Parent education workshops

Our team

Grania Foster

My name is Grania and I am one of the team of three Parent Education Midwives. I qualified as an antenatal teacher in 2003, after training with the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).

I have worked for over 11 years as a midwife mainly in the community, but also on the Oxford Spires Midwifery-led Unit, Level 5 Postnatal Ward and Delivery Suite.

I am passionate about the importance of informed decision-making, and helping people have confidence in their pregnancy, birth and new parent journeys. I look forward to meeting you at some of our workshops.

Emma Rhodes

My name is Emma. After becoming a parent I decided to train as a midwife at Oxford Brookes University, and I have worked in Oxford University Hospitals for around three years.

Before becoming a midwife, I was an Antenatal Hypnotherapy Practitioner, helping couples prepare for the birth of their baby. I have also worked in children's social services and volunteered for the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).

I love helping people to understand more about their options and to make the decisions that are right for them, supported by evidence and research.

Camila Alves

My name is Camila and I am a midwife originally from Brazil, where I used to work as an early-years teacher. Prior to becoming a midwife, I volunteered for the National Childbirth Trust and the Positive Birth Group.

I trained as a midwife at Oxford University Hospitals, where I now work between the community, Delivery Suite and Maternity Assessment Units.

I am very passionate about parent education and I'm always trying to come up with fun and interactive ways to help new parents through their journey. I believe informed choice is empowering and by sharing honest, evidence-based information, together, we can find what is right for each family to achieve a positive birth experience.

Online workshops

Our free, interactive, online workshops aim to give you information to prepare you for the birth of your baby and the early days of parenting.

You'll feel more confident about making the right decisions for you about your labour and birth, and more confident in caring for and feeding your new baby.

In addition, they will give you information on looking after your own health and wellbeing - something which is very important.

All workshops are online and we recommend booking them for when you will be between 28 and 34 weeks pregnant.

There are two available formats for workshops. You can either book a full day workshop plus a two-hour workshop on feeding, or you can book the four two-hour evening workshops. Both formats cover the same content.

We strongly recommend booking all workshops if you are a first-time parent. You will need to book each workshop separately.

If this is not your first baby, you may wish to book only the workshops you feel will be beneficial to you.

Topics covered

Workshop 1 - Physiological labour and birth

Signs of labour, hormones of birth, active labour, birthplace options in Oxfordshire, self-help options for coping with pain, role of the birth partner and more.

Workshop 2 - Complex care for labour and birth

Informed decision-making, more on pain relief options, medical interventions for labour and birth and more.

Workshop 3 - Post birth

What happens when the baby is born, postnatal care, mental health, relationships and recovery, bathing, nappies, safe sleeping and newborn care, how to give feedback and sources of support.

Workshop 4 - Feeding your baby

Information and options around feeding your baby.

Bespoke sessions

We also offer a range of sessions on specific topics, such as:

• Place of birth - where can I have my baby?
• Birth After Caesarean (BAC)
• Induction of labour - what to expect

You may want to book yourself onto these sessions if they apply to your pregnancy.

Partners and birth partners are warmly invited to attend with you.

How to book

Book our parent education workshops via Eventbrite:

The Maternity Team at Oxford University Hospitals Events - Eventbrite

One ticket also admits the attendee's birth partner.

Contact us

Please contact the Parent Education Midwives if you have any questions.

Email: parenteducation@ouh.nhs.uk