Aims of early parent education -- Effective parent educators : skills and relationships -- Supporting parents' prenatal relationship with their baby -- Stress and relaxation : education for a calm pregnancy -- Education and support for normal birth -- Education and support for home birth -- Education and support for women with fear of childbirth -- Debriefing women following childbirth : birth story workshops -- Education and support for fathers -- Education and support for the couple relationship across the transition to parenthood -- Education and support for same sex couples -- Education and support for interacting with the baby : emotional regulation and relationship learning -- Education and support for breastfeeding -- Education and support for young mothers -- Education and support for mothers and fathers in prison -- Education and support for at-home parents in military families -- A note on education and support for parents of twins -- A note on early parenting education for mothers and fathers from minority communities.

"As research in neuroscience increasingly points to the unparalleled influence of the first 1000 days of life from conception to two years of age in determining the baby's life trajectory, the need for high quality early parenting education delivered by knowledgeable and dedicated professionals becomes ever more apparent. This book describes the global aims of early parenting education. It identifies the key areas that research suggests are important: building a relationship with the unborn and newborn baby; preparing for labour and birth; supporting parents' mental health; protecting the couple relationship across the transition to parenthood, and education for special groups such as same sex couples, women with fear of birth, prisoners, military wives and parents from BME backgrounds. All practitioners providing early parenting programmes - midwives, health visitors, family link workers, Children's Centre staff and voluntary sector teachers - will gain new ideas for their practice in this book. Students taking midwifery and early childhood courses will find much to support their studies. Ultimately, the book provides inspiration for all those who are committed to the role of parenting education in reducing social inequalities"--