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Preparing for a baby brings up a lot of questions — and a lot of feelings. Where do you even start? Who do you trust? And how do you know if the information you're getting is actually going to help when you're home alone at 2am with a screaming baby?
That's exactly what HolisticBaby Antenatal Classes are designed for. With over 30 years supporting Auckland families, HolisticBaby is widely regarded as the most comprehensive antenatal education in Auckland.
"You don't need a different expert at every stage. We're here from your first scan to your baby's first birthday. No judgement. No jargon. Just real support for real newborn life."
HolisticBaby is led by Cathy McCormick — midwife, internationally certified lactation consultant, and one of Auckland's most experienced antenatal educators. With over 30 years of practice and more than 8,000 families supported, Cathy brings a depth of knowledge and genuine warmth that is hard to find anywhere else.
She has seen it all — the straightforward births and the unexpected ones, the breastfeeding struggles at 3am, the overwhelmed new parents who just need someone to tell them they're doing okay. Nothing is glossed over in her classes, no question is too small, and there is no judgement — ever.
Most antenatal classes focus heavily on birth and stop there. HolisticBaby covers the full picture — from preparing mind and body for birth, through to those messy, beautiful, exhausting first weeks at home.
Explore your expectations and concerns, learn about your care team, and discover practical tools — acupressure, optimal baby positioning, relaxation and breathing techniques.
Labour stages, caesarean birth, pain relief options, what your midwife recommends, skin-to-skin, delayed cord clamping, and your baby's precious first hours.
Breastfeeding essentials, newborn care, bathing, dressing, and honest guidance on what actually helps in the first week — plus a coffee group for ongoing connection.
An in-depth guide covering everything from establishing milk supply and latching, to managing tongue tie, blocked ducts, mastitis, flat or inverted nipples, low or high supply, and much more. Taught by an internationally certified lactation consultant with decades of clinical experience.
Real, practical preparation for life with a newborn. Baby sleep, settling, responsive care, swaddling, daily newborn care, and how to make nights more manageable. Not theory — what to actually do.
Every pregnant woman trains for the big day — often without even realising it. From the moment she finds out she's pregnant, something quietly begins. She starts paying attention — to her body, her feelings, her fears, and her hopes.
Antenatal classes simply give that preparation a name — and a direction. They encourage her to get to know herself first. Who are you already? What kind of support was actually useful to you in moments of stress? Were you someone who needed a cheerleader in your corner — or did you find more comfort in a quiet presence, a steady hand, a calm nod that said I've got you?
She starts wondering. She starts talking. Slowly, she gathers her team — her LMC, midwife or obstetrician, family, and friends. But through all of it, her partner is her truest advocate.
What's normal in labour
What actually helps — and when
What to say when words are hard
How to create calm in the room
How to advocate alongside her LMC
Brave when she can't be
Her voice when she is unable to speak
Aligned on her hopes for birth & beyond
Confident, present, and truly ready
Her greatest advocate in the room
In HolisticBaby classes, birth partners aren't just given a checklist. They're invited into a real conversation about the woman beside them — her fears, her strength, and what it means to truly show up for her. Working alongside her LMC, they help ensure she always feels like the most important person in the room, regardless of the birth journey that unfolds.
Great antenatal classes don't just inform — they build confidence. At HolisticBaby you'll explore all your birth options — natural birth, epidurals, elective caesarean — so you feel genuinely empowered to make decisions that are right for you. Cathy guides you through creating a birth plan that clearly reflects your preferences, while remaining flexible for whatever may arise on the day.
The journey doesn't end in the birth suite. HolisticBaby classes cover postpartum recovery — physical healing, emotional wellbeing, and building the support networks that make those early weeks genuinely manageable. Every class sets up a coffee group, because the village matters.
Cathy's vast knowledge, easygoing nature and ability to answer even the silliest questions without making us feel useless helped us a lot, particularly during those overwhelming first weeks. The most valuable thing Cathy taught us was to trust our instinct.
I felt like so much of the antenatal class education we received focused on the birth. But this class opened my eyes. I had no idea how I was going to support my wife in the days after we came home. So helpful!