Self-Paced Pregnancy & Parenting Courses
Why Parents Love Self-Paced Learning
Learn When It Suits You
Watch and revisit lessons whenever you need them, from any device.
Pause, Rewatch and Review
Take your time to absorb information and revisit important topics whenever questions arise.
Practical and Realistic
Focused on what parents actually need to know, without fear-based messaging or overwhelming medical jargon.
Supportive Community Access
Connect with other expectant and new parents inside the Bellies to Babies Support Hub.
Created by an Experienced Educator
Developed by Janine Penny, supporting New Zealand families since 2005.
Learn at Your Own Pace. Feel Ready for What's Next
Life doesn't always fit neatly around scheduled classes.
Whether you're expecting your first baby or navigating life with a newborn, our self-paced courses provide expert guidance, practical tools and evidence-based education you can access anytime, from anywhere.
Created by Janine Penny, Diploma-Qualified Birth & Parenting Specialist, these courses combine over 21 years of experience supporting more than 5,500 New Zealand parents through pregnancy, birth, newborn care and early parenting.
No pressure.
No judgement.
No information overload.
Just realistic, evidence-informed guidance designed to help you feel calmer, more confident, and more prepared for what lies ahead.
Choose the course that's right for you and start learning today.
Available Courses
Preparing for Birth and Early Parenting
Feel informed, confident, and ready for labour, birth and life with a newborn.
This comprehensive antenatal course covers:
• Understanding labour and birth
• Pain relief options
• Birth choices and decision-making
• Partner support strategies
• Caesarean birth information
• The first hours after birth
• Feeding your baby
• Newborn sleep
• Nappy changing, bathing and settling
• What to realistically expect during the early weeks
Perfect for first-time parents or anyone wanting a refresher before welcoming a new baby.
You'll walk away feeling:
• More confident about labour and birth
• Better prepared for newborn life
• More informed about your options
• Clearer about what is normal and what isn't
If you've ever wondered whether your baby's sleep is normal, this course is for you.
Newborn sleep can feel confusing, exhausting, and full of conflicting advice.
This course helps you understand:
• What's normal in the first weeks and months
• Why newborns wake so often
• Day and night confusion
• Sleep expectations versus reality
• Sleep myths and misinformation
• Ways to support your baby without pressure or guilt
This isn't about sleep training.
It's about understanding your baby and feeling more confident navigating this stage.
You'll walk away feeling:
• Reassured about normal newborn behaviour
• Less worried about sleep patterns
• Better able to respond to your baby's needs
• More confident in your parenting decisions
Your Birth Plan, Made Simple
A birth plan doesn’t need to be long, complicated, or set in stone.
This course helps you think through your options, understand what matters most to you, and create a flexible birth plan that supports informed decision-making.
You’ll explore:
• What a birth plan actually is
• Your preferences for labour and birth
• Pain relief options
• Partner/support person roles
• Creating a calm birth environment
• Caesarean birth considerations
• What to include, what to leave out, and how to keep it realistic
• How to communicate your wishes with your care team
This is perfect if you want to feel more prepared, but don’t want to feel boxed in by a rigid plan.
You'll walk away feeling:
• Clearer about your birth preferences
• More confident asking questions
• Better prepared for decision-making
• Ready to create a plan that feels realistic and useful
Understanding Newborn Sleep
The Postnatal Recovery Plan
So much focus goes into preparing for birth, but what happens afterwards matters too.
This course helps you prepare for the early postnatal weeks with practical, realistic guidance around rest, recovery, support, feeding, emotions, and life with a newborn.
You’ll explore:
• What recovery can look like after birth
• Physical healing and comfort measures
• Caesarean and vaginal birth recovery considerations
• Feeding support and realistic expectations
• Emotional wellbeing and the baby blues
• Visitors, boundaries and asking for help
• Household support and practical planning
• When to seek extra support
This course is ideal for parents who want to feel more organised, supported and less blindsided by the fourth trimester.
You'll walk away feeling:
• More prepared for the early weeks after birth
• Clearer about what support you may need
• More confident planning for recovery
• Reassured about what is normal and when to get help
More Courses Coming Soon
New courses are regularly added to the Bellies to Babies Support Hub covering pregnancy, birth, newborn care, baby development, parenting confidence, and practical skills for life with a baby.
Join now and be the first to know when new learning opportunities become available.
Not Sure Which Course Is Right For You?
Every family's journey is different.
If you're unsure where to start, get in touch and I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.
Feeding Your Baby
Feeding can be one of the most rewarding and challenging parts of early parenthood.
Whether you're planning to breastfeed, bottle feed, combination feed, or are still figuring things out, this course provides practical information without judgement.
Topics include:
• Feeding cues
• Establishing feeding
• Normal feeding patterns
• Bottle feeding
• Combination feeding
• Cluster feeding
• Common feeding challenges
• When to seek support
• Building confidence around feeding decisions
You'll walk away feeling:
• More confident feeding your baby
• Better able to recognise feeding cues
• Less overwhelmed by conflicting advice
• Reassured about what is normal
