It's been a super busy month and with Christmas fast approaching it's full steam ahead. 

During November I've been in Auckland for a week, for more training and development which was fantastic, for me, it's really important that I keep growing, developing and learning so I create a fun, inviting, friendly, safe environment for parent's-to-be so they can do the same for themselves. 

I've also been creating and developing two new classes that will start in 2021.

​The first is "Where's the Instruction Manual?"
Parenting was made for community and support, I'm here to help create this.​​​ While birth is the end of your pregnancy journey, many medical professionals and parents acknowledge that a new mum’s physical and emotional experience can be unknown. Becoming a parent is transformative. These challenging 12 weeks will test their patience and exhaust you beyond measure. This class has been designed for new parents 4-6 weeks postnatal, it will give you the tools you need to navigate this rollercoaster and come out the other side feeling confident, empowered and ready to take on parenthood.


Topics include:

• Helping their newborn transition to the world
• What's normal? What's not - when to call your healthcare professional
• Expectations versus Reality
• Loving and embracing your postnatal body
• Helping your relationship survive parenthood - new roles and responsibilities, team work, romance and sex
• Troubleshooting parenthood
• Well-meaning advice and how to deal with it
• New born sleep patterns, are there any?

The second new class is: Infant CPR
Although we hope you will never use cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for a child or infant, it's important to know the steps so that you can help in the event of an emergency. This is a great asset to add to add to your parenting toolbox.
4th March 5.30pm - 7.30pm, Napier
Bookings are essential.

This two hour class will cover:

• CPR
• Infant/Child Choking
• Febrile Convulsions

Some of you may have been reading my weekly column in the NZ Herald, this has been great to write each week and a challenge at times, but I don't back down from those.
Coming up with a topic can be hard at times, but I've got a great list of resources to give me inspiration if I'm stuck.
I was also invited to write an article for Pregnancy Bump & Baby Magazine NZ for the November 2020 publication - https://www.facebook.com/bumpandbabynz

This was super cool when I flipped open the pages and saw my article covering 3 pages - might have done a little dance lol.

We also held a Christmas and Thank you evening last Wednesday night. This was an opportunity for me to say thanks to the parents I've had the pleasure of meeting and educating this year, to meet their little ones and to meet some of those that I taught during lock down face to face. 
A special thank you to the local businesses that supported the evening - Jo from Blue Sea Massage, Rachel Ross from Focus, branding and personal photography, Alana Steyn from Mud Mates, Issy Cresswell a Lactation Consultant and Home Support Service, Tania Sansome-Anderson from Scentsy, Rebecca from Milly's Magic, Sophie Robinson from Little Locker.
Let's make this an annual event!
​

A few weeks back I announced that two new staff members were joining From Bellies to Babies.
​Finally, I'd like to introduce you to Tate Harwood and Corban Rock, we are going to follow their pregnancy and parenting journey on Instagram - they will update us regularly with their exciting story, including home truths, flops and fails, trials, fun, laughter and relatable content.
I wanted to create a story with a couple of avatars, that will be engaging (hopefully), understandable and entertaining. With a dose of reality and humour thrown in for good measure.

I have been writing a column for the NZ Herald for a few months now and have really enjoyed coming up with ideas and topics to write about each week. While I am enjoying the educational side of the column I also wanted to educate (and entertain) people with something that was a little more 'light hearted'.
​
So, come on, join the ride and follow their journey on Instagram, if you aren't already, here is the link https://www.instagram.com/hbantenatal/ - I'd love you to join us :)

Classes for 2021 are proving to be very popular and are filling up quickly. Dates are up on my website for bookings https://www.hbantenatal-classes.co.nz/class-options--dates-202021.html
There is lots planned for 2021, with added classes designed for parents with little ones. I am currently collaborating with several other health providers which is really exciting - more information to come in the following months.
The busy season is speeding upon us, I will be looking forward to putting my feet up for a few weeks late December. 
Chat soon
​Janine x

Taking time to recharge is important, and I found myself in this very position recently. We give and give and give until there is little left, and eventually something is going to give - recognizing that I was getting to this point, I knew I had to do something.
It had been quite some time since I'd had a break away and could feel myself slowing down and needing to get away for a few days so that's just what we did. We headed to Lake Waikaremoana, a beautiful gem hidden in Te Urewera where we relaxed, had a day of fishing (nothing caught but we did spot a couple of brown trout!) read in the sun and just chilled. It was just enough to recharge my batteries for the rest of 2020. We are planning to head back in about a month - this time taking our kayaks, fishing rods (we hired one) and gumboots!

I have been enjoying writing my weekly columns for the NZ Herald. Usually I have an idea of what I'm going to write about, sometimes it takes a wee bit of thought. But, it's been great hearing from people that they enjoy reading them. I love being able to reach a different audience and educate and inform them along the way and hopefully keeping it real and lighthearted too. If you are wanting to catch up on the columns check out NZ Herald and search up From Bellies to Babies with Janine Gard.​https://www.nzherald.co.nz/

I recently got back from Auckland where I was doing a personal and business development training course. It was fantastic and I was blown away with the professionalism of the provider and the course structure. I have signed up for the advanced course to be held in November :)
I consider training, up-skilling, personal development, business development and learning new tools and possibilities, essential to delivering the best service for my clients that I can. 

My weekly column in the NZ Herald is doing really well and I'm enjoying writing a different topic regarding pregnancy etc, every week.
​
Photo is of me writing my weekly column after 13 hour day training in Auckland!

Topics so far have included: pregnancy symptoms, questions people think it's ok to ask when your pregnant, morning sickness and how to help, cravings, pica and food aversions, gender revel party ideas, the joys of being pregnant, how to get your partner involved in your pregnancy and listeria (food poisoning) and how to minimise risks. I also wrote Let's talk about sex baby (with their permission) but they decided in the end that it was a little 'too' graphic for some of their readers - I posted this on From Bellies to Babies facebook page - click here if you would like to read it https://www.facebook.com/hbantenatal/posts/3188055541274819?__tn__=K-R

I also purchased a beautifully created wooden dilation chart which has been a fantastic addition to my teaching tools to help parents-to-be understand their cervical dilation during labour. This was created by The Carpenter and Co, a husband and wife business based in Matamata. Here is their link if you would like to check out their work https://www.facebook.com/Thecarpenterandco/
​LOVE supporting NZ businesses !!!

Level 1 allowed me to start holding guided tours of the maternity units at the HB Hospital. It has been several months, due to Covid-19 that I was unable to do these, so it was great to finally get back into them.

A fantastic turn out with 27 people turning up on a bleak Saturday morning to find out where they need to go, what the rooms look like and have all their questions answered and worries eased.

A fully guided tour of Ata Rangi and Waioha maternity suites (antenatal and postnatal rooms). Come and see the rooms - what you can and can't bring with you, check out where the 'after hours' entrance is, learn where you can make a cuppa and heat your wheat bag, know where to park..... PLUS so much more.

These tours are FREE, scheduled and everyone is invited to attend.

If you are attending antenatal classes with another provider, aren't attending antenatal classes at all or planning a home birth and you would like to check out it 'in-case' I'd love you to join me.
​
Tour takes approximately 30 minutes. Photo shared with permission.

So much has happened since lock down started and the world has changed. I wonder what our 'new normal' will be, hopefully we have learnt that; we don't need to rush, that family is super important, that we missed our loved ones that we were unable to spend time with and will now cherish moments with them a little more. 

I have completed 6 sets of antenatal classes during our lock down - a combo of weekend classes, mainstream and one on one sessions and I have loved every minute of it. I currently have 3 sets of online classes running which are going great and with numbers coming in for the next sets of classes, I am anticipating these may be online too. As much as I absolutely love face to face classes, these have fast become favorites too!
We are doing some extra work around getting to know each other and I have made promises to everyone, that we will meet once contact tracing is no longer required and I'm bringing the cake.

Photo shared with permission - one of my online classes

Thank you so much, to all the incredible people that have referred their family, friends, and colleagues to my antenatal classes. These are the 'thank you' packages I have 'collected' over several weeks while we were in level 4 & 3.
I haven't had the opportunity to see them 'pile up' before, as I usually pop out to hand-deliver or go to the post shop regularly.
Thank you, you guys rock! ❤️😍

Exciting news, I am adding to my product line.
I currently have beautiful wheat bags that are fantastic at easing aches and pains under your belly, across your lower back or in your groin during pregnancy and labour. Also ideal for warming up your baby's bed before you pop them down (must be removed before putting your baby in). I will be doing a giveaway to announce the arrival of these items.

Take care & stay safe,
Janine x

I’m an experienced birth educator, and since I have been working in this industry for fifteen years, I feel confident and competent in delivering antenatal education to families. Yet, at the moment providing Zoom support for my clients is taking A LOT more time than when I’m doing it face to face.​ I am not complaining,  I love learning new skills and this sure is keeping my brain working overtime!

When I’m face to face with classes I no longer need to prepare much ahead. I have enough knowledge to deliver at the drop of a hat, I can also react to my clients feelings and adapt accordingly and I've become pretty good at 'winging it' situations!

This isn’t the case with the Zoom stuff, because not only do I have to think and prep in advance how to deliver stuff that is easy face to face but much more complex online (for example teaching someone how to swaddle their baby), but I also have to constantly keep up with the forever changing medical guidelines. 
I have been making You Tube videos and creating new activities that are working online well but may need tweaking as time goes by. 

I'm having to manage this whilst having to deal with my own anxieties about the lock down situation we are all in and my own families’ needs.

I am currently teaching four, live, interactive online classes throughout the week, along with several One on One sessions staring very soon.
Feedback from class participants has been fantastic, with loads of encouragement and reassurance that they are happy and grateful they can  still be educated, supported and informed so they are prepared for their baby's imminent arrival. Yay !!!

While teaching live, interactive online antenatal classes has always been part of my plan, the current level 4 restrictions sped up this process for me.... and I'm kind of glad it did. It certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone, it's not a platform that I was jumping for joy about using. Once I had my first night under my belt (so to speak) I was relaxed about the following class the next night... while it's been a huge learning curve, I honestly wouldn't change it for the world. I can't wait until the restrictions are lifted and we can go back to face to face classes, online classes will continue to be an option for parents choosing their education path.

Watch out the rest of New Zealand, none of the static classes with workbooks which can be boring... I'm here to put the FUN and INTERACTIVE back into online antenatal classes.
​
I'd love for you to join me. Sign up today.

During these scary and worrying times I am super happy I can still support, educate and help parents-to-be with their antenatal classes and we have the technology that allows others like me to be able to do this. While it breaks my heart somewhat, because I love meeting everyone face to face and watching people learn and grow and helping them interact and make new friends that will go on to be fantastic support we are still continuing to do this, just on other platforms at present.
​
I won't go on about Covid-19, the internet is bursting at the seems with information, some worrying, some unsettling, some educational and some just down right wrong! It's all about keeping everyone safe and minimising the outbreaks. I am proud to be in NZ, we have a fantastic PM and I feel she has stepped up to support NZ time and time again.

There has been lots of changes to our Maternity system too and although many parents are worried about birthing during this time, be assured they are doing everything they can for you so you can still have a safe and healthy labour. Talk to your LMC if you have any worries or concerns. Yes, your partner may not be able to stay over night as per usual but this is about keeping you and your precious little one safe.
​
As for no visitors, yes, this is hard, but let's look at the positives: you will have heaps of time to bond with your newborn, you can stay in your PJ's all day, you can still facetime your family and friends, you have plenty of time to rest and relax, you still have access to support services in our community such as your LMC, plunket and breastfeeding support - via online meetings and phone calls, your partner may be working from home and able to spend copious amounts of time bonding, bathing and massaging baby too.
If you need anything, a virtual hug, reassurance, advice, a roll of loo paper...... let me know... I'm here.
Janine
​x 

I love supporting our hard working Midwives and after chatting with a few and lots of parents-to-be and the I came up with an idea that I delivered to the Clinical Manager and Midwifery Director of the HB District Health Board. Their reply was "You get the big tick and a lot of gratitude from us".
So, what am I doing to help support our awesome midwives and parents-to-be that are considering birthing in Ata Rangi or Waioha???

Guided tours !!!!!

These guided tours are available for everyone who wishes to view the units before they labour and birth here. This will help parents-to-be view both units in calm and relaxed manner so they can take in all the details and starting thinking about what they may need to bring with them to create a safe, comfortable and relaxing space for their labour. Often just 'knowing' where to go, where the after hours doors are, where they can park and what the rooms actually look like, can help reduce fear, anxiety and worries for them. These tours are scheduled monthly, alternating between a week night and a weekend day to accommodate those that will be working or busy. 

Dates and Times for guided tours:
18th March - Wednesday 6.00 pm
25th April - Saturday - 10.30 am (ANZAC Day)
12th May - Tuesday - 6.00 pm
13th June - Saturday - 10.30 am
7th July - Tuesday - 6.00 pm
8th August - Saturday 10.30 am
1st Sept - Tuesday - 6.00 pm
2nd Oct - Saturday 10.30 am
14th Nov - Saturday - 10.30 am
16th Dec - Wednesday - 6.oo pm