Toward Parenthood Program
The Toward Parenthood Program has been developed by the Parent Infant Research Institute (PIRI) Team at Austin Health. The content comes from a review of the literature and extensive clinical experience in helping couples adjust to parenthood.
The Program is ideal for pregnant women who want to prepare themselves for the challenges of parenthood. It covers a wide range of important areas not necessarily covered in routine antenatal classes.
Download the Toward Parenthood Brochure (854KB)
What is Included in the Program?
The Toward Parenthood Program consists of a workbook for you and your partner to work through. However, you do not need to have a partner to participate. The workbook covers nine chapters - eight antenatal and one postnatal. Each chapter contains information and activities to generate thought and reflection, conversation and communication.
A workbook is posted out to women who read one chapter per week followed by a ½ hr telephone support call from one of our therapists.
Is the Program Beneficial?
A research study evaluating the effectiveness of the Toward Parenthood Program is currently being conducted. Preliminary results suggest that women benefit from participating in the Program. In particular, women who have completed the Program, as compared with those who did not:
- were better able to deal with the stress of early parenthood;
- reported greater attachment to their baby;
- experienced less anxiety and depression in the early postpartum period;
- reported improved communication with their partner; and
- felt their expectations of the demands of parenthood were more realistic.
"This Program should be compulsory for every new parent!"
"I've learnt so much about how I was parented and the kind of parent I hope to be"
"I feel like I have more strategies to help me cope with the daunting task of parenting a baby"
"I wish this program was available to me when I had my first baby, it has been so useful"