English-speaking birth preparation courses

You might be full of confidence or trepidation. Or a bit of both. If this is your first birth in Luxembourg, you might want to feel more familiar with how everything works here. If you have recently arrived in Luxembourg expecting, not only will you be navigating a relocation but no doubt getting your head around maternity services. 
 
In 2023, there were 6,300 births in Luxembourg but the split between foreigners and Luxembourgers are yet to be published.

Statistics indicate of the 6,495 births in Luxembourg in 2022, just over half were to Luxembourgers (3,457) and just under half were to foreigners (3,038). Many expats seek a course to help clarify key differences with birth experiences elsewhere.

Not least, the proverbial village needed to raise a child is not a luxury afforded to expats and birth preparation courses can afford an opportunity to connect with fellow expectant families.

Expectant parents come with a myriad of questions; what antenatal and postnatal support is available here, where can I give birth, how does it all work, do I need to find a midwife, what about paediatric services, who facilitates my antenatal appointments and where will they be, who can look after my other children when I give birth, and as an English speaker can I easily access the support I need?

The list is endless and from personal experience (adding a toddler, a full-time working spouse, being pregnant with twins and a pandemic), it can be somewhat overwhelming.

In the UK, as an example, pregnancy care is midwife-led with a standard of two ultrasound scans at 12 and 20 weeks, unless more are advised. A gynaecologist or obstetrician leads pregnancy care in Luxembourg, each are linked to a specific hospital.  Appointments are monthly and can include regular ultrasound scans to monitor growth.

Prenatal support can include diet in pregnancy, preparation for birth, haptonomy (helping parents to bond with their baby in the womb), prenatal and postnatal yoga, hypnobirthing and more. Our guide below is specifically for birth preparation courses.

Hospital prenatal courses

Delivered by midwives, courses can be offered in the hospital or remotely, depending on needs and preferences. Courses include a tour of the delivery room. English speaking courses are available at Bohler.  If you are delivering at CHL, CHdN or Emile Mayrisch, these currently don’t offer classes in English.
 
The Bohler Clinic is a mother and child centre specialising in gyneacology and obstetrics. If you are delivering your baby here, English speaking birth preparation and breastfeeding courses are offered on-line or at the hospital.

CHL; Maternité Grande Duchesse Charlotte provides clinical care and delivery services as well as maternity related emergencies and other women-oriented medical services. If giving birth here, birth preparation courses were previously offered, however, they have not been available since covid. CHL advises you to contact a private midwife. You can search for a midwife from the Luxembourg Association of Midwifes here which includes languages spoken.

See our article here for more on paediatric services and another article here on what to do in a child or infant medical emergency.

Initiativ Liewensufank asbl

This charity launched nearly 40 years ago and continues to offer a range of support services and advice around childbirth and parenting.

Family Matters met with Managing Director Maria Eudier and Communications Manager Yasmine Banzer-Schmit to discuss what they offer to expectant parents and those in the infancy of their parenting journey. 
 
Liewensufank offer comprehensive prenatal courses in English which cover all bases; changes to the body during pregnancy, taking ownership of your birth rights and choices and what to expect postpartum and beyond.

Managing Director, Maria Eudier, told Family Matters; Our birth prep courses really prepare people for birth, not just 'what happens in hospital' but the whole process, post birth too"

Other courses they offer in English include Hypnobirthing and postpartum support such as baby weaning/introducing solids, support with child loss and breastfeeding.

All 'Baby Hotline' advisers at Liewensufank (+352 36 05 98) are multilingual. This is available Mon to Fri 9am - 1130am for enquiries or concerns relating to pregnancy, giving birth or parenting in the early months.

See full details of all the courses on offer at Liewensufank here.

© Liewensufank

Marise Hyman

If you have been in Luxembourg for a while, you might be familiar with "LuxMama Club and ParentPrep" asbl. Founded by Marise Hyman, LuxMama was an English speaking, non-profit organisation run by volunteers to raise awareness on human rights in childbirth, in the interest of perinatal health.

The NGO ceased to operate during covid however Marise, a Preconception to Parenthood Doula, continues to offer holistic courses for birth preparation through her coaching and healing business.
 
Her coaching business offers support with Workplace Wellbeing, Inner-growth and Relationships and Pre-conception to Parenthood, which includes maternity and doula services.  Attendance options include groups or private 1 to 1 at your home or at her premises and online.
 
Marise told Family Matters she receives very positive feedback from her "Conscious birth programme" which she has applied 10 years of experience into developing.
 
"The course is customised over 8 sessions for each couple and includes Calm Birth®, Dancing for Birth, Holistic Childbirth Education as well as emotional preparation and healing. This includes re-coding early life and other limiting & outdated body-mind imprint stories", Marise said.

Calm Birth® prenatal courses are also available and Marise is currently developing a self-paced online option, also. 
 
Marise offers weekly small classes of "Dancing for Birth” at her studio in Bereldance (SoulSpace) every Tuesday from 10am until 11am. Everyone is welcome and as Marise has always said, “If you can walk, you can dance!”  
 
The next ‘Women's Circle’ will be on Saturday 26th October, 1pm - 6pm at in Bereldange. You can sign up via Marise's website here where you will also find full details of all her services.

In addition to birth preparation, Marise can support you and your baby with holistic weaning and holistic sleep methods.
 
Calm Birth® 
Where: In Marise' studio (Bereldange), at your home or online coming soon
How much: See pricing here 
How long: 4 x 1.5 hour sessions
 
Conscious Birth
Where: In Marise' studio (Bereldange), online or at home. Self-paced online course to come.
How much: €1,400 
How long:  8 x fully customised prenatal sessions) in groups or private 1 to 1.

Rebozo 

Support offered from Bel at Rebozo encompasses pregnancy, birth, postpartum and more. It was founded by María Belén Farias (Bel), a certified pregnancy, birth and postpartum doula, babywearing consultant and yoga practitioner who has gained a wealth of experience.

Her "Birth is Movement" course covers the physiology of birth and how to facilitate natural development through comfort techniques and movement.

"This is an evidence based birth preparation course that includes both theory and practice, with a big focus on birthing positions and coping techniques. The course is held in person every two months, our next one will run on June 30th" Bel said.

The course can be taken starting from 13 weeks of pregnancy until just before giving birth and includes:

• Physiology of natural birth (online, recorded format)
• The role of pain & physiological analgesia
• The female pelvis
• Birthing positions and movement
• Medical procedures and interventions
• Writing a Birth Plan

The ‘Birth Village’ is a talking circle. A safe space where women can ask questions about the whole process, medical system, staff, local practices or anything else related to childbirth.
 
"These pregnancy circles offer a less structured way to prepare for birth. They include a part for sharing and discussing over a cup of tea" Bel said. 
 
She continued "Women are welcome to come from 13 weeks until the end of their pregnancies. One special circle is held every season for the women to come back and meet again with their newborn babies".

© Canva

There are 4 main themes around which each Birth Village session revolves: "Feel", "Flow", "Breathe', and "Dive". The sessions include theory about specific topics with respect to birth and practical activities. All sessions include some movement and exercises using pregnancy balls and suspensions.

Since the sessions are adapted to the interest of the participants, no two sessions are the same and women are invited to continue coming after they finish the 4 sessions, free of charge. Bel emphasised that The Birth Village is not a lecture based birth preparation course but dynamic sessions with active participation. Her 'Birth Is Movement' course provides more structured classes.

For private pre-natal sessions with Bel, a woman can attend sessions alone or with a partner. Topics covered include, but are not limited to;

• Learn coping techniques and tools for labour
• The partner can learn different ways to support the woman during labor, birth and postpartum
• Prepare for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)
• Create a birth plan
• Do exercises and rebozo techniques to invite a breech baby to flip
• Do exercises with balls, suspensions and rebozos to help baby get into a good position for birth

Birth is Movement
Where: AeroYoga 18 Rue du Fort Wallis, Gare
When: Every 2 months, next session June 30th
How much: €80 euro per person, €120 eur per couple
How long: 2 hr 45 min sessions plus 40 mins recorded videos.

Birth Village
Where: Centre Lunata, 97 rue de Luxembourg, Bertrange
When: Two Mondays a month, 11am – 1pm
How much:  €50 euro per session/ €90 for 2, €120 for 3 , €150 for 4.

Private prenatal sessions
Where: Centre Lunata Bertrange or Bettembourg
How much: €100 per session
How long: 1 hour 30 mins

To register for any of Bel's courses or activities, she invites you to contact her directly through her website or send her an email at bel@rebozo.lu

Bien Naitre 

The team comprises of midwifes, osteopaths and dietitians who are familiar with the obstetrical practice of different maternity wards in Luxembourg. The birth preparation courses aim to prepare you for birth physically, emotionally while covering all knowledge bases. Courses are offered in groups or individually, women are welcome to bring a partner. Individual birth preparation sessions use the Bonapace method.

The midwives can advise on, and facilitate, giving birth at home or at a birth centre, Lunata, in Bertrange. For other home birth options you may need to look beyond Luxembourg to neighbouring France, Belgium or Germany. Notably, Bien Naitre also offer birth preparation courses specifically for subsequent births. Dreambirth® is another option here which uses visualisation techniques for a positive birth experience.

In addition, they offer fitness for mums and baby massage amongst other services. Some provision is covered by CNS, you can contact them for a consultation of your needs.

Birth preparation - see here for detailed information 
How much: €225 in small groups or €90 for individual sessions 
How long: 3 sessions of 2 hours (group), 1.5 - 2 hours (individual)