Say what you need
Put your expectations, fears and sources of reassurance into words. Listen to how the other person imagines the birth, too.
THE COURSE · WITH SCARLETT KAPLAN
Prepare for birth.
Become a team.
You will not experience the birth in the same way. But you can learn how to go through it together: talk about your needs, find your role and understand how to support each other.
PREPARATION THAT MAKES ROOM FOR CONNECTION
Be there. Leave room for each other.
The person giving birth needs room to say what they feel, what they want and what they do not want. Their partner can offer steady support: being present, listening and taking full responsibility for the practical arrangements.
This course is designed for couples, with attention to each person’s role. We focus on connection, communication and practical support around birth. Your midwife or maternity team continues to provide pregnancy care and medical preparation.
WHAT WE EXPLORE
Before. During. And afterwards.
Support without taking over
Find the partner’s role: be present, offer help and respect a no. Support the person giving birth without making decisions for them.
Find helpful words and gestures
Explore supportive words, reassuring silences and ways to reconnect with the present moment.
Talk with the care team
Prepare your questions and practise expressing your wishes. With the birthing person’s agreement, their partner can help communicate a request.
Take full responsibility for the practical details
The partner takes full responsibility for packing, contacting people and organising the return home. They anticipate what is needed and take care of it without waiting to be told what to do.
Prepare for afterwards, too
Talk about rest, visitors and people who can help. Make room for what each of you may experience after the birth, including when things do not go as planned.
A FIRST CONVERSATION YOU CAN HAVE NOW
Start by asking each other…
“When I feel overwhelmed, what really helps me? And what makes me feel that someone is deciding for me?”
Take a moment to answer, then listen to each other without immediately looking for a solution. Understanding the difference between helping and taking over is at the heart of this preparation.
UPCOMING COURSES
Let’s talk about your preparation.
The course is in preparation. Dates and practical details will be announced here. I am currently on maternity leave until January 2027.
You can email me now to ask about the course.
Ask about the courseA few useful points
What is the partner’s role?
An active role, shaped together with the person giving birth: listening, offering support, taking full responsibility for the practical details and helping communicate their needs. Their choices remain their own.
What if the birth does not go as planned?
Preparing also means making room for the unexpected. The course focuses on communication and support between you, without promising any particular birth experience.
How can I find out the dates and fee?
These details will be provided when the course opens. The contact link lets you ask questions; it does not confirm a booking.
START EXPLORING
