Antenatal workshops
with a difference
Equipping you with confidence to parent how you choose. Informed by the latest research to give your baby the best start to life, with ongoing support throughout your parenting journey.
Preparing for parenthood,
not just birth.
What makes our classes unique?
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Preparation for Parenthood
Uniquely covering the transition to parenthood, the postpartum period, and supporting your relationship as a couple, designed by a psychologist and delivered by a Matrescence Practitioner, to support you to be the parent you want to be.
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Best Start for Baby
Attachment theory, co-regulation, infant brain development and parenting philosophies to provide you the latest evidence-based knowledge to give your baby the best start to life.
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Psychological Wellbeing
Psychological and emotional preparation is often overlooked, yet it’s foundational to support your physical and practical parenting skills. We cover emotional regulation skills so you can parent with confidence.
Details
Time:
Two face-to-face sessions: Consecutive Saturdays, 9.00am - 3.00pm.
One webinar: Tuesdays, 6.00-7.30pm (In May 2026, this webinar will be on Monday, May 11th, 6.00-7.30pm).
Face-to-face days location: MHERC, Level 1, 12 Hazeldean Road, Addington, Christchurch
Investment: $339 (or join solely online from anywhere for $290)
Choose your date and register now:
Our classes are often fully booked 2 months prior. If your preferred date is full, please email us.
*From September 2026, Antenatal classes will be hosted by Stacey from May She Flourish. All class elements will remain the same.
Comprehensive antenatal class content
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Preparing you to make decisions, navigate information overload, and unsolicited advice in the months after birth.
Designed by registered psychologist, Christina Bond, and delivered by Matrescence Practitioner Stacey May.
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Preparing for the psychological transition to and through parenthood with help from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Theory (ACT) skills.
Designed by registered psychologist, Christina Bond, and delivered by Matrescence Practitioner Stacey May.
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As new parents, our brains, identity, relationships, and more change. Inform and prepare yourself to smooth this transition.
Designed by registered psychologist, Christina Bond, and delivered by Matrescence Practitioner Stacey May.
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How to grow happy, healthy, resilient, nurtured, secure and emotionally intelligent children based on current research into infant brain development. Including attachment theory, emotional regulation and co-regulation.
Designed by registered psychologist, Christina Bond, and delivered by Matrescence Practitioner Stacey May.
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Understand perinatal mental health and what to look out for, including postpartum blues, depression, anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Research shows parental wellbeing impacts infant health outcomes. When we support parents, we are supporting babies to have the best start to life.
Designed by registered psychologist, Christina Bond, and delivered by Matrescence Practitioner Stacey May.
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Covering both breast and bottle feeding, including latching, milk supply, bonding, common worries and solutions.
Facilitated by GP and Infant Feeding Specialist, Dr Beth Shore.
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Stages of labour, pain relief options, and how to support your body and mind during birth.
Facilitated by midwife, Debbie Stevens.
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As Mums experience matrescence, Dads experience patrescence. A special section focusing on the transition of partners and support people.
Facilitated by father, Don Benn.
Please note this session takes place at the same time as the Breastfeeding session.
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Preparation, exercises and common pelvic health concerns.
Facilitated by physiotherapists, Amy and Kelly from Liberty Pelvic Health Physiotherapy.
Please note this session isn’t able to be recorded.
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Busting myths about infant sleep and settling, based on infant brain development and temperament.
Facilitated by hoslistic sleep expert, Ainslee Roughan.
Participants will receive:
Access to six experts in their respective fields
Digital goodie bag
Printed workbook
Free access to the three-part Preparing for parenthood recorded antenatal series
Special discount:
15% off life saving online baby and child first aid training with & Breathe
Frequently asked questions:
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Ideal timing is between 28-36 weeks pregnant. You can attend any time, however the third trimester is a great time to connect with other parents of similar due dates.
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Yes! We strongly encourage you to bring one other person, whether this is a support person or your partner.
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Yes! We want this learning to be accessible to all parents-to-be. Please email info@matrescence.nz if you would like to discuss a payment plan.
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All payments are non-refundable.
If you are unable to attend, with notice given 24 hours prior, you can send someone else in your place, or change your date.A full refund, minus an administrative fee of $30, is provided under special circumstances, such as pregnancy related medical reasons. Please contact us.
Facilitators
Stacey May
Matrescence Practitioner
Ainslee Roughan
Holistic Sleep Specialist
Debbie Stevens
Midwife
Samantha Bond
Teacher
Dr Beth Shore
GP & Infant Feeding Specialist
Amy & Kelly
Physiotherapists
Don Benn
Father
Testimonials
“Fantastic course - highly recommend to all mums-to-be! Learned so much more about how to manage my own emotions/look after myself during the transition to motherhood that other antenatal classes don’t focus on. Feeling much more confident about what will happen and the plans we have in place.”
“My husband and I really loved the Matresence antenatal course! We found it really holistic and it was really helpful that it focused on the journey into motherhood and the difficulties and challenges that come with that, as well as the challenges that the relationship can face. It was a great mix of teaching around practical skills (for example for labour, breastfeeding, preparing for staying on top of household chores etc, organising support, and navigating sleep) as well as some great emotional regulation skills to help with the emotional challenges. I would definitely recommend it and am glad we did it! ”
“Highly recommend attending one of your courses. The ‘Preparing for parenthood antenatal workshop’ was really valuable, great information and was presented in an easy to understand, relatable and non-judgemental way. Thank you for the support you are providing couples as they become parents, it makes such a difference and was great to have the focus be on us, and providing us ways to support each other through the journey.”
Looking for something different?
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Antenatal for second time mums
A much requested two-hour webinar to support the transition from being a first-time mum to a mother of two.
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Preparing for Parenthood
Already completed a traditional antenatal class that covers birth, labour and feeding? This three-part recorded antenatal series dives into the essential topics of matrescence and parental wellbeing often left out of traditional antenatal classes.
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Mumtown: Your Virtual Village
12 months of weekly online support from a matrescence practitioner, a community of supportive mothers and guest speakers (psychologists, sleep support, infant feeding, pelvic health and more).