You register easily by admitting the form below.
Hi and welcome to my course,
It will prepare you for a memorable and exciting experience and in becoming parents. And why shouldn't you invest some time for that? We educate ourselves for everything else in life: in order to be able to drive a car, to get a professional career, learn sports etc.
I gave my first course 40 years ago and I still find it an exciting job to support couples in their process of becoming parents. I have participants expecting their first baby as well as second or third and twins. (I presently give courses in both English and Swedish). I have met people from all over the world. Over the last couple I have had participants from more than 60 countries e.g. Argentina, India, Taiwan, Israel, Greece, Egypt, Bolivia, Columbia, Estonia, Polen, Japan, Afghanistan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Zambia, the US, England, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, France, Iraq, Russia, China, Brazil, New Zeeland, Holland... |
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I gave my first courses in psychoprofylaxis or the Lamaze method about 40 years ago. I began because of my very positive experience of using the method in giving birth to my own son, in 1971. That experience made me want to spread the information about how much you and your partner can do to prepare yourselves before becoming parents. So I became a certified antenatal teacher and a certified instructor in infant massage. I also work as a therapist, with a background in HR (Human Resources) of 25 years. |
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The aim of the antenatal preparation for childbirth and parenthood
is to empower parents with the knowledge and means to take an active part
in birth, rather than passively accepting the demands of labor and
obstetrical routines in a hospital. Being in labor you are not sick,
only going through a healthy and natural process where I want to enhance
the Mother's confidence in her body, and her ability to give birth.
This also includes an active participation of the Father or accompanying person,
both in pregnancy and in the birth process.
You are free to make requests on the course agenda.
The content may vary slightly since each course is adapted to the group's
needs and requests.
Please, read more about the different topics under each headline.
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The first meeting - Philip and Irina
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- Eight weeks before due date is a good time to start.
- I form new groups continuously according to due dates. The courses are held in Stockholm.
- We meet a total of five times, once a week. Four times before birth, followed by a final reunion to see the "results", to share experiences and networking.
- Each meeting is 3 hours, evenings. (Swedish citizens have a right to take paid time off from work in order to take parenting courses. Check if this applies to your own working situation).
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Reunion
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Course schedule
I do not have a fixed schedule. Instead I arrange courses by gathering couples with roughly the same due dates, maximum five couples in each course.
Please fill in the registration form and I will get back to you about the details of time, place and price.Occasionally I will create a tailor-made course due to special circumstances or needs.
I will give you hand-outs about the different subjects in the course but bring your own writing material if you want to make your own notes. |
Knowing about the birth process helps you to navigate through the
different phases and their characteristics. This knowledge serves like a map.
Ideally, things proceed according to the map. But sometimes,
unpredictable turns occur and have to be dealt with as they arise.
Deviations from the "statistical average" will be explained, as well as
the routines in Swedish hospitals.
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Breathing well is essential not only for your well being but also for
your baby's. Some make the analogy about giving birth is like running a
marathon. And that is not a bad comparison. In both cases you need to know
where you are going, what the terrain looks like, have a strategy for how
to meet challenges along the way and have to be in good shape to endure the
work that is ahead of you.
By practicing special techniques for breathing, you can block out pain
signals from the uterus, thus experiencing less pain during contractions.
Using intervals in between contractions in a positive way,
by being as relaxed as possible, you conserve energy.
This is invaluable to have strength to cope with the different phases
during labor. You will be given different exercises to work with in
between meetings.
Do practice -it pays off!
You will also learn some simple massage techniques.
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Tiina enjoying the break between contractions
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There is good pain and bad pain. Pain during labor is good and normal.
It's a sign that the labor is progressing. Every contraction brings you
closer to your baby!
The physiological reason behind the pain is an increasing pressure in the
uterus, muscles are working harder and harder and the cervix is dilating.
Pain from contractions is different from other forms of pain,it may
be similar to pain during your period. You will also learn about
differents factors that may influence the experience of pain and how to
deal with them.
You are likely to get used to the increasing intensity of the
contractions, thus learning how to meet and use it as a driving force
during labor. During the class you will also learn about the different ways
of natural pain relief as well as chemical pain relief, when they can be administered, the advantages
and disadvantages of each.
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Tiina using laughing gas
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Staying as mobile and upright as possible usually relieves your pain and
shortens labor. During class you will learn about different laboring
positions for greatest comfort.
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The classes also helps the father to be included in the
pregnancy, to understand what is coming and how to deal with it.
The father/other person is therefore a very important both in preparation
for and during labor. Before labor, you will practice the excercises
together. During labor, he is the someone to "lean on", an integral part of
a team together with the midwife and her assistant that help and support you.
He is the one who knows you the best and he can act as your spokesperson
when necessary. Afterwards, both of you share the process of becoming
parents, the transition from being two to becoming three; which includes
much joy, not nearly enough sleep, and the wonders of getting to know this
new little creature - your child. (See "comments previous participants" below).
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Vincent with Nils
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No question is too big or small to be asked. The main purpose of the meetings is to air any
thought that comes to your mind. You will be surprised how many in the room who share the same
concern or need to know more...
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Although labor follows a basic set pattern, every birth is unique and
not fully predictable. Understanding what complications may arise, and
how they are handled is valuable knowledge. We look at and
explain normal practices at Swedish hospitals e.g. how caesarians are
performed, what happens if the baby needs to be in an incubator for some
time.
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The wonders of a newborn baby are endless. Every baby is unique,
has it's own rhythm. Soon you will be able to differentiate the different
messages about being hungry, wanting company, happy, sad or angry. During
class we will go through the basics about how to take care of your baby,
basic clothing etc.
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Tiina with Laurie
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This is a subject that can be talked about a lot. And we will!
Neither shape nor size of the breast matters when you nurse.
At first, it's very much a matter of patience - and of knowledge.
You will learn about the benefits of breast feeding, how and when the milk
production starts, how to nurse, how to begin, common mistakes, what to do
with engorged breasts etc.
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Also known as the Period of Great Tiredness...
This is likely to be true during the first three months.
The rhythm of every newborn is unique. You are very likely to be woken up
in the middle of the night and/or very early in the morning. This causes lack
of sleep (incidentally, a well-known method of torture...).
It's very much up to you as a parent to adjust.
But you are not entirely helpless in this situation.
The class will cover how to "survive" this phase, with practical advice on
how to support and help each other, giving you peace/time/energy to
enjoy the baby.
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Arvid on Sergios shoulder
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"For me, as an individual becoming father, the course described very
pragmatically what is going to happen to my fiancée, when the baby is working its
way out. All from practical movement in the birth canal, changes in behavior
of my partner during that, and my actual job in delivery. I found the course
very essential to my capability to be a "birth team member" with the midwife and
the assistant. Now I'm confident that I was solid active support to Linnea
Emerenzia during her first voyage.
For us as a couple, the course gave much confidence related to each other
in the full action of birth. My feelings towards my fiancée deepened during
the training, when we started to realize what kind of reality together awaited
us, and I realized what Elina had to go through. We were also very pleased
to the pedagogic way that Susanne introduced us different breathing and pain
releasing techniques."
Karri Mukkonen
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Karri and Emerenzia
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"Yesterday evening (23:53) Nicolò was born after 9 hours of labour. They induced the labour in the morning with prostaglandin (in Italy they induced after 10 days )! Thanks to your lessons I was able to help Fabiana, breathing, holding her in some position… and of course she was great! The baby was 4,130 Kg and Fabiana never really never loose the control! Still today doctors, midwives, nurses are coming in to our room doing compliment and asking where we have done the course! Thank you very much."
Stefano and Fabiana
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"Our baby-boy was born at KS on Jan. 4th, 17:40, 2810g! His name is Dennis (and Taishi as a middle, Japanese name) Dahlin. I had a very good labor supported by the KS professional staff and Micke, of course. The Labor took (only?!) 5 hours after arriving at KS.
Susanne, I cannot find right words to tell you how much we, esp. I, appreciate what you
have given us in your course, not only all those concrete techniques and advices, but also
your comforts and mental support. Susanne, you gave me confidence in myself and let me
face and get prepared for this labor, which I cannot appreciate enough. Thank you very much.
It goes without saying that the breathing patterns helped me (and my husband as well)
a great deal, thanks to this method, I didn't panic, I could keep my composure.
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Yuriko, Micke and Dennis
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"This was the most practical course that we've ever done, the whole birth process became such a
beautiful experience thanks to the excellent breathing techniques we learned on the course.
Susanne was the perfect teacher, she made the course very real, from imitating contraction pains to showing
us how it may actually be on the day, in practice not just in theory!
As for my husband, he went from not even wanting to attend the course to becoming the most actively involved
father both on the course and in the actual delivery!
We reccommend it to absolutely everyone!"
Wasan Abdullatif, Kasim and Sam
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Kasim, Wasan and Sam
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"Chris and I are pleased to announce the birth of our baby daughter (2,97 kg, 50 cm). She was born on the 26th of October at 13.44. The birth went well, despite the fact that she was in a breech position. We had been told that she was breech a few weeks prior to the due date and had decided that we would give natural birth a go. Of course we had made sure that all the measurements were good and that a natural birth was possible. The waters broke at about 04.20, after a hour of contractions, so we made our way to the hospital quite soon after that. The lamaze breathing worked for the first few hours, but then I discovered the gas....heaven!!! However, when it came to the "no push" part...I couldn't work out why the gas wouldn't help...until Chris reminded me of the panting....I stopped using the gas and just panted my way through that part of the contractions....it was so good, a huge relief! So, all in all, the breathing really helped and Chris and I worked so well together...we were almost surprised! I didn't even need an epidural!
Anyway, our little girl came into the world bum first...but she's happy and healthy!
We look forward to catching up with everyone at the reunion!"
Eva and Chris
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"Thank you Susanne for sharing your knowledge with Kram and I. Through participating in
your course, the birth of our daughter Lilja was the most empowering and memorable experience
in my life. The knowledge and exercises you shared with us provided the basis for Kram and I to
bond before, during and after the birth of our daughter. I entered your course worried and
stressed about the whole birth process and left feeling excited about what was to come.
Through the labour Kram and I worked together as a support team doing the breathing exercises
and keeping each other calm. The result of your course is a memory of a great bonding experience
between Kram and I, and me feeling extremely empowered by the birth. I thank you from the bottom
of my heart Susanne. Thank you."
Sarah Robinson Wolrath
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Sarah and Krammagnus with Lilja
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"As an Englishman in Stockholm with a relatively good understanding of Swedish, I was rather daunted by the idea of having to support my lovely 'sambo' through this amazing journey. We attended a state-run course which was rather good but was unable to answer all of my questions as well as to make us feel totally prepared for the process.
So, in stepped Susanne, with her excellent English, her calm yet reassuring manner and her vast knowledge of the whole sequence of events, our nerves seemed to disappear.
For us, the course worked in two ways. Firstly, we felt we were ready for what was about to happen to us. The 'unknown' didn't seem so unknown anymore. This really helped us, particularly before labour started, but also in the hospital.
Secondly, the exercises Susanne taught us really helped to relax us both during labour. I'm sure that this helped to relax our wonderful baby Alice, too.
We would recommend Susanne's course to anyone going through this wonderful experience.
Thank you Susanne!"
David
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