Public Talks @ Agape Village – Understanding Labour, Birth & Postnatal Self-Care

On 14 July 2018, Caritas Singapore launched the first of a series of public talks at Agape Village. The series serves as a platform for the Caritas Member Organisations and her partners to share professional knowledge and expertise on a wide variety of topic, as well as raise awareness of the programmes and services provided by the organisations involved.

Last Saturday, expectant mothers and their spouses attended the public talk to understand labour, birth and postnatal self-care better. The talk was a collaborative effort between Joyful Parenting and Clarity, and it featured two segments.

The speakers for the first segment of the day, titled “Surviving Labour, Birth and the first 6 months”, were from Joyful Parenting. Ms Pat Chong, a certified Childbirth Educator, shared on the way God had intended for childbirth to be: undisturbed, drug-free and intervention-free. Additionally, Ms Pamela Lim, a certified breastfeeding trainer, spoke about the importance of skin-to-skin contact between babies and their parents.

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Ms Pat Cheong, from Joyful Parenting, engaging with the group of soon-to-be and new parents, during the talk
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Ms Pamela Lim demonstrating to the parents how to properly position babies for skin-to-skin contact

For the second section of the Public Talk, Ms Laura Jonathan, a Clinical Psychologist at Clarity Singapore, presented on how “self-care leads to better baby care”. She explained that the well-being of both mother and baby should be treated with importance, because of their co-dependent relationship. As such, the parents at the talk were made more aware of the stresses associated with new parenthood and how these stresses may lead to perinatal depression and anxiety.

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Ms Laura Jonathan highlighting how to take care of the psychological and emotional needs of mother and child, during and after childbirth

The talk concluded with the participants learning about the different facets of self-care: gentleness and self-compassion, rest and relaxation, achievement, pleasure, exercise and health, and social support. Besides practical tips on how to practise mindfulness with their baby and spouse, Ms Laura Jonathan also taught the participants how to do a self-compassion pause.

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The participants trying out self-compassion pause method called “Butterfly Breathing”

"Whenever and however you give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body, and your spirit for the rest of your life.” – Ina May Gaskin, midwife and author

The next Public Talks@Agape Village will be on:

15 September

2.00pm to 4.30pm

Understanding Our Youths — Love and Addiction

16 November

7.30pm to 9.30pm 

In You, Death has Lost its Sting — Overcoming Death and Healing Relationships