Preparing for Birth Conference

Friday, 8 April and Saturday 9 April 2005
University of Reading

An innovative, exciting and essential two-day program (plus evening!) for everyone who works in antenatal education. Leading educators, authors and facilitators will enable you to experience new teaching activities, explore new programs and develop your skills in a range of vital areas:

The program will include Plenary sessions with key leaders in prenatal education and the opportunity to attend 6 workshop sessions of 1 ˝ hours each on topics of your choice. A video evening will enable you to view the latest releases and appraise them for inclusion in your programs. Inexpensive on-site accommodation and shared meals will enable you to network with your colleagues. Bookstores, displays and resource outlets will offer you the latest in teaching aids and materials.

Reading University is centrally located, approximately 25 minutes west of London. It is easily accessed by train from anywhere in the UK and there are regular bus connections to both Gatwick and Heathrow airports. A map and details on how to reach the venue will be included with your registration confirmation.

Day One - Friday 8 April 2005 9.00 am    Opening and welcome to Day One Andrea Robertson Director, Birth International 9.15 am    PLENARY SESSION 9.15 am    "Rethinking prenatal education" Andrea Robertson 9.45 am    "The parent/educator/midwife connection" Caroline Flint 10.15 am    Refreshments 10.45 am    WORKSHOPS A1:  Having fun with small group work Teri Shilling A2:  Educating for informed choice Clare Harding A3:  Program Planning Cassandra McBurnie A4:  Giving voice to birth Tricia Anderson A5:  Early Pregnancy programs Lynne Staff 12.30 pm    Lunch 1.30 pm    WORKSHOP B1:  Involving fathers John Lee B2:  Choosing and using teaching aids Cassandra McBurnie B3:  "Tell me about the pain!" Andrea Robertson B4:  Presenting unexpected outcomes Sherokee Ilse B5:  Giving voice to birth Tricia Anderson 3.00 pm    Refreshments 3.30 pm    WORKSHOPS C1:  Working with teenagers Lizzie Smith C2:  Prenatal VBAC programs Lynne Staff C3:  Educating for informed choice Clare Harding C4:  Teaching about second stage Andrea Robertson C5:  Presenting unexpected outcomes Sherokee Ilse 5.00 pm    Close 7.00 pm    Happy hour Catch up with you friends over a glass of wine! 8.00 pm    Video screening A selection of the latest videos will be shown Day Two - Saturday 9 April 2005 8.15 am    Welcome to Day Two Andrea Robertson Director, Birth International 8.30 am    PLENARY SESSION 8.30 am    "Getting the message across - the power of your words!" Lynne Staff 9.00 am    WORKSHOPS D1:  Having fun with small group work Teri Shilling D2:  "Tell me about the pain!" Andrea Robertson D3:  Using research to inform choice Soo Downe D4:  Program Planning Cassandra McBurnie D5:  Prenatal VBAC programs Lynne Staff 10.30 am    Refreshments 11.00 pm    WORKSHOP E1:  Involving fathers John Lee E2:  Early pregnancy programs Lynne Staff E3:  Exploring birth through art Lorna Davies E4:  Teaching about second stage Andrea Robertson E5:  Working with teenagers Lizzie Smith 12.30 pm    Lunch 1.30 pm    WORKSHOPS F1:  Choosing and using teaching aids Cassandra McBurnie F2:  Exploring birth through art Lorna Davies F3:  Presenting unexpected outcomes Sherokee Ilse F4:  Using research to inform choice Soo Downe F5:  Effective Group work Teri Shilling 3.00 pm    Refreshments 3.30 am    PLENARY SESSION 3.30 am    "Avoiding Informed Coercion" Beverley Lawrence Beech 4.00 am    Summarise the event Andrea Robertson 4.30 pm    Close				Tricia Anderson is a midwife in independent practice and former Editor of MIDIRS Midwifery Digest and The Practising Midwife. Most recently she was a Senior Lecturer in Post-Graduate Midwifery at Bournemouth University where she was the Course Leader for the MA Advanced Midwifery Practice. Beverley Lawrence Beech is the Hon Chair of the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS). She is a freelance writer and researcher in maternity care who has a particular interest in parents' rights, ultrasound and obstetric interventions. Her latest book Am I Allowed? was published in 2004. Lorna Davis is a midwife, midwife teacher and a childbirth educator. As a freelance author she has published in many midwifery journals and textbooks. She also co- hosts the website Withwoman.co.uk and is currently editing a book on the use of the arts in midwifery. Soo Downe qualified as a midwife in 1985, then spent 15 years working in various clinical, research and project development roles at derby City General Hospital. She is now Professor of Midwifery Studies at the University of Central Lancashire, where she is the Director of the UCLan Midwifery studies Research Unit. Caroline Flint is a midwife in private practise, an author, a past President of the Royal College of Midwives and is the Director of The Birth Centre is London. She has been presenting NCT classes for almost 30 years as an adjunct to her work as a midwife. Clare Harding is a Tutor for the National Childbirth Trust and has been facilitating antenatal classes for 20 years. She trains health professionals, antenatal teachers and peer supporters to work with parents. Sherokee Ilse has experienced three pregnancy losses and has two healthy children. She has presented hundreds of workshops and seminars around the world on issues relating to miscarriage, stillbirth, early infant death, presenting unexpected outcomes in birth preparation classes as well as general bereavement. She is the author/co-author of 7 books and 7 booklets on these subjects, and lives in the America mid-west. John Lee is himself a father of three, has facilitated parenting skills groups, formerly in Australia and now in Scotland. His special interest is engaging fathers. Cassandra McBurnie, as an ex-nurse now with a degree in Adult Education, Cassandra has over 12 years of program planning and teaching experience. She is currently working for Birth International in Sydney, as the Course Coordinator for the Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education and has a reputation as being a practical, hands on facilitator. Andrea Robertson is an independent childbirth education consultant, author and Director of Birth International. She oversees the post Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education and presents many workshops around the world for midwives, educators and allied health professionals from her base in Sydney, Australia. Teri Shilling created the Idea Box for the Creative and Interactive Childbirth Educator and its supplement Staying Energized as tools to “stomp out” boring and ineffective childbirth education classes. She is director of Passion for Birth, a training program for childbirth educators and is past president of Lamaze International. Lizzie Smith has been running teenage parent groups since 1997. She is passionate about supporting young parents ensuring that they enjoy the same choices as other pregnant women. She is a teenage pregnancy midwife at Birmingham Heartlands & Solihull NHS Trust. Lynne Staff, as an independently practising midwife, a midwifery educator and parent education facilitator, Lynne is keen to ensure women's voices are heard in planning, providing and evaluating maternity care. She is currently researching women's experience of caesarean birth and it's impact on their future birthing choices, in particular VBAC. She works in Queensland, Australia.
The University of Reading has a number of Halls of Residence that will be available for Conference delegates to use. Rooms are modern, with single beds, a desk, handbasin and a pleasant outlook over gardens and courtyards. Shared bathroom facilities are located nearby on each floor. Accommodation process include dinner and breakfast, which are offered in an airy, pleasant dining hall in each Residence block. Cost of accommodation £50.00 for one night (April 8) £90.00 for 2 nights (April 7 and 8) Please indicate which nights you wish to book. Please choose your workshop sessions carefully and provide first and second choice preferences for each session. Workshop numbers will be limited and places will be filled in strict order of receipt of registrations. If your workshop preferences are already filled, you will be allocated to another workshop session at the same time. You have two opportunities to attend each workshop in the program. Once your are registered, we regret that no changes will be made, either in advance or at the Conference itself. This is a two day program. Single day attendance is not available. Individual registration: £190.00 (incl. VAT) Registrations postmarked before 18 February 2005 £210.00 (incl. VAT) Registrations received after 18 February 2005 Group discounts: Four registrations or more, received together with one cheque or credit card. One receipt will be issued for each group, listing all the names. £180.00 (incl. VAT) Registrations postmarked before 18 February 2005 £195.00 (incl. VAT) Registrations received after 18 February 2005 Student rate: £160.00 (incl. VAT) Current student identification must accompany your registration. Register on-line for further discounts! Cancellation Full fees, less a £10.00 processing charge for individuals and £5.00 each for groups, will be made up to 8 March 2005. There will be no refunds offered after that date, although substitutions will be possible if notified in advance. Birth International reserves the right to alter the program due to unforseen circumstances. Closing date for registrations is 24 March 2005. Special needs Please notify us if you have any special needs (e.g. dietary, disabled access etc). Books by Mavis Kirkham and other selected titles will be available for sale on the day. Cheques and cash are preferred, but credit cards will also be welcomed. A full list of books and prices will be in your registration pack.