Transition into Parenthood

Great quality and great service, definitely coming back.

My husband (Levi) and I completed both the Transition to Parenthood and Calm Mindful birth classes that Julie facilitates. I cannot fathom how important these classes were to the birth of my baby girl. Julie provided information that empowered my husband and I for the whole birthing process. Her knowledge and assistance gave us the confidence to question the reasons behind our obstetrician pushing for an induction (which was not necessary) and ultimately led us to change from obstetric care and seek midwifery care via the public hospital. My labour was 11 hours long and I gave birth naturally to my daughter without complications or drugs and she was just perfect! Julie provided us with the greatest detail of information on the stages of labour, techniques on how to manage all that encompasses a labour, and very importantly the skills necessary for Levi to be a fantastic support person who kept me going when I thought I couldn't. Her course enabled us to be thoroughly prepared for our first birth (and post birth) and provided us with the tools necessary for an exceptional birthing experience and transition into parenthood. Her knowledge is incredibly valuable and beyond anything that can be provided by hospitals, and she truly provides unbiased pros and cons to all methods of birth and enables participants to make informed decisions on their birthing experience. Highly recommend to anyone who is having a baby!

You would have to be absolutely bonkers to be even thinking about giving birth without attending Julie's course! My wife and I were absolutely blown away with Julie's knowledge and her passion for all things baby related. I can safely say 100% that without this course, we would have been totally lost and probably would have been "pushed into" the standard medical world of interventions galore when it comes to child birth these days!

You can tell that Julie doesn't teach these courses for the money. She is so dedicated that she even provides her personal mobile number which you can call anytime for help and advice. After the birth of our beautiful baby boy, we wanted some breastfeeding advice. Julie would return our calls on a weekend whilst out with her family!

I cannot speak highly enough of this amazing person. Julie is by far the best teacher/child birthing expert/caring person that I have ever come across in my life. I cannot thank her enough for her dedication to this field.

My husband and I completed both the Calm Birth and Transition into Parenthood classes with Julie and found both to be invaluable in the preparation for the birth of our son. Having heard lots of horror stories about natural births I was quite fearful about my own and was recommended the Calm Birth classes as a way of building confidence. I am so pleased we did them. Because of Julie and these classes I went into our birth confident and unafraid and was able to have a drug free natural birth with no tearing or trauma.

This is the most valuable course you will ever do. I strongly recommend that everyone do it. Not only will you and your partner learn so much that you can't pick up in books, but Julie is so willing to answer even the strangest questions with so much joy. I am now really looking forward to giving birth without any fear. Thanks Julie!

Julie conducts an amazing Calm Birth course. I would highly recommend taking this course from Julie. Her knowledge, recommendations and resources have been invaluable to me and my husband in preparation of the arrival of our firstborn. Not only is the course great, but Julie makes herself available after the course, which I was lucky enough to take advantage of.

My husband and I completed the calm birth course with Julie before recently welcoming our son into the world.
As a first time mother I found the course really helped my husband and I get clear on our birth intentions. The core principles of deep breathing, visualisation and meditation really resonated with us, which we then used daily in our preparation for birth. It was one the most important tools we learnt. I found the course provided my husband with a great grounding in how to support me and our our baby during labour and how he could best support and reassure me on the day.
Julie oozes experience and had a engaging teaching style that we enjoyed and we certainly felt at ease with her. I would recommend this course - and we do - to anyone preparing for the birth of their baby whether they are a first time parent or have had a prior birth that was traumatic or didn't turn out the way they had envisioned.

I feel quite special being on a DOULA journey with Julie. Her love, compassion, knowledge and experience goes beyond pregnancy and birth, she really understands and knows how to inspire us to be the best support person for a woman and family during this incredible time of their lives. Julie has built a community and I hope to be part of it, always. Gratitude and success to you dear!

I highly recommend Julie and her calm birth classes. After a traumatic 2nd birth, I had all but decided I wanted a cesarean. We enrolled in Julie's course, and listened to the CD nightly while falling asleep. When I went in to labour, I visualised, remained calm and centred and less then an hour later my 3rd son entered the world, and breastfed straight away.
Love your work Julie and I recommend your class to all my pregnant friends!

Julie and the course were both amazing. I was a little sceptical going in but after just the first day I felt more confident, relaxed and empowered about labour and birth. The course promoted me and my husband to have the direct and honest conversations we needed to to plan for that day with a calm and pragmatic approach and clarity on what we want.
Thank you Julie

From the moment Julie Clarke stepped into our home I felt calm and totally at ease.
Julie’s lovely and soft nature guided me through the best feeding and settling
techniques, massage, and bath time ideas. I felt totally calm and at ease. Julie
provided me with all the right answers to my questions. I felt the pressure I was
putting on myself to reach some unrealistic ideal of parenting dissipate. I relaxed and started to really enjoy my time as a mother with my beautiful baby.

Approximate cost: $50

Fantastic class. Julie was incredible and shared amazing, practical strategies and techniques to reduce fear and anxiety about natural birth to empower couples through the experience. Highly recommended!

My husband and I did both calm birth and transition into parenthood. Doing calm birth is honestly 1 of the best things we have ever done. We could not have a discussion about birth without feeling anxiety and fear. All my life I have felt absolutely terrified about the prospect of giving birth. Since doing calm birth I feel more relaxed, less fearful and more in control. I've gone from wanting every drug under the sun to giving a natural birth a really great shot. The techniques I have been taught I use in my everyday life and are amazing. Transition into parenthood was brilliant. It gave us so many priceless tips that have made us feel more confident and excited to be parents. Julie is a complete asset to my life I felt a huge sigh of relief when meeting her just know I have someone there to help and guide me and that is the most amazing feeling!!

Our second child's birth experience was amazing. I was able to have a completely drug free birth and I wouldn't have been able to if I hadn't used the techniques we had learned.

I loved the transition to parenthood and calm birth classes with Julie. This gave me a lot of confidence with my wife in progressing with a natural birth and what to do when things do not always go as planned. I now feel equipped with dealing with MOST of what birth can throw at us.

My husband and I did both the Transition into Parenthood and Calmbirth courses and were extremely happy we did. The courses provided us with the confidence we needed both for the big day as well as afterwards with our newborn. Well worth the money and would definitely recommend, particularly for first time parents who are feeling anxious about childbirth.

For a woman try to achieve a nature birth, this is a great way to start to attend this course. My husband and I found it is excellent and useful. Hope more women can get what they need from the courses.

Lina Browne

As a dad to be I am really grateful to have done both the calm birth and transition to parenthood classes. Looking back on the labor experience for my wife and still going through the first month of our baby's life the information gained is well worth the cost.

Calmbirth - I think many guys find themselves thinking they have little to with the birth but to be there. My comment would be to not miss out on this rare opportunity to show your love for your wife and family. The Calmbirth course was certainly empowering for my wife. For me however it taught me where my focus needs to be and equipped me with valuable skills such as how to discuss issues with medical staff which was very helpful in the actual labor.

Transition to parenthood - a very practical and informative class where you would certainly benefit from doing the two full days to get the most out of it. While it incorporated elements of labor there was no overlap with Calmbirth.

Overall the combination of the information given along with Julie's very approachable and down to earth teaching style, her experience in the field and her willingness to take time out to chat via phone and email with any questions you may have make it easy for me to recommend these classes to anyone without hesitation.

For the dads, older generations had very little to do with birth and even now many other dads came to the class simply 'for their partners'.. But there is an enormous amount you can give and gain from the birth experience that will make a real difference to your relationship and stamp the beginning of being the man you want to be for the future to your partner and child - these classes certainly help you realise that, don't miss the opportunity.

This class was wonderful! Julie provided a great overview of birth and caring for your new baby in both the calm birth and transition to parenthood classes. Attending these provided both practical tips as well as assisting you to mentally prepare for both Labour and the initial few weeks at home. These classes took the fear out of childbirth and becoming a parent, and allowed for me and my husband to have a very positive, supported, empowered and connected experience in the arrival of our beautiful baby girl. Julie has also been extremely helpful in providing advice with the many questions we have had since bringing our baby girl home. I highly recommend these classes with Julie to anyone having a baby!

My husband and I recently completed the Calm Birth course and couldn't be happier with the way we felt after the two days. We left with invaluable practical skills, knowledge, a new and much more empowering perspective on the joy of childbirth, very different to hospital courses, and it really cemented the understanding of the importance of partnership and how the husband can be supportive. He is just as big a part of the time as mum. I highly recommend this class to all expecting parents!

We did both of Julie's classes and feel so much more prepared. She has been fantastic through the entire process and created an environment where we felt welcomed, comfortable and nurtured. The classes provide honest, evidence based education which Julie clearly draws from her extensive experience. There is the opportunity for discussion without judgement and any concerns or fears raised Julie is quick to address with solution based thinking. I wish these classes were the norm for all expecting families. Thank you Julie, we look forward to sharing our birth story with you in the near future.

My husband and I learned a great deal at both of Julie's classes (TIP and CB) and would highly recommend it as a must-do for other first time parents-to-be. My husband was slightly skeptical at first, but this soon changed as Julie opened his eyes to the truth about labour etc and the important part he will play.

I entered Julie's lovely classroom unsure and anxious about the birth but now feel empowered, confident and excited for the big day. In particular, we both feel more comfortable in dealing with hospital staff, knowing our rights and being able to request options that are best for us.

Calm Birth was invaluable in preparing us mentally and emotionally for birth, both as individuals and as a couple, providing us with Julie's extensive knowledge and advice - which increased our confidence immensely. This was boosted by the Transition into Parenting class, which provided hands-on practical advice with all things labour and new born. I had quite a few 'ahaa!' moments in the TIP class where a few things I felt unsure about clicked into place. Knowing we also have Julie available for phone advice if we need it really helps to ease my mind too.

Thanks Julie - hope to be able to share our calm birth experience with you soon :)

Such a wonderfully comprehensive course with lots of advice for new parents. The content was presented in a relaxed fun format in the comfort of Julie's home instead of the clinical hospital environment. I would definitely recommend the class to new parents and also thise having additional children as it is a lot of fun and really does prepare you for the journey of parenthood.

I reckon every bloke should do this for their partner. Even if you think you have heaps of experience as I did, you should do yourself a favour and be prepared for one of the best experiences of your life. In a time where guys particularly can feel powerless, Julie's course empowers you to understand and act, not for yourself but for each other as a team.

The Course itself was engaging, fun, and you even had some much needed time to chill!

When I was pregnant for the first time I was so glad we had Julie to make sure we went into birth and parenthood fully informed and confident. Julie was warm, knowledgeable, caring and has a fabulous sense of humour. I have recommended Transition into Parenthood classes to a few people and they have also come away after meeting Julie feeling empowered around their birth and excited to meet their babies.

This taught us so many positive things to not only use at birth but for everyday life. Would recommend to everyone!

My husband and I did both calm birth and transition into parenting classes with Julie! We found them so beneficial both as a couple and as individuals to understand our role in the birthing and parenting process. I now feel I have the resources and the knowledge to birth without fear and understand what my body is capable of naturally. Julie's laid back approach makes the class highly enjoyable and comfortable not only for the woman but for the men too! I left the classes feeling calm and empowered! I would highly recommend doing these classes!

I heard Julies's TIP course from my friend who just did same course and had baby recently! We are very satisfied with Julie's TIP course, and feel more confident now as first time parent! The class was held in a relaxed and comfy environment, a heat pack provided on a cold day! All of this make me feel tiredness free and make me willing to learn! Julie is a wonderful teacher and the content of the course is comprehensive and there were interactive activities included, which all satisfied our learning needs! It is really worthwhile and we highly recommend this course to all the parents to be.

Approximate cost: $350

We got so much out of Julie's Calmbirth classes, it was such a valuable experience. Julie is a wise and pragmatic teacher, with a positive and organic way of approaching pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood. We left the final class feeling overwhelmed with confidence and excitement for our upcoming birth. We would highly recommend this class to anyone expecting a little one. If you're feeling nervous, anxious or unsure about childbirth, Calmbirth is the way to go!

Approximate cost: $350

My Partner and I attended the Calm birth course with Julie and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, I knew when i saw this course that instinctively it felt right to attend, I wanted to look at options for having a calm birth for me and my baby, my partner was very sceptical however from day one he immediately changed his perception! The whole course provided us with tools we didn’t know existed, knowledge we weren’t aware of and an awe of excitement ahead of the birth of our baby boy due in October. Julie's approach is calm, informative and engaging. We had fun, and enjoyed learning at the same time. As parents to be we feel ready to embark on the amazing journey and now also look forward to the labour with a knowing this will be a wonderful and calming experience for me, partner and baby! I am recommending Calm Birth to all pregnant couples I know. I would encourage anyone who is having a baby to attend this course. I just wish it lasted longer than 2 sessions, that’s how much we enjoyed it! I am now practicing the tools I received on a daily and weekly basis and know in my heart this will be a wonderful experience. Thank you to Julie and the Calm Birth Course!