Investing in your birth: why childbirth education matters

Investing in your birth: why childbirth education matters

According to the Australian Bridal Industry Academy (ABIA), the average wedding in Australia costs approximately $41,400, with couples spending over 250 hours planning every detail of that one special day. It’s a meaningful celebration – but it’s just one day.

Now consider this: childbirth is not only the beginning of your baby’s life, but a transformative and life-altering experience for you as a woman. Yet many couples spend more time researching prams and planning baby showers than preparing for the actual birth of their child. The average cost of a high-end pram in Australia can range between $1,200 – $2,000, while comprehensive childbirth education classes often cost a fraction of that. You can return a pram – but you can’t redo your birth experience.

Birth trauma doesn’t just affect women – it can have a profound and lasting impact on their partners as well. When couples go into birth unprepared or under-informed, they are more likely to feel overwhelmed, disempowered, or blindsided by the intensity of labour and the decisions that may arise in the birth space. Despite this, many women still approach birth with the idea that they’ll “just go with the flow” or that the hospital will tell them everything they need to know. But birth is not something to passively experience – it’s something to actively prepare for. According to the Australasian Birth Trauma Association, 1 in 3 women in Australia report their birth as traumatic, with many describing feelings of confusion, loss of control, or being dismissed or rushed into interventions without fully understanding their options. Partners are also deeply affected – many describe feeling helpless, anxious, and traumatised by the experience of watching their loved one in distress without knowing how to support them. A lack of education and preparation increases the likelihood of reactive rather than informed decision-making in the birth space, leading to regret or emotional distress. Investing time into childbirth education can dramatically change this outcome – giving both women and their partners the tools, knowledge, and confidence to navigate labour together, ask the right questions, and create a more supported, connected, and positive birth experience.

So why invest in childbirth education?

 Because education creates understanding, and understanding reduces fear.

Here’s what good childbirth classes offer:

• Knowledge of physiological birth – Understanding how your body works in labour and birth, including the role of hormones like oxytocin and endorphins.

• Awareness of your rights and choices – You’ll learn how to advocate for yourself, what questions to ask, and how to create a birth plan that aligns with your values and needs.

• Preparation for your birth partner – Classes teach your support person how to be truly helpful, with practical tools, comfort techniques, and ways to remain calm and encouraging.

• Strategies for a smoother postpartum – Because how you feel about your birth experience directly impacts your emotional and physical wellbeing during the early weeks with your baby.

These are not just skills for the day of birth – they’re tools for life. Breathing techniques, mindset practices, and body awareness will serve you in birth, parenting, and beyond.

 

Partners, this is for you too 

It’s not uncommon for a woman to be excited about attending childbirth education, only to have her partner question the value or cost. But let’s ask the honest question: Who is the one carrying this baby, who will be going through the intense, powerful, and sometimes overwhelming experience of labour and birth?

She deserves to feel prepared, confident, and supported.

Partners – when you attend these classes, you’re not just there to “tag along.” You’re learning how to be her rock. You’re learning how to hold space, reduce stress, support decision-making, and be part of something incredibly meaningful. And often, the partners who start out unsure walk away saying, “I wish more people knew this.” 

Here is what Josh had to say after attending my Back to Basics Birthing classes:

“My wife and I are expecting our first child, we (my wife) signed up for the birthing class that was 2 nights from 6pm-9pm. Being a guy I knew little to nothing about child birth and labour but I walked away with a wealth of knowledge and techniques to help with a stress-free birth as well as massage techniques for your number 1. The way Vicki’s course is run it really breaks down all the information simply for new parents, a few videos I found very confronting but a great way to learn what you are in for. Highly recommended this course for all people wanting to educate themselves on birthing techniques and helping gain confidence around this crazy experience. It has certainly made us so much more confident. Thanks, Vicki, for everything.”

 

 

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity 

Every birth is unique, and you only get one chance to birth this baby. How you prepare for this moment matters – not only for your own experience but for your baby’s first hours of life, and for your journey into parenthood.

This is an investment in your confidence, your mental wellbeing, your bond with your baby, and your future.

You, your baby, and your birth are worth investing in.

If you’re ready to feel confident, informed, and truly prepared for the birth of your baby, I invite you to join me for my Back to Basics Birthing classes. These relaxed and down-to-earth sessions are designed for both you and your partner to gain a clear understanding of the physiology of birth, learn practical comfort techniques, and explore your options so you can make informed decisions – no matter where or how you plan to birth. I keep it real, share stories and experiences, we have a few laughs (often at my expense!), and work through real-life scenarios that actually happen – not just what the textbooks say. It’s about equipping you with tools you’ll actually use, helping you feel calm, capable, and supported every step of the way. You’ll walk away saying, “Why doesn’t everyone do this?”

Visit https://vickihobbs.com/back-to-basics-birthing-classes/ to learn more and secure your place today.