Preparing for Birth UK Conference

Thursday, 6 July, Friday, 7 July and Saturday 8 July 2006
University of Reading

This is the second annual Conference especially for those working in the field of expectant parent education. Continuing the highly successful format of the 2005 event, the program will once again include plenary sessions with key leaders in prenatal education and the opportunity to attend 6 workshop sessions of 12 hours each on a range of topics vital to educators.

On-site accommodation and shared meals will enable you to network with your colleagues. Bookstores, video viewing, trade displays and resource outlets will offer you the latest in teaching aids and materials.

Feedback after the 2005 was overwhelmingly positive:

• "Thank you for a wonderful experience. It has been very enabling and enlightening".
• "Brilliant! Glad I came and I have so much to take back and try out"
• "A great blend of different professions all based around women/childbirth. Enjoyable to learn from different professionals."
• "It was fresh, informative and invigorating"
• "Very much better than other similar Conferences".

Registrations have now closed

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 Thursday 6 July 2006 2.00 pm    Registration, refreshments 3.00 pm    Opening and welcome Andrea Robertson 3.15 pm    PLENARY SESSION "What every pregnant woman needs to know about labour and birth Michel Odent 3.45 pm    "Childbirth Education - Thinking inside the box" Andrea Robertson 4.15 pm    WORKSHOPS A1:  Towards better breastfeeding education Karla Napier A2:  Fun and games with your program Teri Shilling A3:  The second time around Julie Clarke A4:  Using Teaching Aids Bronny Handfield A5:  Working with teenagers Tracy Smith and Deb Pattrick A6:  The Magic of Touch Suzanne Yates 5.45 pm    Close 8.00 pm    Welcome drinks Dining Hall after dinner Day Two Friday 7 July 2006 8.30 am    Refreshments 9.00 am    WORKSHOPS B1:  Presenting unexpected outcomes Sherokee Ilse B2:  Managing small groups Mary Nolan B3:  Effective education for parenting Bronny Handfield B4:  The second time around Julie Clarke B5:  Involving the dads John Lee B6:  The magic of touch Suzanne Yates 10.30 am    Refreshments 11.00 am    WORKSHOPS C1:  The second stage of labour Andrea Robertson C2:  Fun and games with your program Teri Shilling C3:  Teaching about obstetric interventions Julie Clarke C4:  Involving the dads John Lee C5:  Maternity Reflexology Suzanne Enzer C6:  Pregnancy Exercise Programs Alison Merry 12.30 pm    Lunch 1.30 pm    PLENARY SESSION "Using research to underpin your information" Denis Walsh 2.00 pm    WORKSHOPS D1:  Towards better breastfeeding education Karla Napier D2:  Maternity Reflexology Suzanne Enzer D3:  Working with Teenagers Tracy Smith and Deb Pattrick D4:  Managing small groups Mary Nolan D5:  Presenting unexpected outcomes Sherokee Ilse D6:  The second stage of labour Andrea Robertson 3.30 pm    Refreshments 4.00 pm    PLENARY SESSION "A Fantasy versus reality - the birth experience" Bronny Handfield 5.30 pm    Close 7.30 pm    Special event! Day Three Saturday 8 July 2006 9.30 am    Starting the day ... Andrea Robertson 9.45 am    PLENARY SESSION "Childbirth educators and midwives - a powerful combination" Jenny Hall 10.15 am    Refreshments 10.15 am    WORKSHOPS E1:  Fun and games with your program Teri Shilling E2:  "Tell me about the pain!" Andrea Robertson E3:  Presenting unexpected outcomes Sherokee Ilse E4:  Pregnancy Exercise Programs Alison Merry E5:  Using teaching aids Bronny Handfield E6:  The magic of touch Linda Kimber 12.15 pm    Lunch 1.15 pm    WORKSHOP F1:  Managing small groups Mary Nolan F2:  Effective education for parenting Bronny Handfield F3:  Teaching about obstetric interventions Julie Clarke F4:  Involving the dads John Lee F5:  "Tell me about the pain!" Andrea Robertson F6:  Towards better breastfeeding education Karla Napier 2.45 am    PLENARY SESSION "Childbirth Education - What’s it all about?" Sandy Kirkman 3.30 pm    Close				Julie Clarke has over 20 years of experience as an independently practising childbirth educator, offering a variety of programs for parents. She also presents some programs for the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney and has been a faculty member of the Graduate Diploma in Childbirth Education. Suzanne Enzer’s, passion for reflexology stemmed from her midwifery practise over many years in the UK. Following her training, she developed this very natural therapy for use during pregnancy, birth and the post partum period, producing a series of best-selling manuals for midwives and others. Jennifer Hall, is Midwifery Lecturer at the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. She is Editor of The Practising Midwife and author of Midwifery Mind and Spirit. She has a keen interest in the wider role of midwifery and the potential for promoting midwifery to parents. Bronny Handfield has worked as a childbirth educator, writer, and training course co-ordinator since the early 1980's. Throughout this time she has maintained a strong interest in the images of pregnant women and childbirth. The ongoing difficulty of finding suitable film and video images for childbirth classes prompted her to collect popular media images and this lead to her embarking on a study for a PhD. 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. Sandy Kirkman, is a midwife and Principal Lecturer at in the School of Care Sciences, University of Glamorgan, where she continues to play a key role in both education and research. She is widely sought speaker, as her wit and humour pinpoint the essence of midwifery and education with clarity and charm. John Lee is himself a father of three and has facilitated parenting skills groups, formerly in Australia and now in Scotland. His special interest is engaging fathers, and the presentation he gave at last year’s Conference drew wide praise. Alison Merry, is a midwife who also holds a Premier Diploma in personal training and sports therapy. She has a specialized Y.M.C.A. Pre-Post Natal Certification, is a member of the Register of Exercise Professionals, and regularly writes on pre and postnatal fitness for many magazines. She is Program Director for BloomingFit.com. Karla Napier, trained as a midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Infant Feeding Advisor at the Simpson Centre for Reproductive Health in Edinburgh (a Baby Friendly hospital since 2001). She has also been a La Leche League counsellor for 15 years. One of the UK’s best known childbirth educators, Mary Nolan is a Tutor for the National Childbirth Trust. She is the author or contributor to eleven books on antenatal education, and has researched (PhD) the effectiveness of parent education programs. She lives in the West Midlands of the UK. Michel Odent, is well known to international audiences for his powerful insights and thoughtful observations on the human condition and its genesis in the birth process. He is the author of many books and is a strong advocate for natural birth and breastfeeding, where he challenges us to let go of learning in favour of using our instincts. Debby Pattrick and Tracy Smith are Clinical Specialists in Midwifery at Peninsula Health, Melbourne and the Core of Life Program Managers. An extensive history of working with teenage mothers, teaching/coordinating childbirth education, and being amongst the wider community as independent midwives was their inspiration for Core of Life - to prepare our future families 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 Astomp 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. Denis Walsh is a midwife and a Senior Lecturer (research) at the University of Central Lancashire. His research interests are in all aspects of normal labour and birth practice and In 2004, he completed his PhD on the Birth Centre model. He is now an Independent Midwifery Consultant, teaching on evidence and normal birth in Europe & Australia. Suzanne Yates, established Well Mother in Bristol, 1990, to support the wisdom of parents and babies primarily through shiatsu, massage and exercise. She runs training courses world wide for massage therapists, midwives and childbirth educators. Her first book "Shiatsu for Midwives" was published in 2003.
Each workshop will be presented as an interactive, experiential session, that models ways of communicating these topics and issues to parents in a prenatal program. Presenters have been asked to include tips for teaching and practical exercises in their programs. Through your participation in these workshops, it is expected that you will be able to: Fun and games during your program Explore the role and value of group work in parent education sessions Describe the basic process in using small group activities in prenatal sessions Practise small group activities Involving fathers Identify the needs of fathers within prenatal groups Identify specific strategies to increase involvement Explore appropriate group activities Choosing and using teaching aids Identify teaching aids that match learning styles List considerations for choosing appropriate teaching aids Explore "dos and don'ts" when using teaching aids. Tackling the "labour pain" question Explore the physiological basis for pain in labour Identify strategies to build women=s confidence in managing labour Practise activities that enable expectant parents to understand handling labour pain. Presenting unexpected outcomes Explore the concepts of Auncertainty@, Aunpredictability@ and Aunexpected outcomes@ Develop strategies for examining these issues in prenatal programs Practise activities that build skills in dealing with the unexpected. Working with teenagers Explore the needs of expectant teenagers Consider appropriate formats for prenatal programs for pregnant teens Practise teaching activities that may be included in these programs. The second time around - VBAC and refreshers Outline an appropriate program for refreshers and VBAC parents Identify essential content of such a program Practice group teaching activities related to the needs of these groups. Teaching about second stage Consider the elements that facilitate a quick and easy second stage of labour Review strategies for teaching about this subject Practise exercises to empower women around managing their second stage. Managing small groups Explore the value of small group work within a program Examine management strategies for dealing with group dynamics Practise some small group activities Promoting breastfeeding Consider what information expectant parents need about breastfeeding Devise appropriate presentation strategies for this issue in antenatal classes Practise appropriate activities that promote choice around infant feeding Learning about birth interventions Explore strategies for promoting informed choice about birth interventions Consider feelings and emotions that may be raised by these issues Develop skills in presenting birth interventions Effective education for early parenting Consider appropriate parenting issues for inclusion in pregnancy sessions Examine effective ways of incorporating parenting into pregnancy programs Practise activities that enable parents to develop their skills Maternity Reflexology Develop simple skills in using reflexology Explore what can be included in antenatal education courses for parents Discuss the uses and contraindications for reflexology in maternity care. Pregnancy exercise programs Practise some basic exercise routines for pregnancy programs. Discuss the benefits and contraindications for exercise during pregnancy. Consider appropriate exercise programs and their content. The magic of touch Explore the role of massage and touch in pregnancy, labour and postnatally. Practise some simple massage techniques, relevant for parent education courses. Discuss practical management issues surrounding this topic in the program. The University of Reading has a number of Halls of Residence that will be available for Conference delegates to use. All rooms are modern, with single beds, a desk and a pleasant outlook over gardens and courtyards. Some have en-suite bathrooms and others use shared bathroom facilities located nearby on each floor. Accommodation prices include full breakfasts and three course dinners, which are offered in an airy, pleasant dining hall in the Residence block. Cost of accommodation Ensuite room £135.00 for 2 nights (Thursday, 6 July and Friday, 7 July) Standard room £100.00 for 2 nights (Thursday, 6 July and Friday, 7 July) 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: £225.00 (incl. VAT) Registrations postmarked before 26 May 2006 £249.00 (incl. VAT) Registrations received after 26 May 2006 Student rate: (full-time University gradulate courses) £195.00 (incl. VAT) Current student identification must accompany your registration. Registrations have now closed Cancellation Full fees, less a £20.00 processing charge, will be made up to 23 June 2006. 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 23 June 2006. Special needs Please notify us if you have any special needs (e.g. dietary, disabled access etc). Books 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.