Annerley
Sleep problems are some of the most common difficulties parents face with their babies and young children. You may wonder how you are ever going to get your child to sleep through the night, or, you may have a new baby who only seems to be able to fall asleep whilst feeding or being rocked in your arms.
We understand the impact that a baby/child who doesn’t sleep well will have on the whole family from parents who suffer from the exhaustion of broken nights and the tiredness that can lead to strained relationships and difficulties at work, to the young child who cannot sufficiently concentrate during the day to cope with normal daytime activities.
Babies and children need to learn to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own. The foundations of a good sleep pattern are best established as early as possible and once firmly in place will stay with the child for life.
We will work in partnership with you using sleep techniques tailor made to your situation and aim to solve the sleep problem within about 3 - 4 weeks. We will provide you with the skills and support that you need to enable you to create and maintain a good sleeping pattern for your baby/child, building on the trust and bond that already exists between you and your child.
Our techniques are gentle and consistent and can be adapted as necessary during the programme. Progress is usually seen by day 4 and by day 7 the new sleep pattern will be starting to shine through!
Once you contact us we will send you a sleep chart which we would like you to fill in for at least 4 days and bring to the first appointment. We will discuss and assess the problem at the first appointment and start you on the sleep programme best suited to your child’s particular needs. Subsequent appointments would usually be 4 – 7 days later, when we will be building on initial success and following this the timing of further appointments will be decided.
Fees:
• Single Sleep Consultation
o Office $720
o Home $850
• Sleep Package
o 3 consultations plus telephone support during the programme $2,400
• Email services for clients living outside of Hong Kong $150 per 15 minute increments
• Telephone support ( excluding initial enquiry or those during package)
o Up to 10 minutes – no charge
o 10 – 30 minutes $150
We understand the impact that a baby/child who doesn’t sleep well will have on the whole family from parents who suffer from the exhaustion of broken nights and the tiredness that can lead to strained relationships and difficulties at work, to the young child who cannot sufficiently concentrate during the day to cope with normal daytime activities.
Babies and children need to learn to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own. The foundations of a good sleep pattern are best established as early as possible and once firmly in place will stay with the child for life.
We will work in partnership with you using sleep techniques tailor made to your situation and aim to solve the sleep problem within about 3 - 4 weeks. We will provide you with the skills and support that you need to enable you to create and maintain a good sleeping pattern for your baby/child, building on the trust and bond that already exists between you and your child.
Our techniques are gentle and consistent and can be adapted as necessary during the programme. Progress is usually seen by day 4 and by day 7 the new sleep pattern will be starting to shine through!
Once you contact us we will send you a sleep chart which we would like you to fill in for at least 4 days and bring to the first appointment. We will discuss and assess the problem at the first appointment and start you on the sleep programme best suited to your child’s particular needs. Subsequent appointments would usually be 4 – 7 days later, when we will be building on initial success and following this the timing of further appointments will be decided.
Fees:
• Single Sleep Consultation
o Office $720
o Home $850
• Sleep Package
o 3 consultations plus telephone support during the programme $2,400
• Email services for clients living outside of Hong Kong $150 per 15 minute increments
• Telephone support ( excluding initial enquiry or those during package)
o Up to 10 minutes – no charge
o 10 – 30 minutes $150
Monday and Tuesday mornings are MOTHER AND BABY time at Annerley. We offer two sessions dependent on your babies age, 0-3 months on MONDAYS and 3 months and older babies on TUESDAYS. These sessions are from 10am- 12pm. This is a good opportunity to have discussions, ask questions and meet other mothers and babies who are in a similar situation to yourself. We also warmly welcome pregnant ladies that wish to get more information and be a part of a mothers group for later on when baby arrives. Dads are also warmly welcomed. Each session is limited to 2 hours, but there is plenty of space for questions and informal chat during that time period.
Our midwife or health visitor will be here to answer questions and give advice. There is time for a quick one on one discussion with our midwife or health visitor, during which we will weigh and measure your baby and answer any immediate concerns you may have. On days where there is an advertised topic please be advised that we will do our best to deliver this. However, during particularly busy sessions, the time available for a topic may be limited.
Fee: $150 per session
Our midwife or health visitor will be here to answer questions and give advice. There is time for a quick one on one discussion with our midwife or health visitor, during which we will weigh and measure your baby and answer any immediate concerns you may have. On days where there is an advertised topic please be advised that we will do our best to deliver this. However, during particularly busy sessions, the time available for a topic may be limited.
Fee: $150 per session
Helpers play a major part within your family unit. You rely on them to care as well for your children as you would, when you are not able to be present. Through our profession, we have come across many problems and misunderstandings arising from the different cultural practices of domestic helpers and the families that they are working with. Our course has been designed to solve these issues and to enable the helpers to become more confident in current childcare practices. In a small, friendly and informal setting, as well as teaching the subject matter, we aim to encourage the helpers to problem solve, communicate effectively and feel confident about their role in your home.
Our course includes:
Basic baby care and hygiene
Settling your baby and sleep
Safety and Child/ Infant Resuscitation
Nutrition
Development and Play
The topics are taught weekly in 2 hour blocks over 6 sessions and each participant will receive a handbook containing all the information plus topics to consider prior to each session. A certificate of attendance will be issued for both the CPR and first aid component and for the full course.
Classes are on Mondays and Tuesdays with CPR
Course Fee: $1,900 per person
Our course includes:
Basic baby care and hygiene
Settling your baby and sleep
Safety and Child/ Infant Resuscitation
Nutrition
Development and Play
The topics are taught weekly in 2 hour blocks over 6 sessions and each participant will receive a handbook containing all the information plus topics to consider prior to each session. A certificate of attendance will be issued for both the CPR and first aid component and for the full course.
Classes are on Mondays and Tuesdays with CPR
Course Fee: $1,900 per person
This course will enable you to acquire the basic skills necessary to perform cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on an infant or young child and first aid for the most common injuries and sudden illnesses occurring in infants and young children.
The course will involve hands on practice of CPR and first aid skills; enabling you to feel confident to deal effectively with emergencies should you be faced with any of these situations.
Every parent and helper should know how and when to administer CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and provide first aid. CPR can restore the circulation of oxygen rich blood to the brain. Without oxygen, permanent brain damage or death can occur in less than four to six minutes. Although the subject matter may seem disturbing to some, it is important to know how to deal with emergencies at home. Because the majority of our clients are families with small children, we conduct these courses to ensure that parents and carers are well versed in these life-saving skills.
The workshop also covers how to deal with other childhood emergencies such as Choking, Shock, Bleeding, Wounds, Burns and Poison. This course gives you both the knowledge and the practice to ensure that you have the confidence in your own abilities in an emergency situation. It is aimed for parents and you may bring your child with you.
There are separate CPR and first aid courses for helpers available, designed specially with their needs in mind, please contact the office for details.
The course is led by our very experienced Infant and Child CPR and First Aid instructor and includes a detailed manual and certificate of attendance.
Course length – 4 ½ hours
Course Topics
Introduction to First Aid
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for Infants and Children
Choking in infants and Children
The recovery position
Bleeding, Wound Care and Shock
Burns
Fractures, Joint and Muscle Injuries
Poisoning
Heat Emergency, Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Accident Prevention
Classes are held on Saturdays from 13:30pm to 18:00pm.
Course Fee: $950 per person
The course will involve hands on practice of CPR and first aid skills; enabling you to feel confident to deal effectively with emergencies should you be faced with any of these situations.
Every parent and helper should know how and when to administer CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and provide first aid. CPR can restore the circulation of oxygen rich blood to the brain. Without oxygen, permanent brain damage or death can occur in less than four to six minutes. Although the subject matter may seem disturbing to some, it is important to know how to deal with emergencies at home. Because the majority of our clients are families with small children, we conduct these courses to ensure that parents and carers are well versed in these life-saving skills.
The workshop also covers how to deal with other childhood emergencies such as Choking, Shock, Bleeding, Wounds, Burns and Poison. This course gives you both the knowledge and the practice to ensure that you have the confidence in your own abilities in an emergency situation. It is aimed for parents and you may bring your child with you.
There are separate CPR and first aid courses for helpers available, designed specially with their needs in mind, please contact the office for details.
The course is led by our very experienced Infant and Child CPR and First Aid instructor and includes a detailed manual and certificate of attendance.
Course length – 4 ½ hours
Course Topics
Introduction to First Aid
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation for Infants and Children
Choking in infants and Children
The recovery position
Bleeding, Wound Care and Shock
Burns
Fractures, Joint and Muscle Injuries
Poisoning
Heat Emergency, Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Accident Prevention
Classes are held on Saturdays from 13:30pm to 18:00pm.
Course Fee: $950 per person
Why should I take infant massage classes?
Infant massage has been clinically proven to enhance a baby’s development, having a positive effect on your baby’s body systems. It is a perfect way to strengthen the bond with your baby, enhancing a nurturing relationship.
What will I learn on the course?
In a small group setting, you will learn about the benefits of baby massage in general and each week concentrate on the particular strokes used for different parts of your baby’s body. Practicing this at home between classes you will quickly become confident in your massaging technique.
When is the best age for my baby?
Ideally from 4 weeks to 6 months
How long is the course and who teaches it?
The course runs for 4 x 1.5 hour sessions and is led by Lisa Bunce our experienced IAIM trained infant massage instructor.
Infant massage is an ancient tradition used to great effect in many cultures. The strokes taught in our course are a combination of Indian, Swedish and other massage techniques, first implemented by Vimala McClure (founder of the International Association of Infant Massage) over 20 years ago. This technique has proven to relax and stimulate infants, promote bonding and improve the relationship and communication between parent and child.
Clinical evidence shows that loving, touching and nurturing contact between caregiver and infant has an important effect on an infant's development. Our course, run by an IAIM certified instructor, will teach strokes for all parts of the body, building up to a whole body massage for your infant. Related topics such as sleep, infant behavioral states, reading baby’s cues, and sleep/feed routines will be discussed during the sessions.
Deborah Taylor, our IAIM instructor has more than 20 years of experience as a pediatric nurse, health visitor and infant sleep consultant; her guidance through this course comes from being a very experienced professional in her field in addition to being a mother of two.
During the workshop you will learn a combination of Swedish and Indian massage techniques along with basic reflexology strokes. Specific strokes are shown to help with congestion, colic, gas and teething. Organic massage oil and an infant massage manual containing all the strokes will be provided.
The Infant massage courses are held on Thursdays from 10:30am – 12:00pm
Course Fee: $1,900 for a series of 5 classes
Infant massage has been clinically proven to enhance a baby’s development, having a positive effect on your baby’s body systems. It is a perfect way to strengthen the bond with your baby, enhancing a nurturing relationship.
What will I learn on the course?
In a small group setting, you will learn about the benefits of baby massage in general and each week concentrate on the particular strokes used for different parts of your baby’s body. Practicing this at home between classes you will quickly become confident in your massaging technique.
When is the best age for my baby?
Ideally from 4 weeks to 6 months
How long is the course and who teaches it?
The course runs for 4 x 1.5 hour sessions and is led by Lisa Bunce our experienced IAIM trained infant massage instructor.
Infant massage is an ancient tradition used to great effect in many cultures. The strokes taught in our course are a combination of Indian, Swedish and other massage techniques, first implemented by Vimala McClure (founder of the International Association of Infant Massage) over 20 years ago. This technique has proven to relax and stimulate infants, promote bonding and improve the relationship and communication between parent and child.
Clinical evidence shows that loving, touching and nurturing contact between caregiver and infant has an important effect on an infant's development. Our course, run by an IAIM certified instructor, will teach strokes for all parts of the body, building up to a whole body massage for your infant. Related topics such as sleep, infant behavioral states, reading baby’s cues, and sleep/feed routines will be discussed during the sessions.
Deborah Taylor, our IAIM instructor has more than 20 years of experience as a pediatric nurse, health visitor and infant sleep consultant; her guidance through this course comes from being a very experienced professional in her field in addition to being a mother of two.
During the workshop you will learn a combination of Swedish and Indian massage techniques along with basic reflexology strokes. Specific strokes are shown to help with congestion, colic, gas and teething. Organic massage oil and an infant massage manual containing all the strokes will be provided.
The Infant massage courses are held on Thursdays from 10:30am – 12:00pm
Course Fee: $1,900 for a series of 5 classes
When discharged from hospital, many parents feel that they still need a little bit of extra support. Our programme starts the day after the mother and the baby are discharged from hospital and, continues regularly for a period of 1 - 12 weeks. It enables the family to properly adjust to the new situation, ensures that breastfeeding is well established and that an emotional well-being is secured.
Each visit is tailored according to the individual family´s needs, with the emphasis being to focus on the most urgent issues present. In the early days this is quite often the breastfeeding; therefore, we would focus on the prevention of sore breasts and mastitis, show you different feeding positions, discuss how often and how long you need to feed your baby and how to know if your infant is getting enough milk. As other issues then follow, you will be given the required support and advice to ensure that you are able to both fulfil, and enjoy, your role as a new parent.
This typically includes:
• Performing a complete physical check on the baby
• Assistance in the care and maintenance of the belly button and cord
• A Demonstration of baby massage
• Weighing the baby
• Administering a PKU blood test (if required) ($390 extra)
• Checking that the uterus is contracting well
• Checking that the perineum/wound is healing well
• Giving support through the 'baby blues'
• Discussing different aspects of parenting and baby care.
Although all of our midwives and health visitors are trained and experienced in breastfeeding assistance, we also have specially trained lactation consultants. Although their special expertise and knowledge is available to all of our clients, we would generally only refer you to them when individual circumstances so require.
We offer a variety of different packages for the postnatal home visits but either, a combination of ANTENATAL CLASSES and full continuous support from the midwives, or a package of 5 postnatal visits, are the most popular.
Packages include:
• Postnatal Home Visit ( 1 hour) $850
• Postnatal Home Visit package (5 x 1 hour) $3,850 (Includes 1 Mother and Baby group coupon)
• Postnatal Home Visit package (8 x 1 hour) $5,780 (Includes 2 Mother and Baby group coupons)
• PKU blood test (at home) $390
Each visit is tailored according to the individual family´s needs, with the emphasis being to focus on the most urgent issues present. In the early days this is quite often the breastfeeding; therefore, we would focus on the prevention of sore breasts and mastitis, show you different feeding positions, discuss how often and how long you need to feed your baby and how to know if your infant is getting enough milk. As other issues then follow, you will be given the required support and advice to ensure that you are able to both fulfil, and enjoy, your role as a new parent.
This typically includes:
• Performing a complete physical check on the baby
• Assistance in the care and maintenance of the belly button and cord
• A Demonstration of baby massage
• Weighing the baby
• Administering a PKU blood test (if required) ($390 extra)
• Checking that the uterus is contracting well
• Checking that the perineum/wound is healing well
• Giving support through the 'baby blues'
• Discussing different aspects of parenting and baby care.
Although all of our midwives and health visitors are trained and experienced in breastfeeding assistance, we also have specially trained lactation consultants. Although their special expertise and knowledge is available to all of our clients, we would generally only refer you to them when individual circumstances so require.
We offer a variety of different packages for the postnatal home visits but either, a combination of ANTENATAL CLASSES and full continuous support from the midwives, or a package of 5 postnatal visits, are the most popular.
Packages include:
• Postnatal Home Visit ( 1 hour) $850
• Postnatal Home Visit package (5 x 1 hour) $3,850 (Includes 1 Mother and Baby group coupon)
• Postnatal Home Visit package (8 x 1 hour) $5,780 (Includes 2 Mother and Baby group coupons)
• PKU blood test (at home) $390
o Antenatal group classes
o Doula
o 5 Postnatal home visits
o 5 Mother and Baby group sessions
Package $21,900
o Doula
o 5 Postnatal home visits
o 5 Mother and Baby group sessions
Package $21,900
o Antenatal group classes
o 5 postnatal home visits
o 5 Mother and Baby group sessions
o Hypnobirthing instead of normal antenatal classes - $550 extra
Package $6,950
o 5 postnatal home visits
o 5 Mother and Baby group sessions
o Hypnobirthing instead of normal antenatal classes - $550 extra
Package $6,950
Hong Kong does not offer the option of a midwife's led birth in the private hospitals, so Annerley Midwives offers the service of a birth assistant, or doula. We have been doing this successfully for around 5 years now, and since co-operation with hospitals and doctors has been going smoothly, we will continue to be available for women that wish to have this type of support.
What is a doula / birth assistant?
The professional birth assistant is a woman who attends the birthing family from early labour until the baby is born. She is trained to
• deliver continuity of care from home to hospital
• ease the transition into the hospital environment
• be there through changing hospital shifts and alternating physician schedules
• serve as advocate, labour coach, and support partner
All of this gives the parents-to-be the freedom to focus inward as they meet the challenges and rewards of their unique birthing experience. There are a variety of titles used by women offering these kinds of services such as "birth assistant," "labour support" and "doula".
Generally, birth assistants are used by people having their baby in the hospital, desiring as natural childbirth as possible with minimal use of medical technology. These couples recognize the value of staying at home during the first part of labour, but may not feel confident in being completely alone once labour gets going.
Fathers are often concerned, at first, that a birth assistant may somehow replace their role as the primary support person. They find out quickly, however, that a birth assistant helps insure the sanctity of that role by handling the logistics surrounding the birth and by drawing on her experience to reassure and guide both father and mother through the natural challenges their birth will present to them.
What does the doula/birth assistant do?
The nature of their practices vary somewhat and the following is a general description of what you might expect should you decide to use a birth assistant.
Typically, birth assistants meet with the parents in the second or third trimester of the pregnancy to get acquainted and to learn about prior birth experiences and the history of this pregnancy as well. She may help you develop your birth plan, provide you with a supply list for labouring at home and in the hospital, and teach you relaxation, visualization, and breathing skills useful for labour.
When you go into labour, or wonder if you might be in labour, your birth assistant can help you to determine prelabour from true labour and early labour from active labour. At some point, determined by you, she will come to your home and begin by encouraging you to get adequate rest, nutrition and fluids in early labour, assist you in using a variety of positions that are conducive to effective labouring; constantly forces on the comfort of both you and your spouse/partner, utilizing pillows, adjusting temperatures, making sure your environment is one in which you feel comfortable and safe, keep fluids such as juices, teas, and water constantly available; keep track of contraction frequency and duration; remind you to go to the bathroom consistently throughout; call the hospital once the decision has been made to go, letting them know how your labour has been so far and that you are on your way; and assist in the move from home to hospital.
At the hospital, a birthing assistant works cooperatively with the hospital staff in getting you settled and completing the initial paperwork and procedures. Continuing the kind of care she gave you at home, she will also be able to coach you and your birthing partner in breathing and position changes as you approach transition and the second stage of labour. During pushing, your birth assistant may assist by helping hold your legs, applying warm compresses to assist the perineum in stretching and encouraging you to listen to your body in pushing your baby out the way that works best for you. In the event of a complication, she can be a great help in understanding what is happening and what options you have for affecting the circumstances at hand.
Keeping in mind your birth plan, she will support your and the staff in seeing that your baby's birth is gentle and that you get the baby in your arms as soon as possible. Finally, birth assistants will help with the first breastfeeding and in preserving the privacy of your new family during the first hours after birth.
If I book Annerley doulas / birth assistants, what shall I expect?
Currently, Hulda Thorey, midwife and Tamara Morgan Quinn, obstetric nurse, work as a team to provide this care for women. Most families meet them during classes or antenatal checkups and develop a relationship that provides the maximum support later on when the women go into labour. To ensure that all our families can get the service they need, we insist that both the midwives meet with the families and although a primary caregiver is appointed to each client (Either Hulda or Tamara), both of them might be involved in the actual care on the day when the baby arrives.
This is because some births take a long time and also since holidays and other situations may sometimes hinder a full commitment to the client, if only one midwife is on call.
When you think you might be in labour, you call your midwife (Hulda or Tamara) and let them know, get instructions for the first part and when you think you need them to come, they stay with you throughout the entire process. If you are giving birth in a government hospital, you are not allowed to bring in a doula, so usually the midwife stays at home with you as long as she believes is safe and then helps you to get safely to the hospital.
In short:
• We will support you during your pregnancy, labour and in the postpartum period.
• We believe that birth is a normal physiological process and an important journey in a mother and father’s life.
• We will support you during labour to ensure a positive birth experience and to help you to achieve the type of birth you would like.
• As we are independent birth assistants, we will be working for you, not your care provider or hospital.
• We can perform clinical tasks such as blood pressure and listening to fetal heartbeat with a Doppler, but our main tasks are to provide physical, emotional and educational support.
• We support a stay at home while in early labour, and then help you to be transferred to hospital for the actual birth. When in hospital, we will stay with you if the hospital allows.
• We charge a fixed fee for the Doula care, completely regardless of the hours we spend with you
If this appeals to you, you may be interested in looking at statistics and outcomes of births when using a continuous care provider such as doulas, since they show that these births are much more likely to result in a normal birth, often drug free and more than anything in happy parents with a great birth experience.
Fee: $15,500 On call and care in labour at home and hospital
What is a doula / birth assistant?
The professional birth assistant is a woman who attends the birthing family from early labour until the baby is born. She is trained to
• deliver continuity of care from home to hospital
• ease the transition into the hospital environment
• be there through changing hospital shifts and alternating physician schedules
• serve as advocate, labour coach, and support partner
All of this gives the parents-to-be the freedom to focus inward as they meet the challenges and rewards of their unique birthing experience. There are a variety of titles used by women offering these kinds of services such as "birth assistant," "labour support" and "doula".
Generally, birth assistants are used by people having their baby in the hospital, desiring as natural childbirth as possible with minimal use of medical technology. These couples recognize the value of staying at home during the first part of labour, but may not feel confident in being completely alone once labour gets going.
Fathers are often concerned, at first, that a birth assistant may somehow replace their role as the primary support person. They find out quickly, however, that a birth assistant helps insure the sanctity of that role by handling the logistics surrounding the birth and by drawing on her experience to reassure and guide both father and mother through the natural challenges their birth will present to them.
What does the doula/birth assistant do?
The nature of their practices vary somewhat and the following is a general description of what you might expect should you decide to use a birth assistant.
Typically, birth assistants meet with the parents in the second or third trimester of the pregnancy to get acquainted and to learn about prior birth experiences and the history of this pregnancy as well. She may help you develop your birth plan, provide you with a supply list for labouring at home and in the hospital, and teach you relaxation, visualization, and breathing skills useful for labour.
When you go into labour, or wonder if you might be in labour, your birth assistant can help you to determine prelabour from true labour and early labour from active labour. At some point, determined by you, she will come to your home and begin by encouraging you to get adequate rest, nutrition and fluids in early labour, assist you in using a variety of positions that are conducive to effective labouring; constantly forces on the comfort of both you and your spouse/partner, utilizing pillows, adjusting temperatures, making sure your environment is one in which you feel comfortable and safe, keep fluids such as juices, teas, and water constantly available; keep track of contraction frequency and duration; remind you to go to the bathroom consistently throughout; call the hospital once the decision has been made to go, letting them know how your labour has been so far and that you are on your way; and assist in the move from home to hospital.
At the hospital, a birthing assistant works cooperatively with the hospital staff in getting you settled and completing the initial paperwork and procedures. Continuing the kind of care she gave you at home, she will also be able to coach you and your birthing partner in breathing and position changes as you approach transition and the second stage of labour. During pushing, your birth assistant may assist by helping hold your legs, applying warm compresses to assist the perineum in stretching and encouraging you to listen to your body in pushing your baby out the way that works best for you. In the event of a complication, she can be a great help in understanding what is happening and what options you have for affecting the circumstances at hand.
Keeping in mind your birth plan, she will support your and the staff in seeing that your baby's birth is gentle and that you get the baby in your arms as soon as possible. Finally, birth assistants will help with the first breastfeeding and in preserving the privacy of your new family during the first hours after birth.
If I book Annerley doulas / birth assistants, what shall I expect?
Currently, Hulda Thorey, midwife and Tamara Morgan Quinn, obstetric nurse, work as a team to provide this care for women. Most families meet them during classes or antenatal checkups and develop a relationship that provides the maximum support later on when the women go into labour. To ensure that all our families can get the service they need, we insist that both the midwives meet with the families and although a primary caregiver is appointed to each client (Either Hulda or Tamara), both of them might be involved in the actual care on the day when the baby arrives.
This is because some births take a long time and also since holidays and other situations may sometimes hinder a full commitment to the client, if only one midwife is on call.
When you think you might be in labour, you call your midwife (Hulda or Tamara) and let them know, get instructions for the first part and when you think you need them to come, they stay with you throughout the entire process. If you are giving birth in a government hospital, you are not allowed to bring in a doula, so usually the midwife stays at home with you as long as she believes is safe and then helps you to get safely to the hospital.
In short:
• We will support you during your pregnancy, labour and in the postpartum period.
• We believe that birth is a normal physiological process and an important journey in a mother and father’s life.
• We will support you during labour to ensure a positive birth experience and to help you to achieve the type of birth you would like.
• As we are independent birth assistants, we will be working for you, not your care provider or hospital.
• We can perform clinical tasks such as blood pressure and listening to fetal heartbeat with a Doppler, but our main tasks are to provide physical, emotional and educational support.
• We support a stay at home while in early labour, and then help you to be transferred to hospital for the actual birth. When in hospital, we will stay with you if the hospital allows.
• We charge a fixed fee for the Doula care, completely regardless of the hours we spend with you
If this appeals to you, you may be interested in looking at statistics and outcomes of births when using a continuous care provider such as doulas, since they show that these births are much more likely to result in a normal birth, often drug free and more than anything in happy parents with a great birth experience.
Fee: $15,500 On call and care in labour at home and hospital
1.5 hour workshop, held regularly for those who want to practice their breathing and relaxation more than they are already doing via regular classes.
Most traditional antenatal classes hold much information but have little time for practicing breathing, so this may be a perfect opportunity to do some work on that front. The workshop is split into 30 minutes of sharing/talking and then a full hour is just on positions for labour and birth and relaxation techniques.
Each session is slightly different from the next, making it worth it to continue to come several times, if preferred. As for those of you who are already doing Hypnobirthing or yoga classes, BirthBreathing is just an extension of those – more practice means better results!
This is a great chance to do what most women just simply don’t give themselves the time to do – and you will be in a calm environment with women in the same situation as yourself and with midwives who offer the perfectly designed support.
Classes are held every second Friday from 10:00am to 11:30am.
Fee: $350 per session
Most traditional antenatal classes hold much information but have little time for practicing breathing, so this may be a perfect opportunity to do some work on that front. The workshop is split into 30 minutes of sharing/talking and then a full hour is just on positions for labour and birth and relaxation techniques.
Each session is slightly different from the next, making it worth it to continue to come several times, if preferred. As for those of you who are already doing Hypnobirthing or yoga classes, BirthBreathing is just an extension of those – more practice means better results!
This is a great chance to do what most women just simply don’t give themselves the time to do – and you will be in a calm environment with women in the same situation as yourself and with midwives who offer the perfectly designed support.
Classes are held every second Friday from 10:00am to 11:30am.
Fee: $350 per session
The Fast forward course is a simple, straight to the point programme that allows for couples, in a semi-private setting, to receive the information that traditional group classes provide. It is very compact and although discussions are a part of the programme, it will not allow for an in-depth explanation of different methods of birthing of parenting but rather the most common choices that parents have and make in Hong Kong. Teaching aids, slides and handouts are used.
Each session is 3 hours, with a short break for snacks. The first session covers the birth, including how to cope with contractions, when to go to hospital and medical interventions - and everything between. The second session is about breastfeeding, baby care and the first days after the birth.
Classes are held on Saturdays from 10:00am to 13:00pm.
Course Fee: $2,900 per couple
Each session is 3 hours, with a short break for snacks. The first session covers the birth, including how to cope with contractions, when to go to hospital and medical interventions - and everything between. The second session is about breastfeeding, baby care and the first days after the birth.
Classes are held on Saturdays from 10:00am to 13:00pm.
Course Fee: $2,900 per couple
What is it?
HypnoBirthing® is a complete education program, which teaches simple but specific self hypnosis, relaxation and breathing techniques which assist you to make your birth as calm as possible. With HypnoBirthing® you will discover that serious pain does not need to be part of the birth experience. You will gain an understanding of how the birthing muscles work in perfect harmony as they were designed to, when your body is sufficiently relaxed. More importantly you will learn how to be more involved in your birthing experience, in partnership with your caregivers. The program is based on the theories of Grantly Dick Read, 'Birth without Fear'. Couples using this program have a high incidence of births using no pharmacological analgesia, and a statistically low rate of complications in during labour and birth.
What will I learn?
During this 6x2 hour workshop you will learn relaxation, meditation, breathing and self hypnosis to use during pregnancy and labour. The course gives a good overview of the labour process and is practical in the sense that each session has at least 45 minutes of active practicing of the breathing and relaxation. You will learn about care of the newborn and the first weeks after the baby is born. The session that covers this, LIFE AFTER BIRTH, needs to be specially booked, i.e. the dates, when you book the whole course, since you may have a choice between two dates that cover the same topics.
Breastfeeding is not included in the course, but we offer a special discount for all participants in this course if they want to attend a breastfeeding workshop, led by a lactation consultant. Please book this in time, ideally when you register for your course.
Course Layout:
Week 1: Building a Positive Expectancy
Introduction of the philosophy of gentle birthing - HypnoBirthing® beginnings
Short discussions about expectations and ideas regarding birth in Hong Kong
Rationale for gentle birthing / muscle comparison
How the uterus works
How fear affects labour
Origin of the pain concept
Hypnosis and deep relaxation
Psycho-physical relationship
HypnoBirthing® DVD stories
Week 2: Preparing your mind and body
Pre-birth parenting - discussions
Breathing information and practices
Relaxation and visualization
Releasing limiting thoughts
Preparing your body for birthing
VIDEO
Week 3: Getting to know and welcome your baby
Birth preferences - having realistic ideas and using them in Hong Kong hospitals
Language and fear - a quick reminder
Special circumstances that require the attention of a medical advisor
Achieving a natural onset of labour
Your body working with you and for you - feeling the inner strength
Deep meditation
VIDEO
Week 4: The birth - bringing life and breathing love
Prelude to labour
Practice labour / pre labour warm-ups
What do we know about the labour and birth: Discussions and confirmation
Arriving at the hospital - difference between the various places you might go to in Hong Kong
Working with the hospital team, midwives and doctors
As labour moves along
Resting or slowed labour
As labour advances - nearing completion
Birth rehearsal imagery = the power of the mind
Birthing positions - practice and discussions
"Rules" in hospitals - how to have the best birth
Family bonding
Post birth procedures
Week 5: Life after birth and Breastfeeding - NB this is a 3 hour session
What is it like to have your own baby
Baby care in the first days
The baby's environment at home
Equipment
Registration
Immunization and baby checks
Child development
Baby blues and postnatal depression
The new family - how can fathers enjoy an active role in parenting
Breastfeeding your baby
What is included in the price?
Class handouts, a special HypnoBirthing book by Marie Mongan, as well as a DVD is included in the class fee. Additionally every couple gets a special Annerley book that has information that are directly related to parenting in Hong Kong, with practical advice, given by our specially trained midwives.
Is there anything I need to know more, or do before the classes?
This HypnoBirthing® course is slightly different than many of our other courses in the sense that we expect you to have read at least the relevant chapters in the book before each session. Half of each session is spent only on practicing, NOT on talking or repeating material from the book. This requires you to come somewhat prepared to the classes, i.e. having read the material. Also, you must wear comfortable clothes, and be prepared to take part in discussions, and practice sessions. You will receive a CD to take home and ideally should listen to it every day from 28 weeks or so onwards. We find that there is a remarkably better outcome of births where people have actually taken the time to prepare for the birth by doing breathing exercises and relaxation, so the classes have a very strong focus on this. Discussions and being practical is also something that we emphasize, which is why we do offer full support from the midwives by being available on the phone, by email and private consultations for all our participants.
Evening classes are from 18:30 - 20:30 on Mondays or Wednesdays:
Daytime classes are during lunch hour on Wednesdays (12:30 – 14:30)
NB: The last session of each course is a 3 hour session (evenings) and 2.5 hour session for daytime.
Course Fee: $3,550 per couple
For further details, please contact the Annerley office on 2983 1558 or email info@annerley.com.hk.
HypnoBirthing® is a complete education program, which teaches simple but specific self hypnosis, relaxation and breathing techniques which assist you to make your birth as calm as possible. With HypnoBirthing® you will discover that serious pain does not need to be part of the birth experience. You will gain an understanding of how the birthing muscles work in perfect harmony as they were designed to, when your body is sufficiently relaxed. More importantly you will learn how to be more involved in your birthing experience, in partnership with your caregivers. The program is based on the theories of Grantly Dick Read, 'Birth without Fear'. Couples using this program have a high incidence of births using no pharmacological analgesia, and a statistically low rate of complications in during labour and birth.
What will I learn?
During this 6x2 hour workshop you will learn relaxation, meditation, breathing and self hypnosis to use during pregnancy and labour. The course gives a good overview of the labour process and is practical in the sense that each session has at least 45 minutes of active practicing of the breathing and relaxation. You will learn about care of the newborn and the first weeks after the baby is born. The session that covers this, LIFE AFTER BIRTH, needs to be specially booked, i.e. the dates, when you book the whole course, since you may have a choice between two dates that cover the same topics.
Breastfeeding is not included in the course, but we offer a special discount for all participants in this course if they want to attend a breastfeeding workshop, led by a lactation consultant. Please book this in time, ideally when you register for your course.
Course Layout:
Week 1: Building a Positive Expectancy
Introduction of the philosophy of gentle birthing - HypnoBirthing® beginnings
Short discussions about expectations and ideas regarding birth in Hong Kong
Rationale for gentle birthing / muscle comparison
How the uterus works
How fear affects labour
Origin of the pain concept
Hypnosis and deep relaxation
Psycho-physical relationship
HypnoBirthing® DVD stories
Week 2: Preparing your mind and body
Pre-birth parenting - discussions
Breathing information and practices
Relaxation and visualization
Releasing limiting thoughts
Preparing your body for birthing
VIDEO
Week 3: Getting to know and welcome your baby
Birth preferences - having realistic ideas and using them in Hong Kong hospitals
Language and fear - a quick reminder
Special circumstances that require the attention of a medical advisor
Achieving a natural onset of labour
Your body working with you and for you - feeling the inner strength
Deep meditation
VIDEO
Week 4: The birth - bringing life and breathing love
Prelude to labour
Practice labour / pre labour warm-ups
What do we know about the labour and birth: Discussions and confirmation
Arriving at the hospital - difference between the various places you might go to in Hong Kong
Working with the hospital team, midwives and doctors
As labour moves along
Resting or slowed labour
As labour advances - nearing completion
Birth rehearsal imagery = the power of the mind
Birthing positions - practice and discussions
"Rules" in hospitals - how to have the best birth
Family bonding
Post birth procedures
Week 5: Life after birth and Breastfeeding - NB this is a 3 hour session
What is it like to have your own baby
Baby care in the first days
The baby's environment at home
Equipment
Registration
Immunization and baby checks
Child development
Baby blues and postnatal depression
The new family - how can fathers enjoy an active role in parenting
Breastfeeding your baby
What is included in the price?
Class handouts, a special HypnoBirthing book by Marie Mongan, as well as a DVD is included in the class fee. Additionally every couple gets a special Annerley book that has information that are directly related to parenting in Hong Kong, with practical advice, given by our specially trained midwives.
Is there anything I need to know more, or do before the classes?
This HypnoBirthing® course is slightly different than many of our other courses in the sense that we expect you to have read at least the relevant chapters in the book before each session. Half of each session is spent only on practicing, NOT on talking or repeating material from the book. This requires you to come somewhat prepared to the classes, i.e. having read the material. Also, you must wear comfortable clothes, and be prepared to take part in discussions, and practice sessions. You will receive a CD to take home and ideally should listen to it every day from 28 weeks or so onwards. We find that there is a remarkably better outcome of births where people have actually taken the time to prepare for the birth by doing breathing exercises and relaxation, so the classes have a very strong focus on this. Discussions and being practical is also something that we emphasize, which is why we do offer full support from the midwives by being available on the phone, by email and private consultations for all our participants.
Evening classes are from 18:30 - 20:30 on Mondays or Wednesdays:
Daytime classes are during lunch hour on Wednesdays (12:30 – 14:30)
NB: The last session of each course is a 3 hour session (evenings) and 2.5 hour session for daytime.
Course Fee: $3,550 per couple
For further details, please contact the Annerley office on 2983 1558 or email info@annerley.com.hk.
This course consists of 5 x 2 hours, plus one private session at the end of the course, done during daytime in our centre.
Our sessions are continually updated to draw upon the most recent research and information available to midwives, and other health professionals. In addition to covering more traditional antenatal topics, we also teach the use of complementary therapies such as breathing, massage and relaxation as part of the programme, although those that want to focus strongly on those methods are encouraged to register for the HYPNOBIRTHING COURSE.
Using pain relief in labour and medical interventions are covered in our classes, by an anaesthesiologist who furthermore is on call for those who choose to use epidural in their labour.
Fathers are actively participating in discussions and are encouraged to be involved in both the birthing process and parenting.
To help couples to be prepared for parenthood as well, two of our classes are specially focused on breastfeeding, baby care and the postpartum period. To ensure this still further, we offer continuous support by the same midwife throughout pregnancy and after the baby is born. The midwife helps you with breastfeeding, baby care, bathing, expressing milk, how to get back into shape and so on. This continuous care plan is very popular by our clients and being the standard care in many other countries it is also recognised by most insurance companies for it reduces complications and other hospital and doctor's cost to have access to this kind of support.
Course Layout:
Week 1: Introduction – Labour and Relaxation
Purpose and expectations
Informed choice
Stages of labour
When to go to hospital and what to take
Routine procedures in hospital
Positions for labour
Relaxation
Week 2: Pain relief & medical side of things
Pain relief in labour
Methods for partners to assist the labouring woman
Drugs available at hospitals
Caesarean section
Induction of labour
Week 3: Birth and Unexpected outcomes
Active birth - feeling safe and in control
How to make labour as easy as possible
Positions for birth
The birth itself and the moments following
Birth when the unexpected happens
Use of forceps and vacuum
Week 4: Breastfeeding
Advantages of breastfeeding
Milk production, supply and demand
How to know if the baby is getting enough
Common problems and how to avoid them
Expressing and storing milk
Returning to work – what to do
Exercises to put the baby on the breast
How to cope with conflicting advice
Week 5: Life after the birth
What is it like to have your own baby
Baby care in the first days
The baby's environment at home
Equipment
Registration
Immunization and baby checks
Child development
Baby blues and postnatal depression
Week 6: Private lesson,around 3 weeks bf DD
Our chance to consolidate what we have discussed in classes
Talk about own priorities
Make a birth plan
Any private questions
Classes are always from 18:30 - 20:30 on either Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Course fee: $2,950 per couple
For further details, please contact the Annerley office on 2983 1558 or email info@annerley.com.hk.
Our sessions are continually updated to draw upon the most recent research and information available to midwives, and other health professionals. In addition to covering more traditional antenatal topics, we also teach the use of complementary therapies such as breathing, massage and relaxation as part of the programme, although those that want to focus strongly on those methods are encouraged to register for the HYPNOBIRTHING COURSE.
Using pain relief in labour and medical interventions are covered in our classes, by an anaesthesiologist who furthermore is on call for those who choose to use epidural in their labour.
Fathers are actively participating in discussions and are encouraged to be involved in both the birthing process and parenting.
To help couples to be prepared for parenthood as well, two of our classes are specially focused on breastfeeding, baby care and the postpartum period. To ensure this still further, we offer continuous support by the same midwife throughout pregnancy and after the baby is born. The midwife helps you with breastfeeding, baby care, bathing, expressing milk, how to get back into shape and so on. This continuous care plan is very popular by our clients and being the standard care in many other countries it is also recognised by most insurance companies for it reduces complications and other hospital and doctor's cost to have access to this kind of support.
Course Layout:
Week 1: Introduction – Labour and Relaxation
Purpose and expectations
Informed choice
Stages of labour
When to go to hospital and what to take
Routine procedures in hospital
Positions for labour
Relaxation
Week 2: Pain relief & medical side of things
Pain relief in labour
Methods for partners to assist the labouring woman
Drugs available at hospitals
Caesarean section
Induction of labour
Week 3: Birth and Unexpected outcomes
Active birth - feeling safe and in control
How to make labour as easy as possible
Positions for birth
The birth itself and the moments following
Birth when the unexpected happens
Use of forceps and vacuum
Week 4: Breastfeeding
Advantages of breastfeeding
Milk production, supply and demand
How to know if the baby is getting enough
Common problems and how to avoid them
Expressing and storing milk
Returning to work – what to do
Exercises to put the baby on the breast
How to cope with conflicting advice
Week 5: Life after the birth
What is it like to have your own baby
Baby care in the first days
The baby's environment at home
Equipment
Registration
Immunization and baby checks
Child development
Baby blues and postnatal depression
Week 6: Private lesson,around 3 weeks bf DD
Our chance to consolidate what we have discussed in classes
Talk about own priorities
Make a birth plan
Any private questions
Classes are always from 18:30 - 20:30 on either Tuesdays or Thursdays.
Course fee: $2,950 per couple
For further details, please contact the Annerley office on 2983 1558 or email info@annerley.com.hk.
In co-operation with the services provided by private obstetricians or public hospitals, each appointment lasts 30 minutes and covers routine check-ups such as urine testing, blood pressure and listening to the heartbeat. A normal assessment of baby's size and position is made and the emotional and physical wellbeing of the mother is ensured. IF complications are detected, the mother is referred to an obstetrician.
These check-ups are popular amongst parents that use the government system and who want additional information. It is also an opportunity to get to know your midwife and to cut down on the waiting time for appointments!
The first appointment in the clinic is usually made around 7 weeks of pregnancy, then regularly every month, and every week at the last month of pregnancy.
$250 per consultation including tests
These check-ups are popular amongst parents that use the government system and who want additional information. It is also an opportunity to get to know your midwife and to cut down on the waiting time for appointments!
The first appointment in the clinic is usually made around 7 weeks of pregnancy, then regularly every month, and every week at the last month of pregnancy.
$250 per consultation including tests
A short introduction to Hong Kong's maternity services and options, lasting around 20 - 30 minutes. This consultation includes information about government hospitals and clinics, private health care, insurance and a short précis of our own services.
$250 for the first session
$250 for the first session
