whole body for labour and birth
• Pain relief during labour
• The role of the support people during labour
• Birth suite / maternity ward tour

For any queries, please discuss at the time of scheduled clinic appointments or call the Antenatal Clinic on (08) 6457 8010.

Skills for birth and beyond workshops from 20 weeks of pregnancy

Saturday mornings (4 hrs) or Wednesday evenings (2 hrs x 2 sessions). These are physiotherapy run practical sessions for pregnant women and support people which include: relaxation and pain management techniques, breathing awareness, positioning for first and second stages of labour, massage, pelvic floor education, pregnancy aches and pains and essential exercises, post-natal advice, baby handling and baby massage.

Location: F Block, Makuru Room, OPH. 

Breastfeeding workshops

The breastfeeding workshops are held online in small group settings and provide a practical session for all pregnant women. These classes are open to public patients across the state.

Preparing for breastfeeding class

This breastfeeding class is held fortnightly on a Wednesday, by a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

Topics covered include:

• How the breast works - anatomy and during breastfeeding
• Breast changes experienced in pregnancy
• Benefits of breastfeeding for mother and baby
• Breastmilk
• The skill of hand expressing
• Video with Catherine and Emilie
• When antenatal harvesting of colostrum should be considered
• Antenatal harvesting of colostrum
• When to avoid hand expressing
• Storage
• Establishing breastfeeding
• What to expect in the first few days
• Why does WNHS practice rooming in?
• Resources – BFC / ABA

Positioning and attachment class

This breastfeeding class is held online from 11am to 12 pm, Monday to Friday by a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

The topics covered include:

• The first few days and what to expect
• What are feeding cues?
• Positioning and attaching your baby
• How to identify effective sucking and swallowing
• How can you tell baby is getting enough?
• How long is normal breastfeeding?
• How to hand express and tips for the use of an electric breast pump
• Caring for your vulnerable baby
• When and how to use nipple shields
• Breastfeeding resources
• Your questions

Postnatal Exercise Class

Patients must attend 1 postnatal education class prior to their first postnatal exercise class. The education classes are run online every Friday afternoon from 2.45pm to 3.45pm by a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist will provide postnatal education, complete all necessary paperwork and ensure your tummy muscles and pelvic floor muscles have been checked prior to commencing the postnatal exercise class. Bookings for both the education class and exercise class are essential.