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Upcoming events
Feel prepared for birth together The Gentle Start — One Day Complete Antenatal Course
A relaxed, practical one-day antenatal course for you and your birth partner, led by registered midwife Carla.
Prepare for labour, birth, feeding, newborn care and those first days at home — with practical, evidence-informed guidance and plenty of time to ask the questions that matter to you.
Saturday 24 October | 2pm–7pm
📍 SCCUL Sanctuary, Clarinbridge
🤍 Small group — maximum 6 couples
👩⚕️ Midwife-led
🍽️ Dinner for two included
📖 Gentle Start workbook included
€169 per couple
Birth can feel like a lot to prepare for. You don't have to figure it all out alone.
You might be wondering when to go to hospital, how you'll cope with contractions, what pain-relief options you'll have, what happens if your birth doesn't go to plan — or what your partner can actually do to help.
And then there's everything that comes afterwards: feeding your baby, newborn care, recovery and those first days at home.
The Gentle Start brings all of that preparation together in one relaxed day, so you can ask questions, practice together and leave feeling more informed, more prepared and more confident about what's ahead.
Everything you need to feel more prepared
During your Gentle Start course, we'll explore:
Labour & birth
How labour may begin, when to contact your maternity unit, what to expect as labour progresses and what happens when you arrive at hospital.
Comfort & pain relief
Breathing, movement, positions, practical comfort techniques and your pain-relief options.
When birth takes a different path
Induction, assisted birth, Caesarean birth and making informed decisions if circumstances change.
Birth-partner preparation
Practical ways your partner can support you during labour, communicate with you and your maternity team, and feel involved rather than unsure of what to do.
Feeding & your newborn
Preparing for your baby's first feeds, skin-to-skin, newborn behaviour, safe sleep and practical newborn care.
The early postnatal days
What to expect from your own recovery and adjusting to those first days together as a new family.
This isn't about teaching you one "right" way to give birth. It's about helping you understand your options and giving you practical tools to navigate whatever path your birth takes.
A little look inside The Gentle Start 🤍
The Gentle Start is deliberately kept small. That means there's time to ask questions, talk things through and practice techniques together in a relaxed environment, rather than feeling lost in a large class.
What our couples say- Real feedback from previous Gentle Start attendees
Meet your midwife
Hi, I'm Carla, the midwife behind The Gentle Start. 🤍
I created The Gentle Start to give expectant parents a calm, supportive place to prepare for birth and early parenthood without feeling overwhelmed by information.
I'm a registered nurse and midwife, and my approach to antenatal education is practical, evidence-informed and completely judgement-free.
My aim isn't to tell you how you should give birth. It's to help you and your partner understand your options, know what to expect and feel better prepared to make decisions that are right for you.
I'll personally lead your Gentle Start course, and because groups are intentionally kept small, there is plenty of opportunity to ask questions throughout the day.
Carla
Registered Nurse & Midwife
Your booking includes
✓ Five-hour Complete Antenatal Course
✓ Two places — you + your birth partner
✓ Teaching with a registered midwife
✓ Practical breathing, movement & comfort techniques
✓ Birth-partner preparation
✓ Comprehensive Gentle Start workbook
✓ Dinner for two
✓ Small group setting
✓ Plenty of time for questions
Ready to feel more prepared?
Join us for a relaxed afternoon of practical, midwife-led preparation for birth and those first days with your baby.
Saturday 24 October | 2pm–7pm
📍 SCCUL Sanctuary, Clarinbridge
€169 per couple
🤍 Maximum 6 couples