Our Classes

Our Classes

Wellington North Parenting Centre runs both antenatal (childbirth) and parenting classes.


Antenatal Classes
Parenting Classes

FAQ

How far through my pregnancy should I be when I do my antenatal (childbirth) class?
Most​ ​women​ ​typically​ ​finish​ ​their​ ​course​ ​when​ ​you’re​ ​about​ ​34-37​ ​weeks pregnant.​ ​As​ ​classes​ ​run​ ​for​ ​ six or seven​ ​​weeks,​ ​you​ ​would​ ​therefore​ ​begin your​ ​class​ ​when​ ​you​ ​are​ ​about​ ​6-7​ ​months​ ​(or​ ​about​ ​25​ ​weeks)​ ​pregnant.
How early should I book for my antenatal (childbirth) class?
As​ ​class​ ​numbers​ ​are​ ​limited​ ​to​ ​10​ ​women​ ​plus​ ​support​ ​partners,​ ​the​ ​classes fill​ ​up​ ​very​ ​quickly.​ ​You​ ​should​ ​book​ ​for​ ​a​ ​spot​ ​in​ ​a​ ​class​ ​as​ ​early​ ​as​ ​you​ ​can​ ​in your​ ​pregnancy.
I am a solo mother-to-be. Will I feel uncomfortable in an antenatal class full of couples?
We​ ​hope​ ​not!​ ​Anyone​ ​is​ ​welcome​ ​in​ ​our​ ​classes,​ ​and​ ​our​ ​families​ ​come​ ​in​ ​all shapes​ ​and​ ​sizes​ ​-​ ​we​ ​have​ ​many​ ​solo​ ​mothers,​ ​same​ ​sex​ ​couples,​ ​much​ ​older first-time​ ​parents,​ ​and​ ​couples​ ​where​ ​one​ ​partner​ ​already​ ​has​ ​children.​ ​As​ ​a solo​ ​mum,​ ​you’re​ ​very​ ​welcome​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​along​ ​a​ ​support​ ​person​ ​with​ ​you​ ​to the​ ​class​ ​-​ ​your​ ​mum,​ ​a​ ​friend,​ ​your​ ​sister​ ​-​ ​anyone​ ​who​ ​you’d​ ​like​ ​to​ ​support you​ ​through​ ​your​ ​pregnancy​ ​and​ ​birth.
I am looking for ways to get a support network when I have a baby. Can you help?
Our​ ​antenatal​ ​(childbirth)​ ​classes​ ​have​ ​two​ ​purposes​ ​-​ ​one​ ​is​ ​to​ ​provide information​ ​and​ ​advice​ ​about​ ​the​ ​later​ ​part​ ​of​ ​your​ ​pregnancy,​ ​giving​ ​birth and​ ​the​ ​first​ ​six​ ​weeks​ ​of​ ​being​ ​a​ ​new​ ​parent.​ ​But​ ​the​ ​other​ ​purpose​ ​is​ ​to provide​ ​you​ ​with​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​mix​ ​with​ ​and​ ​get​ ​to​ ​know​ ​the​ ​people​ ​in your​ ​class,​ ​who​ ​will​ ​be​ ​having​ ​babies​ ​at​ ​around​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time​ ​as​ ​you.​ ​Your class​ ​can​ ​act​ ​as​ ​a​ ​support​ ​group​ ​for​ ​each​ ​other,​ ​as​ ​you’ll​ ​all​ ​be​ ​having​ ​similar experiences​ ​at​ ​much​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time.​ ​Of​ ​course​ ​there’s​ ​no​ ​obligation​ ​to​ ​keep seeing​ ​your​ ​classmates​ ​once​ ​the​ ​class​ ​is​ ​finished,​ ​but​ ​we​ ​provide​ ​the opportunity​ ​if​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to.
I am a parent of preschoolers and I've just moved to Wellington - where can I meet other parents and get support?
Our​ ​support​ ​groups​ ​are​ ​based​ ​around​ ​the​ ​groups​ ​that​ ​do​ ​their​ ​childbirth education​ ​or​ ​Baby​ ​&​ ​You​ ​classes​ ​together.​ ​You​ ​are​ ​welcome​ ​to​ ​join​ ​a​ ​Baby​ ​& You​ ​class​ ​(for​ ​parents​ ​of​ ​newborns​ ​to​ ​4​ ​month​ ​olds),​ ​even​ ​if​ ​you​ ​haven’t attended​ ​a​ ​childbirth​ ​education​ ​class​ ​with​ ​us.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​passed​ ​that​ ​stage, we​ ​suggest:

  • Joining​ ​the​ ​Parents​ ​Centre​ ​committee​ ​-​ ​a​ group​ ​​of​ ​15​ ​or​ ​so​ with​​ ​children of​ ​different​ ​ages,​ ​with​ ​a​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​socialising​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​running​ ​the centre.
  • Investigating​ ​other​ ​support​ ​organisations​ ​like​ ​Mothers​ ​Network, Plunket​ ​coffee​ ​groups​ ​or​ ​single​ ​parent​ ​organisations​ ​such​ ​as Birthright,​ ​Mothers​ ​Alone​ ​etc.
  • Joining the committee of your local Toy Library, Playgroup, Plunket or Kindergarten.

How can I tell WNPC what I thought of the class I attended?
We​ ​pride​ ​ourselves​ ​on​ ​providing​ ​a​ ​quality​ ​service​ ​and​ ​are​ ​always​ ​interested in​ ​hearing​ ​your​ ​thoughts​ ​or​ ​suggestions.​ ​Evaluation​ ​forms​ ​are​ ​provided​ ​at​ ​all classes.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​complaint​ ​or​ ​a​ ​suggestion​ ​for​ ​improvement​ ​please contact​ ​us.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​would​ ​like​ ​some​ ​feedback​ ​please​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​you​ ​include your​ ​name​ ​and​ ​contact​ ​details.​ ​If​ ​you​ ​have​ ​a​ ​serious​ ​complaint,​ ​please​ ​do contact​ ​us​ ​so​ ​we​ ​can​ ​improve​ ​our​ ​services.
How can I comment on my midwife's performance?
There​ ​are​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​different​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​provide​ ​feedback​ ​on​ ​your​ ​midwife’s performance.​ ​These​ ​include​ ​talking​ ​directly​ ​to​ ​your​ ​midwife,​ ​phoning​ ​the Midwifery​ ​Council​ ​for​ ​advice,​ ​or​ ​phoning​ ​the​ ​NZ​ ​College​ ​of​ ​Midwives​ ​regional committee’s​ ​resolution​ ​line​ ​(consumer​ ​representatives​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​to you​ ​in​ ​confidence)​ ​on​ ​801-6180.​ ​For​ ​more​ ​serious​ ​issues,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​contact​ ​the Health​ ​&​ ​Disability​ ​Commissioner’s​ ​office​ ​for​ ​a​ ​mediation​ ​conference. Information​ ​on​ ​expected​ ​performance​ ​standards​ ​is​ ​also​ ​available​ ​from​ ​the Maternity​ ​Services​ ​Health​ ​Funding​ ​Authority.
I had a great time at my classes, I would like to give something back - how can I help out?
We​ ​would​ ​love​ ​to​ ​have​ ​your​ ​help​ ​-​ ​all​ ​of​ ​our​ ​services​ ​are​ ​administered​ ​by volunteers​ ​and​ ​we​ ​are​ ​always​ ​in​ ​need​ ​of​ ​helping​ ​hands.​ For more information, click here.
Do I need to be a member of WNPC to attend the classes? The​ ​fee​ ​for​ ​our​ ​childbirth​ ​education​ ​classes​ ​includes​ ​your​ ​first​ ​year’s membership​ ​fee,​ ​so​ ​you​ ​will​ ​be​ ​a​ ​member​ ​for​ ​those​ ​classes.​ ​All​ ​parents​ ​or other​ ​caregivers​ ​are​ ​welcome​ ​to​ ​attend​ ​our​ ​Parenting​ ​classes,​ ​although priority​ ​for​ ​places​ ​is​ ​given​ ​to​ ​members​ ​of​ ​WNPC​ ​and​ ​other​ ​Wellington​ ​region Parents​ ​Centres.​ ​The​ ​prices​ ​are​ ​also​ ​lower​ ​for​ ​members!
Do I need to live in the Wellington North area to be a member of WNPC?
No,​ ​you​ ​don’t.​ ​All​ ​Wellington​ ​regional​ ​centre​ ​members​ ​receive​ ​the​ ​same magazine,​ ​are​ ​entitled​ ​to​ ​pay​ ​member’s​ ​prices​ ​for​ ​any​ ​parenting​ ​classes offered​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​region,​ ​and​ ​receive​ ​the​ ​retailers​ ​discounts​ ​in​ ​the region.​ ​So​ ​you​ ​will​ ​receive​ ​the​ ​same​ ​benefits​ ​whichever​ ​Centre​ ​you​ ​join​ ​in Wellington,​ ​wherever​ ​you​ ​live.

However,​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​attending​ ​childbirth​ ​education​ ​classes,​ ​we​ ​recommend that​ ​you​ ​choose​ ​a​ ​Parents​ ​Centre​ ​which​ ​provides​ ​classes​ ​to​ ​parents​ ​who​ ​live in​ ​the​ ​same​ ​area​ ​you​ ​live​ ​(or​ ​area​ ​you​ ​intend​ ​to​ ​move​ ​to)​ ​-​ ​this​ ​will​ ​make​ ​it easier​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​each​ ​other​ ​after​ ​your​ ​baby’s​ ​birth,​ ​to​ ​get​ ​that​ ​all-important support​ ​from​ ​the​ ​parents​ ​you​ ​meet​ ​at​ ​those​ ​classes.