P20 - The future of Childbirth Education in maternity care; Raising the bar and changing the consumer experience of antenatal education when preparing for parenthood during a global pandemic

Abstract

There is no doubt at the centre of midwifery exists the experience of the birthing woman, her connection to her midwife and the preparation she makes with her partner for parenthood. Integral to the preparation for parenthood lies childbirth education. In 2019, this question was posed by researchers Kate Levett and Hannah Dahlen. Are we doing enough to prepare women for childbirth? The answer, simply across Australia we are not. Antenatal education programmes within hospitals were said to be time poor and information heavy with scheduling fixed due to staffing pressures. The effects of teaching a broad curriculum in limited sessions were listed as- • leaving consumers of maternity services feeling unprepared • fearful • inadequate in their preparation for physiological childbirth. At St John of God Midland Public Hospital, the consumer experience has shaped our collaboration commenced in October 2021. Working together, consumers at our hospital have access to: • a standardised programme of childbirth education created and delivered by a certified childbirth educator • evidence based education during both low and high risk models of care • the benefits of clinical and non-clinical educational sessions delivered by Lesley and Elissa • an opportunity to gain knowledge and develop skill based comfort measures for labour and birth support • Next Birth After Caesarean specialist parent education during early and late pregnancy Our Presentation. A qualitative review of our innovative collaboration to answer these questions; • What has been the consumer experience of this new model of delivering parent education? • During the pandemic when staff shortages are at an all time high, what impacts have been noticed when staffing a busy public maternity service? • Are we preparing our birthing families to cope with physiological labour and birth? • Bringing outside expertise into maternity departments, could this be the future of delivering childbirth education in Australia?