Top 10 Childbirth Classes in Sydney

Attending antenatal classes are an important part of preparing for the arrival of your baby. If you're looking for childbirth classes around the Sydney area, keep reading our list below.

Bring It On Baby

Run by Kate, a midwife, and Vanessa, a prenatal yoga teacher, Bring It On Baby offers in-home private birthing classes. The class is 3.5 hours long and covers everything you need to know about labour, what to expect at the hospital, newborn caring techniques, and more. Both you and your partner will be engaged with the lesson on partner-supported birth positions.

All About Birth

All About Birth is run by Louise, a midwife, and childbirth educator. She offers the Calmbirth course, which is designed to eliminate the fear and tension that you may experience during childbirth. You will learn practical relaxation techniques that will help keep your pain at a minimal level. Your partner will learn about the team effort of birth. You may also opt for the refresher course if you have previously taken a Calmbirth course.

Wonder Birthing

For birth classes that focus on having the birth of your child your way, Wonder Birthing is the best class to take. You will learn tools and techniques to help you have a wonderful birth experience. Classes are small and intimate, with no more than 3 couples per session to personalize the approach, and build you and your partner’s confidence in all things childbirth.

Prepared to Birth

Prepared to Birth is run by Natalie, a certified Hypnobirth teacher. Her class will prepare you for a calm birth, whether you are going the natural or cesarean route. You will learn tools that will keep you in a deeply relaxed state for a purely positive birth experience. She offers group lessons, private lessons, and even online lessons.

Sydney Adventist Hospital

The San runs a comprehensive Choices in Childbirth course that is facilitated with their experienced childbirth educators. Topics covered are the normal and possible deviations from normal pregnancy and birth, what to expect during labour and the postnatal period, newborn behaviour and care, and more. Also included is a tour of their maternity unit. You can choose to attend either the 2-hour evening sessions for 4 weeks, the 4-hour morning or afternoon sessions for 2 weeks, or the full-day session. It is recommended that you book as soon as possible because class numbers are limited for your comfort and safety. For more information, you can visit their website.

Once your baby arrives, why not have a newborn photoshoot to commemorate this special occasion. Contact the team from My Eye Photography to capture their first moments and ensure that you have beautiful images to look back on for a lifetime and beyond. 

Top 10 Baby Shower and Christening Venues in Sydney

Are you or someone special in your life expecting a little bundle of joy soon? You know what that means - a baby shower! Baby showers are a fun and amazing way to celebrate, not just the coming of a new member to your family, but also the incredible mother-to-be. It is a way for special friends and family to get together and send their warm wishes and congratulations as you enter a new chapter in your life - motherhood.

If you want to document this wonderful celebration or to capture the moments when the child is born, our team is here to help. Our experience working with both adults and children as well as our eye for details and passion for photography will make your investment worth every dollar. Our event and newborn photography packages will help you make the most out of this incredible time in your life and you will have wonderful photos to look back to in the years to come! Allow us to be part of your celebration and create amazing memories with you.

If you’re planning the baby shower, there’s definitely a lot on your to-do list! One of the first items you should tick off is the venue. We have come up with some of the best baby shower venues in Sydney to help get your list going:

1. Aqua Luna

This mesmerizing venue which can be found on the edge of Sisters Bay prides itself on delivering service that is beyond expectation. You and your guests will be able to see panoramic water views across Iron Cove - now that’s a breathtaking and relaxing view! Get in touch with them here.

2. Ecco Ristorante

Another spectacular waterside location in Drummoyne, this elegant restaurant is the perfect venue for the baby shower of your dreams, whether you’re thinking of a small party, intimate party or a big one with a lot of invited loved ones. They are passionate to help you organize your event, they’ll be waiting for your call here.

3. Navarra Venues

Navarra Venues’ 5 unique venues allow you to plan the baby shower you’ve always wanted - whether you want a heritage castle, a luxurious waterfront oasis or an elegant manor with its own vineyard, name it and they’ve got it! They even have all-inclusive baby shower themes that are sure to make your planning a breeze. Ask them about their amazing services here.

4. The Blue Room Bondi

Who doesn’t love a nice view of the beach? The gentle wind on your face, the fresh smell of seawater and the setting sun just beyond the horizon - these are all perfect additions to your perfect baby shower! Get in touch with them here.

5. The Tea Room

Do you want to experience Victorian elegance right in the heart of Sydney? If yes, then The Tea Room is the venue for you. You will have your own palatial hall with the catering of the most delectable dishes. Book an appointment with them here.

6. Breakfast Point Country Club

This Hampton-inspired estate promises exclusivity, elegance and an exquisite waterside setting for your baby shower. If you’re not a member of the country club, worry not as they also offer their services to non-members. You’re sure to find something that will suit your taste and make your dream celebration come to life. Speak to your dedicated Events Manager, Rowanne, about the details of their packages here.

7. Oliveto Ristorante & Bar

This venue boasts of exceptional Italian hospitality and ambience to those with discerning taste. If you fancy doing your baby shower in a venue set in the beautiful parklands of Brays Bay Reserve, then this venue is the one you’re looking for. You can’t be wrong with their exquisite menu, tranquil waters and lush green surroundings. Make sure to give them a call here.  

8. Doltone House

This amazing venue promises to host an extraordinary event that’s sure to surpass your vision. With their spectacular water views, award-winning catering and multipurpose spaces, organizing your baby shower will be easy-peasy, not to mention guaranteed to be fun and exciting for you and your guests! Explore their packages here.

9. Cucinetta

Do you want a baby shower that you’re going to remember even in the years to come? Then you came to the right place. This Italian inspired place takes pride in taking care of the details for you and making sure to pleasantly surprise you with flexible options designed to suit your taste. From the venue to the food, to the beverage options, you’re definitely in very capable hands. Get in touch with them here.

10. Gatehouse High Tea Rooms

This venue guarantees to give you your “unique taste of elegance”. Their immaculate English tea gardens along with the delectable options of food items will definitely ensure a fancy experience for you and your guests. Schedule your appointment with them here.

Baby showers are definitely the best. Wherever you choose to hold yours, it will surely be amazing as you’re doing with a lot of love, support and encouragement - just the important things that a mother-to-be-needs! 

7 Tips To Prepare For Newborn Sessions in Sydney

Charming, sweet, absolutely adorable - these are the adjectives that you would describe a precious little newborn. Don’t you just adore those tiny feet and hands, those curious little eyes and that fragrant baby smell that you wish you could take anywhere with you! Newborns may not be that small forever, but there is a way to preserve those special memories - by getting a newborn photo session to document that fleeting stage in your family’s life.

I will be very happy to work with you and preserve this special moment in your family through a very special newborn photo session. I specialise and take particular interest in portraiture, especially of newborns. Every session is guaranteed to become a memorable moment for you and the rest of your family.

Upon booking your session, I recommend doing the below-suggested tips that will help you prepare yourself, your newborn and your entire family for the photo session and make the most out of it.

1. Leave it to the Pros

Camera phones make taking photos virtually accessible and doable for everyone. For casual everyday photos, that’s okay. But for something as precious and as delicate as a newborn photoshoot, I suggest leaving it to the hands of professional photographers.

Professional photographers, especially those that specialise in newborn babies like myself, invest in a lot of things that make getting us more than worth it. Our skills, equipment and countless years of working with newborns and their families give us the advantage of knowing what to do and how to approach any situation during a shoot. When you hire a professional photographer, you don’t just hire someone to take your photos and post-process them for you, you also hire someone who will guide you, make you feel comfortable and solve issues that might come up during the shoot.

2. Schedule in advance

Having a newborn in your life takes a lot of work that sometimes, overwhelm can take over and you can’t think of anything else. Don’t let overwhelm get in the way of having your precious moments captured in beautiful photographs, check out available options, decide which one works for you, and book that.

You can choose to do the 1-2 hr photo session at the hospital (if you are at Sydney Southwest Private & Sydney Adventist Hospital) where we can focus on the happy family emotions surrounding your newborn’s arrival. You can also choose to do it at home when you’re more settled. It is recommended that the session is done during the first 2-4 weeks of your newborn’s life as older babies tend to be a little bit more active. 

3. Do your research

As your photographer, I have ideas to make the shoot fun but I also welcome insights and suggestions! If you have any poses, setups or ideas that you want to see during the shoot, talk to me and we’ll see how we can make them happen.

Do your research in advance and prepare the materials needed like costumes and props for the shots you want to recreate. Please make sure that the costumes and props are ideal for newborns so we don’t encounter any problems during the shoot.

4. Physical preparations

Talk to me about the schedule of the shoot - let me know what’s your newborn’s usual timing for bath, feed, burp and nap time so we can schedule the shoot around that. Newborns tend to sleep better after they’re bathed, changed, fed and burped, so taking these into consideration is very important. Majority, if not the entire shoot will be done while the newborn is sleeping so it would be good to put them in a non-cloth nappy to minimise the need for changing as we don’t want to disturb them and make them cranky.

If the shoot will be in your home, please ensure that the environment is nice and warm as the newborn will be naked in some of the shots. If possible, try to make sure that the area is organised and free of any clutter so we can maximise the time session. If other family members are joining, I recommend wearing pastel colours or black/whites. If you have family heirlooms or any accessory that you’d like to be part of the photos, please bring them too.

5. Safety first

Safety is always my topmost priority, especially in newborn photo sessions. Newborns are so delicate and precious and I make sure to exercise every bit of caution when I’m photographing them. If you have any issues or concerns about any of the shots or poses, please make sure to let me know so we can address them.

6. Manage your expectations

Newborns are their own bosses and there’s no point stressing over a tiny hiccup during a shoot. As your photographer, I am prepared to handle these minor situations so all you need to do is relax, manage your expectations and adore your baby as they make that cute, adorable little smile for the camera.

7. Have fun!

Your newborn is only a newborn once. More than the photos you’re getting from the shoot, you also take home the actual experience of doing the newborn shoot! All the craziness, the adorable-ness and the aww-worthy giggles are part of it so make sure you have fun and take it all in.

In conclusion, newborn photo sessions are about preserving that memory of your newborn child - in all their amazing little-ness, not just in your mind, but also in beautifully taken photographs. It is a moment in your family’s life that’s meant to be made timeless, enduring and unforgettable.

Why Hire a Newborn Photographer in Sydney?

While eagerly awaiting the arrival of your little bub, ensure that you plan ahead and book in a newborn photo shoot to capture their first couple days of life. Hiring a newborn photographer will ensure that you will have beautiful photos of your child, that you can treasure for a lifetime.  

If you are an expecting mum and decided to have a newborn photo shoot, we suggest booking your session as early as your third trimester; this is to ensure that you don’t miss out as we usually tend to book out 3 months in advance. The best time to have a newborn photo shoot is within the first 2-4 weeks of your baby's life.

For those who are still unsure whether to hire a newborn photographer, we have devised a list below on why investing in newborn photography is totally worth it. 

Your child's safety is the number one priority

As a parent, you certainly wouldn’t want to entrust your newborn with someone who lacks the necessary experience and training in handling newborns. During their first few weeks of life, newborns are delicate and fragile; their small bodies will require patience and careful hands while positioning them into elaborate and adorable poses. 

Here at My Eye Photography, the safety of your child is our top priority. We are a team of professional and experienced photographers who are experts in photographing newborns. Each of our photographers have received training in handling newborns to ensure the poses that we perform are safe. And, knowing that no two babies are alike, we only perform the poses that bub is comfortable doing. We are also up-to-date with our vaccinations and ensure that each of our props and accessories are sanitized in preparation for your bubs photo shoot.

Your child's life is more important than anything else; you can have great photos without risking your baby's safety. By hiring a professional newborn photographer, parents can rest assured that their baby is in good hands.

Relaxing experience for parents and family members

While it is easier now to capture photos of your newborn because of the accessibility to smartphones and cameras, you should still consider hiring a photographer for better images. There are remarkable differences in quality and presentation if the photos are taken by a professional photographer compared to DIY home photos or hobbyists. Besides, wouldn't it be nice to just sit back, relax and enjoy the photo session of your little one? Taking care of your newborn can be so exhausting, a photo session will allow you to take a break and maybe have a quick nap while you let us work our magic. Or, the photo shoot can be a bonding session by having family members take part in it. We always encourage parents, siblings and even grandparents to participate if they are present at the time of the shoot. 

All our newborn package inclusions are devised with your satisfaction and convenience in mind. Parents can book online and choose whether to hold the shoot at the hospital or at their own home once they are settled. All your baby's photos will be uploaded to a private online gallery, ready to view for purchases and will be online within 1-2 weeks. We also offer cute personalised baby gifts in celebration of your baby's arrival.

Images are edited to perfection

As newborn photographers, we have invested in high-end DSLR cameras and accessories. But having such equipment is not enough to produce beautiful and professional imagery. Through years of experience and training, we have acquired the essential photography skills to make your baby's first photo gallery unforgettable. Our post-production and editing process ensures that the highest of quality images are delivered so that you can blow these up to canvas prints and hang in your home. 

Your baby's photos as lifelong memories

Most parents who did not take the opportunity to capture their newborn professionally, often regret this decision. These are unforgettable and irreplaceable moments in your baby's life that deserve every bit of detail required. Besides, your baby isn't going to be a baby for very long, before you know it they will grow into toddlers who are running around your home. Having a newborn photo shoot will leave you with photographs that you can cherish and look back on for years to come. You can be reminded of the emotions you experienced in the lead-up and the first few days of your child's life.

Something to share with family and friends 

It’s no surprise that all your family and friends will be eagerly awaiting to see your newborn. A creative way to share your excitement for their arrival is through these beautiful photos. They will fall in love with the adorable poses and detailed completions that will shine through in these images.  

So there it is our guide as to why you should hire a newborn photographer in Sydney. Why not celebrate the arrival of your newborn by hiring a professional photographer to capture this special moment?