Sue has worked with individuals and couples preparing them for birth and parenting in Melbourne since 2005. She has also designed and run new parent groups that aim to support the transition to becoming a parent.
Thriving as a New Mother
Facilitated by Sue Power
(Sue is currently not running any group workshops)
Supporting the transition to becoming a new parent and building your community.
Becoming a parent is a unique journey, one that begins even before pregnancy. How you are treated and cared for during this time influences your experience of the beginning of your journey as a parent. Coming together in a small, intimate group and co-creating a safe, inclusive, non-judgmental and nurturing space to talk about challenges and joys you are experiencing as a new parent, provides an environment that can reduce common feelings of isolation, provide an understanding of your emotional responses and longed-for connection and community. Through the support of the group we aim to help you find your own way whilst also finding new perspectives and access to your unique inner wisdom and knowing that will support the decisions you make as a parent. This is not a 'how-to-parent' group. This is about reconnecting with yourself and building your community.
Over the 9 weeks we aim to support you by practising and exploring practices that allow you to be more present and connected with yourself, your baby and in other significant relationships in your life.
Each week a different theme is explored. These include identity, love, relating, sexuality and pleasure, family values and rituals, community and creative parenting. This course is all about you and supporting you in navigating this extraordinary and momentous transition that is often misunderstood and devalued. This is not about adding something extra to your list of ‘to-dos’. Self kindness and compassion, mindfulness, relating and communication skills are key foundations of the course.
This course welcomes all women and persons who have given birth - one parent families, first time or second, third time parents, LGBTQIA+ parents, and BIPOC parents. Babies from birth up to the age of 6 months, are welcomed within the space we create together.
NO groups currently running, TBA
Birth Preparation & Workshops
Practical and emotional birth preparation and education
After 18 years of running birth courses, Sue will be taking a break from all her workshops and is focusing on individual counselling.
Please contact Sue for information regarding other options and referrals for workshops.
If you are interested in counselling sessions to debrief previous births and prepare emotionally for your next birth please contact Sue to arrange a first appointment. Partners and birth support can also be included in these sessions.
Working with women in birth for over 20 years, Sue has witnessed and worked alongside hundreds of women during their births. She has always felt in awe of the birthing body and what women can achieve and believes it is a privilege to be a witness to it. Her workshops have evolved over the past18 years and draw on her own experience as well as contemporary birth physiology and neuroscience that provides a greater understanding of the birthing process, and to understand and work with fear and anxiety. With this knowledge, women and their partners/supports are able to feel confident to make informed decisions around their birth choices.
The workshops combine an understanding of the role the mind and body connection plays during labour, how this influences the hormones of labour and birth and practical skills for managing pain, sensations and challenges of labour, that include breathing, relaxation and visualisation techniques, positioning and massage. The role of partners/support people is an integral part fo the course. Life after birth and what support is needed during this transition to parenthood is also included.
Courses run by Sue welcomes all women and persons who are pregnant - one parent, first time or second, third time parents, LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC women. This course is also designed to be complementary to all models of care – private or public, birth centre or home-birth and is not an alternative to the birthing choices you have already made. You will gain practical knowledge and skills whether this is your first or third baby, or hoping to achieve a vaginal birth after a previous caesarean (VBAC). Refresher classes are also available for subsequent pregnancies.
Workshops will be starting again with a new format from previous years. Contact Sue to find out more.
UPCOMING DATES
2026
I am taking a break from workshops to focus on individual counselling. Thank you and a deep bow of gratitude to all who have participated in these workshops over the past 18 years. Thank you for all the learnings you have given me over this time. Without participants there would be no learning or knowledge sharing.
Please get in touch for information about other colleagues who run birth preparation and birth support.
* Affiliated Private Health Funds that may be applicable for rebates: Teachers Federation Health, NIB, Australian Unity, BUPA Australia, AHM, The Doctors Health Fund, CBHS, GU Health and Defence Health will cover part of the costs of birth education classes run by a Midwife or Midwifery Antenatal Services* depending on your level of cover.
(HCF, Manchester Unity, RT Health, Latrobe Health, GMHBA, Medibank Private do not cover any costs for privately run birth classes).
*This is subject to change depending on the particular insurer. Please refer to them to see if your level of cover will allow you to apply for rebates.