My Birth Course: An antenatal course of Complementary Medicine (CM) techniques for labour and birth for women having their first baby: a randomized controlled trial.

INTERVENTION: My Birth Course is an antenatal education package consisting of 5 different non‐pharmacological (complementary therapy) techniques for the management of pain in normal labor and birth. The workshops are educational sessions with interactive practice of techniques learned over the course. The following concepts and techniques are introduced to the woman during the course: the physiology of birth, the fear‐pain‐tension cycle, working with pain, the relaxation response, guided visualization and relaxation, active birth‐ movement, yoga and positions for birth, accupressure, breathing and massage techniques. Duration of treatment: Participation in a 2‐day weekend or a series of 4x (2.5h) evening workshops from 24‐36 weeks gestation. Participants can choose which of the scheduled workshops (whether weekend or evening) they wish to attend. Participants document a practice worksheet outlining the tools and techniques (when/where/with whom) they will practice to prepare for labour and birth. Participants are instructed to practice their chosen technique/s regularly but are not prescribed any specific duration or frequency of time to practice. The workshop will run twice per month over 10‐12 months or until recruitment has been achieved. The workshops will be held at the University of South Australia (west campus) Health Clinic. The workshops will be delivered by expert midwifery educators with a minimum of 5 years experience each. Follow‐up will occur within 72 hours of birth. At this time point participants will self report time spent practicing the (complementary therapies) techniques used for labour and birth. CONDITION: Childbirth Labour Medical interventions childbirth Pregnancy PRIMARY OUTCOME: Epidural rate as recorded in the medical records Maternal outcome: length of labour (first stage, second stage, third stage) as recorded in the woman's medical records SECONDARY OUTCOME: A change in score in the validated "Attitude to Birth Questionnaire" Infant admission to NICU/SCN from medical records Infant resuscitation at birth from medical records Labour agentry questionnaire (personal control measures) mode of birth assisted or cesarean section from medical records The "Capture My Mood" questionnaire ; difference in score The validated Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) INCLUSION CRITERIA: • Gestational age between 24 and 36 weeks of completed pregnancy • Primiparous • Singleton pregnancies • Low to moderate risk as defined by Australian College of Midwives referral guidelines • Women will have sufficient English for participation in a the workshops