Watch our parent education videos and find helpful resources on the WNHS Consumer Library (external site)

The KEMH Parent Education department offers a range of classes to help prepare and assist women receiving care at KEMH for the birth of their baby, breastfeeding, and the transition to parenthood. The department is staffed by midwives with a special interest in parent education.

In Australia, overseas visitors, overseas students and patients who are not eligible for Medicare under their current VISA arrangements are required to pay for the cost of their health care. Please contact the Overseas Liaison Officer on (08) 6458 1066 or email KEMHPPLO@health.wa.gov.au to obtain information regarding fees for your appointment.

Parent education workshops offered by KEMH

To be eligible for these workshops you must be birthing under North Metropolitan Health Service (KEMH, OPH or FBC).

Childbirth and parenting workshops are offered online or in-person. Bookings are essential, please book in early to avoid disappointment. Please see booking system for specific dates. Your partner or support person is welcome to attend our classes with you.

We recommend booking classes in advance, ideally attending classes between 28 and 36 weeks. It is recommended that you attend one of the following, depending on your needs and preferences.

• Four-week “Preparing for Birth and Baby” ONLINE workshop

  This four-part LIVE ONLINE course is ideal for first time parents, but open to all, and discusses topics including labour and birth, breastfeeding, and parenting. It is taught by experienced and knowledgeable midwives. Each online session is approximately two hours.

• Two-week “Preparing for Birth and Baby” IN-PERSON workshop

  This workshop offers comprehensive IN-PERSON parent education on topics including labour and birth, breastfeeding and parenting taught by experience and knowledgeable midwives. This course is currently held over TWO consecutive Saturdays from 9am – 3pm inclusive of breaks.

  Please note: Places are limited. Please cancel ASAP if you are no longer able to attend. This is an IN-PERSON alternative to the four-week ONLINE course which is also available.

• Two-week “Preparing for Birth” ONLINE workshop

  This two-part LIVE ONLINE workshop focuses on labour and birth education taught by experienced and knowledgeable midwives. Each online session is approximately two hours.

• “Positive Planned Caesarean” ONLINE workshop

  This LIVE ONLINE workshop is ideal for anyone having a planned caesarean birth, taught by experienced and knowledgeable midwives. This online session runs for approximately two hours.

• “Vaginal Birth After Caesarean” ONLINE workshop

  This LIVE ONLINE workshop is ideal for parents considering a vaginal birth after having had a caesarean birth, taught by experienced and knowledgeable midwives. This online session runs for approximately two hours.

• “Breastfeeding” ONLINE workshop

  This LIVE ONLINE class for parents covers practical advice about positioning and attachment, hand expressing, common breastfeeding challenges and general information on how to manage breastfeeding at home.

  Please note: this workshop will not be available after the 2^nd of January, 2025. For bookings after this date, please book through the Breastfeeding Centre of WA.

• “Baby Care and Parenting” ONLINE workshop

  This LIVE ONLINE two-hour workshop is a stand-alone class focusing on supporting parents to learn the fundamentals of caring for their newborn baby, as well as discussing the transition into parenting. This online session runs for approximately two hours.

Breastfeeding workshops offered by the Breastfeeding Centre of WA

These classes are open to public patients across the state. The breastfeeding workshops are held online in small group settings and provide a practical session for all pregnant women. 

Bookings are essential, please book in early to avoid disappointment. Please see booking system for specific dates. Your partner or support person is welcome to attend our classes with you.

• Preparing for breastfeeding class

  LIVE ONLINE class for parents, runs fortnightly on a Wednesday by a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

• Positioning and attachment class

  LIVE ONLINE class for parents, runs from 11am to 12 pm, Monday to Friday by a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

• Class for pregnant women with diabetes - prepare for breastfeeding

  LIVE ONLINE class for parents, runs weekly on a Tuesday, by a Lactation Consultant from the Breastfeeding Centre of WA.

Physiotherapy classes offered by KEMH Physiotherapy Department

To be eligible for these classes you must be birthing at King Edward Memorial Hospital.

Bookings are essential, please book in early to avoid disappointment. Please see booking system for specific dates. Your partner or support person is welcome to attend our classes with you.

Physiotherapy classes include:

• Skills for birth and beyond
• Postnatal exercise class
• Postnatal education class
• Pregnancy aquarobics - an aquarobics doctor consent form (PDF) is required
• TENS for pain relief in labour

See physiotherapy for pregnancy / post pregnancy for more information.

Family Birth Centre and Midwifery Group Practice

The Family Birth Centre and Midwifery Group Practice midwives hold their own parent information sessions. Please discuss this with your midwife if you are interested in attending.

Community Midwifery Program

The Community Midwifery Program offers antenatal classes. Please discuss this with your midwife if you are interested in attending.

Parenting resources

Antenatal

KEMH Library: Parent Education Information (external site)

PANDA (external site)
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood.

Labour and birth

WA Country Health Service (external site)
Foundations of birth video series

Lamaze (external site)
Please enrol on the right hand side of the screen and utilize one free session, if you make the decision to continue the classes a small cost is involved.

Australian birth stories (external site)
A podcast sharing stories of pregnancy and childbirth, hosted by Sophie Walker

Postnatal

Australian Breastfeeding Association (external site)

• Mum2mum App app has been designed to provide you with all of the breastfeeding information and support you need at your fingertips.
• Telephone help line 1800 686 268

COPE (external site)
Pregnancy and postnatal emotional resources

PANDA (external site)
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood.

Ngala (external site)
Ngala has a range of community, online and residential services across Western Australia which support local families.

Rednose (external site)

Raising Children (external site)

Sunsmart App (external site)

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding information and resources
The Breastfeeding Centre of WA has made available videos about Breastfeeding your baby. Please refer to these videos for your breastfeeding education. The videos are listed under Resources on the linked page above.

Australian Breastfeeding Association: Breastfeeding information and hotline (external site)

Raising Children Network: information, including videos, about breastfeeding (external site)