Calmbirth® Courses on the Central Coast
Practical skills and knowledge for a calm, confident and empowered birth.
Calmbirth®
Calmbirth® is a comprehensive prenatal program that blends evidence-based information with practical skills and emotional preparation.
By gaining a deeper appreciation of the birthing process, you and your partner can feel more informed and develop a stronger sense of confidence. Many couples find that fear and uncertainty give way to calm, confidence, and even excited anticipation.
The Role of Your Partner or Support Person
Calmbirth® places strong emphasis on the role of your partner or support person. They’ll leave the course with confidence and a toolkit of strategies—massage, acupressure, advocacy, positioning support, and emotional reassurance—to help you feel physically and emotionally supported throughout labour and birth.
Preparing for All Possibilities
Every birth is different, and sometimes medical support or interventions—such as induction of labour or caesarean—may be needed. Calmbirth® provides you with evidence-based insights into these interventions as well as care practices such as heart rate monitoring, vaginal examinations, and pain relief options, so you understand their purpose and implications.
Having this knowledge ahead of time not only gives you practical tools to navigate the hospital system but also helps you make informed decisions.
This preparation empowers you to maintain your bodily autonomy, even when birth takes unexpected turns. It also equips your partner or support person to advocate on your behalf, ensuring your care reflects your values and needs.
Together, you’ll feel prepared to navigate all possibilities with clarity and confidence.
What You’ll Learn at Calmbirth®
Through the Calmbirth® course, you and your partner will:
Understand the birth process – Gain a deeper appreciation of how your body prepares for birth, and the vital role hormones and muscles play in labour.
Harness the power of your mind-body connection – Discover how stress can interrupt the natural flow of labour, and how relaxation can positively influence the process.
Prepare emotionally – Experience guided meditations designed to release fear and anxiety, helping you access deeper levels of calm and trust.
Build a practical toolkit – Learn breathing techniques, visualisation, massage, acupressure, and positioning skills to support you through pregnancy, labour, and beyond.
Strengthen partner support – Equip your partner or support person with techniques to comfort, encourage, and advocate for you, so you feel safe, supported, and connected.
Navigate medical care with confidence – Develop knowledge of common care practices and interventions—including induction of labour, caesarean birth, fetal monitoring, vaginal examinations, and pain relief options—so you can make informed decisions that reflect your values.
Prepare for the first hours after birth – Learn how to support your baby’s first feed and create a calm, connected transition into parenthood.
Understand the 4th trimester – Explore the physical and emotional significance of the first three months after birth, and how you can prepare and plan for this period to optimise your healing and adjustment.
Central Coast Calmbirth Class Schedule
Calmbirth® workshops @ Physiozest, Erina
Group Calmbirth Courses 2025
SEPTEMBER 13th & 14th, 9.00 – 5.00 pm
OCTOBER 11th & 12th, 9.00 – 5.00 pm
NOVEMBER 1st & 2nd, 9.00 – 5.00 pm
When you book a Calmbirth® course with us, you’ll also receive ongoing 1:1 phone or email support from Kate if needed, ensuring you have the guidance you need even after the course.
The cost of the group course is $ 595 per couple.
You can book via the link below, or if you prefer to pay a deposit with the balance due 2 weeks before your course, please send us an email.
Our courses are often booked out; please book early to avoid disappointment.
Waiting List
Please email us if you would like to be notified of any last-minute availability.
Private Calmbirth Sessions
Private Calmbirth sessions are held in the comfort of your own home. They cover the same content as a group course but allow for more in-depth discussions relating to your individual needs.
Private sessions are run as four three-hour sessions. You can select weekly sessions or multiple sessions per week. This option provides flexibility that fits your schedule.
If you would like a private Calmbirth course, please email or call me to discuss possible dates.
The cost per couple is $895. To book your session, you may pay in full or secure your space with a deposit of $195; the balance is due two weeks before your course.
Private Calmbirth Course Availability
AUGUST
- Wednesday, 27/8, 10 am – 1 pm
- Friday 29/8, 4.30 pm – 7.30 pm
SEPTEMBER
- Tuesday, 2/9 10 am – 1 pm
- Friday, 5/9 4.30 pm – 7.30 pm
- Tuesday, 9/9 10 am – 1 pm
- Tuesday 23/9 10 am – 1 pm
- Friday 26/9 4.30 pm – 7.30 pm
- Saturday 27/9 2.30 pm – 5.30 pm
Private sessions are limited to 2-3 couples per month and are often booked out in advance, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Testimonials
Your Calmbirth® Questions
I am really nervous about my baby's birth. How can the Calmbirth® course help?
You will develop a tool kit of skills to reduce stress and fear during pregnancy and childbirth. The relaxation exercises will also assist you to prepare for birth on a deep emotional level. Find out more about how the Calmbirth program has helped thousands of couples to feel confident and informed about birth here.
Is there any research that has studied the benefits of Calmbirth® during childbirth?
The findings showed that couples had a high rate of satisfaction with the Calmbirth® course. 88% of couples rated the course 8 or more out of 10. There was a dramatic change in couples’ confidence levels following the course with 82% of women feeling confident to very confident about birth. In comparison, 50% of women felt anxious, frightened or very frightened before the course. Partners feelings towards birth also improved with 80% of partners feeling confident to very confident.
The types of birth were also explored. 76% of women birthed their babies vaginally, 13% required an emergency caesarean and 4% had a planned caesarean. Women were less likely to need pain relief than women who had not attended Calmbirth®. 46% of women used no pain relief, and 30% used gas only.
The findings revealed couples had a high level of satisfaction with the Calmbirth® program and approached their baby’s birth with feelings of confidence. There was a higher rate of vaginal birth, and a lower caesarean rate than mothers in the NSW Mothers and Babies report 2010. Also, the need for pain relief was lower in the Calmbirth® study compared to the women in the NSW Mothers, and Babies report 2010.
Similar findings have been identified in studies at The Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick and in a research project by the National Institute of Complementary Medicine. For more information, please see the Calmbirth website.
When is the best time to attend?
The ideal time to attned your Calmbirth course is between 24 to 34 weeks of pregnancy. This also allows plenty of time to review the knowledge and practice the skills taught in your course. However, if there are reasons that prevent you from attending a course in this recommended window, it can still be highly beneficial to attend earlier or later. If you wish to discuss your circumstances with Kate, please contact her here.
Is there any research to support the Calmbirth® teachings?
Does Calmbirth® take the place of other birth classes?
If you would like information about caring for your baby in the early weeks and months, The Wonders Within also offers breastfeeding and preparation for parenthood courses. For more information, click here.
Is Calmbirth® only for couples planning a natural birth?
No! Calmbirth® is a program that will assist you to feel psychologically, emotionally and physically for birth. It is not a prescription for a particular kind of birth. The skills you learn in your Calmbirth® course will be of great benefit regardless of whether you wish for a natural birth or require medical assistance, including a caesarean.
There are times when medical intervention is required. This is not a failure, and it does not need to be the end of your positive birth experience. In the Calmbirth® program, you will develop knowledge and skills to feel confident communicating with your care providers. You will also learn practical skills such as breathing, relaxation, massage and acupressure techniques that are beneficial even if medical intervention is necessary.
Can I claim a rebate for my Calmbirth class through my private health insurance?
Yes! Health insurance rebates are available from the following insurers, depending on your level of coverage: NIB, AHM, Australian Unity, GMHBA, HCF, BUPA, Teachers Health, and GU Health. Please note that Medibank does not cover this course. If being able to claim the course is an important consideration, please check with your insurer and Kate before attending.
A receipt to claim will be issued on completion of the Calmbirth course as Private Health funds will only process the claim once the course has been completed.