The BirthSkills Childbirth Preparation and Education Program is holistic, realistic and supportive. 

It is unlike other independent childbirth programs in offering a variety of tools and techniques for you to practice and choose from. The techniques do not rely on you achieving 'hypnotic trance' during labour and are easily tailored to suit your needs and preferences.

The program covers the following areas:
  • Awareness – Beliefs, The Fear/Tension/Pain Syndrome, The Fight or Flight Response, How Fear Affects Labour, How the uterus works, Working with Your Uterus During Labour, Hormonal Activity During Labour, Working with your hormones during labour.
  • Trust - Developing Trust Through Focus, Trust and Hypnosis/Deep Relaxation, Managing Pain During Birthing, Using MInd/Body Communication for the Management of Pain, How to achieve Self-hypnosis, Breath awareness, guided meditation.
  • Work - Breathing Techniques, Basic Physical Relaxation Techniques, Partner's Tool-Kit, Pre-Natal Bonding, Imagery and Visualisation, Massage, Affirmations, Physical Relaxation, Deepening Techniques, Your Birthing Body, Distraction Practice.
  • Choices – Birth Choices Worksheet, Choosing a Comfortable Position for Efficient Labour and Birthing, Information relating to Choices and Possible Experiences. Expectations, Intentions, preparing for your own unique and positive birthing experience.
  • Welcome - Birth Plans and Preferences, Welcome – The Four Stages of Labour. Early parenting (The fourth trimester, the 5 S's, trouble-shooting, postnatal depression/anxiety)
  • Additional – Empowerment Through Natural Therapies, Yoga, and nutrition.

BirthSkills ® is a comprehensive independent childbirth education program created by Dr Shari Read, an Australian psychotherapist, yoga & meditation teacher specialising in preconception, pregnancy & postnatal care. BirthSkills® is a philosophy and an approach to birth and, as a program, has been available in Australia since its inception in 2003. Techniques embodied in the BirthSkills Program aim to create calm, confident welcoming birth.

The BirthSkills Program draws upon current research in the fields of mind/body medicine and birth as well as using a foundation of knowledge from childbirth education pioneers such as Dr Grantly Dick-Read and Marie Mongan. Combining best practice childbirth education with the use of evidence-based mind/body techniques, such as meditation, CBT and the full spectrum of active birth techniques. These elements are shared with pregnant women and their birth partners in the context of a workshop setting or private sessions. It is in this setting, the BirthSkills Practitioner seeks to normalise and demystify the process of birth; share strategies to create a calm atmosphere during labour and work through tried and true active birth techniques.

BirthSkills® as founded by Dr Shari read has grown to become a program that is shared by a small team of certified practitioners with birthing women across Australia. BirthSkills Practitioners are women who come together to share their commitment to empowering birthing women through education and professional support.Practitioners have diverse backgrounds in fields associated with the provision of quality care to pregnant women including midwives, childbirth educators, naturopaths, yoga teachers, and birth attendants.

BirthSkills Practitioners are proud to provide tailored birth preparation classes that are designed to suit your individual needs and desired birth outcomes.To find out more about workshops or other sessions please click here.

Private sessions, with your partner, in your own home (or location of choice). Evening and weekend group or individual sessions available.

-  in the ACT (Canberra) and distance preparation www.bodhitreeyoga.com.au phone Shari on 0407 775 783 or email shari@birthskills.com.au

-  in WA (SouthWest) - www.bellyflower.com.au phone Natalie on 0417 186 673 or email natalie@birthksills.com.au

- in SA (Adelaide) - www.mothernurture.com.au phone Donna on 0414 949 709 or email donna@birthskills.com.au

 - in the Northern Territory (Darwin/Palmerston area) - www.fulfillingbirth.com.au or contact Jane on 0400 241415 or patersonia@hotmail.com

 - in Victoria (Melbourne) - www.mamashanti.com.au or contact Nina on 0432 078 899 or email shantinina@gmail.com

 - in NSW (Sydney area) - www.aquanatal.com.au or contact Donna on 0424 725 915 or email aquanatal@aapt.net.au

-   in your time -  BirthSkills products for self-paced learning can be purchased through The BirthSkills Shop