Beer and Bubs: Childbirth and Parent Education for Dads at the Pub

Today, we want to celebrate a truly special woman in the Beer + Bubs story — Virginia Maddock.

Beer + Bubs was born in Sydney in 2004, when The Lucy Bloom created a fresh, father-focused approach to childbirth education that gave dads their own space to learn, ask questions, and prepare for birth in a way that felt practical, real, and welcoming.

In 2010, Virginia became part of that Sydney story. Running sessions in another Sydney location to reach more men across the city and making it possible for even more dads to attend.

When Beer + Bubs leadership later shifted west, there was still strong media interest in the program on the east coast, and Virginia stepped naturally into an important public role for Beer + Bubs. Over the years, she became one of the most recognisable faces of the program when media came calling, helping share the value of father-focused childbirth education with a broader audience. Her contribution was reflected in media coverage and features including The House Of Wellness, The Project, The Daily Telegraph, ABC News, and other public-facing promotions and interviews connected to Beer + Bubs Nationally.

All of this happened while Virginia was also building and running her own beautiful business, Natural Beginnings - Holistic Health, Bodywork & Doula Services, through which she has supported women and families as a doula, herbalist, nutritionist, childbirth educator, and holistic practitioner.

That is no small thing.

For 15 years, Virginia has helped create spaces where dads could feel informed, included, reassured, and more confident as they prepared for birth and early parenting. She has carried forward the heart of Beer + Bubs in the city where it all began, and in doing so, has supported countless fathers, partners, and families.

This has been more than a role. It has been a legacy.

A legacy of father-focused education.
A legacy of honest conversations.
A legacy of helping men feel more prepared, more connected, and more able to step into fatherhood with confidence.

Virginia, thank you for your warmth, your wisdom, your humour, your media presence, your professionalism, and your heart. Thank you for representing Beer + Bubs so beautifully for so many years, and for the care you have poured into fathers and families across Sydney.

Your chapter in the Beer + Bubs story is significant, lasting, and deeply appreciated.

Thank you, Virginia, for 15 wonderful years.

And if you know of an amazing birth worker who would be keen to step into Virginia’s shoes in Sydney, please get in touch.

Beer and Bubs: Childbirth and Parent Education for Dads at the Pub was created because dads deserve their own space to learn, connect, and prepare for fatherhood.

And the research still supports that.

Our newest blog looks at recent evidence around fathers, support, social connection, and the gaps that still exist in perinatal care, and why Beer + Bubs remains so important.

Have a read here:
https://beerandbubs.com.au/why-beer-bubs-still-matters/

𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚.

Beer + Bubs is recruiting licensed facilitators in cities and regions nationwide. If you’re a doula, midwife, childbirth educator, or perinatal health worker, and you’d love to run a dad-focused program locally, let’s talk.

Comment “LICENSEE” or DM us for the info pack.
📧 [email protected]

Beer and Bubs childbirth + parentEducation for dads at the pubjoin us for expert-led sessions on childbirth and parenting, tailored just for dadsfind a class near you become a facilitatorFeatured onAbout Beer + bubs​Is a unique initiative designed to support and educate fathers through childbirth and early pare...

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐬?

Before I go any further, I want to be really clear, this is not about minimising the experience of birthing women and mums. The physical and emotional load of pregnancy, labour, birth, and recovery is enormous, and deserves full care and priority.

Today though, I want to make space for men and dads.

During our Beer + Bubs facilitator group interviews today, a theme came up again and again. So many of the practitioners we spoke with had witnessed, supported, or heard stories from dads who were impacted by traumatic birth experiences.

Often, dads are the helpless onlookers. They’re watching the person they love most in the world in pain, in fear, or in danger. They’re exposed to scenes no one expects to see, especially when it involves their partner or their newborn baby.

And yes, as it should be, the birthing woman and baby receive the medical priority, and the immediate emotional support too. But in the background, something can happen for dads. Their nervous system stays switched on. They hold it together. They go into “fix it” mode. They become the runner, the advocate, the one making calls, organising other children, or trying to stay calm when they’re internally unravelling.

Birth trauma for dads can show up after:
- a long, exhausting labour
- an unexpected emergency caesarean
- forceps or vacuum birth
- baby needing resuscitation or NICU
- haemorrhage (including after you’ve already come home)
- feeling unheard, sidelined, or powerless in the room
- fear of losing their partner or baby

Sometimes it looks like tears. Sometimes it looks like shutting down. Sometimes it’s anger, irritability, avoidance, or going back to work too quickly. Sometimes it’s nightmares, flashbacks, panic, or feeling numb. And sometimes it’s simply, “I’m fine”, while their body says otherwise.

Here’s the part I wish more people knew: trauma isn’t only about what happened, it’s also about how supported and safe someone felt while it was happening.

Dads deserve support too. Not instead of mums, alongside mums. Because when dads are supported, the whole family benefits.

If you’re a dad reading this and something in your chest just tightened, please know you’re not weak, and you’re not alone.
And if you’re a partner, friend, or practitioner, a simple check-in can matter more than you realise:

“How are you doing after that?”
“What’s the bit that keeps replaying for you?”
“Do you want to talk it through?”

We’ll keep talking about this at Beer + Beer and Bubs: Childbirth and Parent Education for Dads at the Pub, because dads matter, and families do better when everyone’s experience is seen.

You may or may not be aware, but Beer + Bubs is a program of WA Mental Health.

It’s directed by Carrina Hampton (Mental Health Social Worker and Family Therapist), and our commitment to men’s mental health is genuine, alongside our commitment to women, children, families, and communities.

When it comes to trauma, no one’s experience should be minimised or dismissed. We can hold space for mums and babies, while also recognising that dads can be deeply impacted too.
Let’s do better, together.

Learn more about WA Mental Health here: https://wamentalhealth.com.au/

If this post resonates, feel free to comment, message us or share. You’re not on your own.

💛 Carrina Hampton

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗯𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀!
Are you passionate about guiding dads-to-be on their journey into fatherhood? Beer + Bubs is excited to offer a unique opportunity to become a licensed facilitator and make a lasting impact on new and expectant fathers across Australia!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗿 + 𝗕𝘂𝗯𝘀?
Beer and Bubs: Childbirth and Parent Education for Dads at the Pub is a one-of-a-kind program that blends the relaxed setting of a pub with essential dad-focussed education. We help dads-to-be and new dads gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to prepare for fatherhood—one conversation at a time.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿?
- An introduction to Beer + Bubs
- Detailed guidelines on how to run your own sessions
- An Overview of the licencing agreement
- An Interactive Q&A with our National Director, Carrina Hampton

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗲𝗿 + 𝗕𝘂𝗯𝘀 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿?
- Make a real difference: Empower dads on their journey to parenthood
- Follow your passion: Combine your love for helping others with a unique, welcoming environment
- Flexibility: Set your own schedule and run sessions locally
- Comprehensive support: Get full support, resources, and a network of fellow B+B facilitators

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁!
As a facilitator, you’ll lead interactive sessions in local pubs, offering new dads and dads-to-be the support they need to step confidently into fatherhood.

Ready to make an impact? Register for the Information Session on Tuesday, 20 January 2026 9:00-10:00am AWST or 4.30-5.30pm or by messaging us on Facebook or SMS/WhatApp to 0497 139 676

Cheers to creating stronger families, one dad at a time! 🍻
Carrina Hampton

🎈 Happy Birthday to our remarkable founder, Lucy Bloom!

Today we celebrate the brilliant woman who began Beer + Bubs back in 2004 in Sydney, a simple, clever idea that grew into a national program supporting dads to feel confident, capable and truly included in birth and early parenting.

Lucy nurtured Beer + Bubs through its development and expansion with creativity, heart and her trademark bold humour, before selling the program to Carrina Hampton in 2011. What she started has grown into a community that spans Australia, helping thousands of dads show up with love, steadiness and courage in the moments that matter most.

Lucy is admired not just for her ideas, but for the depth of her compassion. She’s spent her life championing women, families and children through her global humanitarian work, leadership roles and writing. She’s also many years sober now, showing strength, clarity and grounded presence in a way that continues to inspire so many. So today, we raise a glass of sparkling soda water in her honour.

Happy Birthday, Lucy. Thank you for dreaming big back in 2004, and for planting the seed that became Beer + Bubs. Your legacy lives on in every dad who walks into a pub feeling unsure and walks out feeling ready.

With gratitude, admiration and a lot of love,
The Beer + Bubs community 💛

The Lucy Bloom Lucy Bloom
Carrina Hampton Carrina Hampton

Ever heard of a childbirth class that comes with a new mates and a meal?

At Beer + Bubs, we do things differently. Our one-night pub sessions are relaxed, fun, and full of real talk.
No awkward PowerPoints or medical jargon, just straight-up guidance from experts who get what dads need to know.

You’ll learn:
1. How to support your partner during labour (physically and emotionally)
2. What’s happening behind the scenes in the birth suite
3. What to do when things don’t go to plan
4. How to feel calm and confident when the big day arrives

We keep it honest, practical, and welcoming because every dad deserves to feel ready.

Join your local Beer + Bubs session. Walk in a mate, walk out a confident dad.

Link in bio to book.

𝐔𝐩𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬-𝐭𝐨-𝐛𝐞!

Beer + Bubs offers practical childbirth education for expectant dads, while Parent Education for Dads at the Pub provides a relaxed lunchtime space for fathers of young children to discuss parenting, relationships, and life with their little ones. Each session is led by experienced facilitators who bring both professional expertise and personal insight.

Check out your local session and book your spot: https://beerandbubs.com.au/events/

Parenting isn’t something you have to figure out alone.

Join Maya — midwife, mum of two, and facilitator of Beer + Bubs Hobart — for a relaxed Dads Session over lunch at The Crescent Hotel. It’s a space for dads of little ones (0–3 years) to share experiences, ask questions, and connect with others navigating early parenthood.

📅 Saturday 29 November 2025
🕐 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
📍 The Crescent Hotel, 100 Burnett St, North Hobart
💰 $65 (includes lunch)

A good meal, good conversation, and honest talk about fatherhood. Feel free to bring your baby along.

Register here: https://beerandbubs.com.au/events/
For enquiries: [email protected] or call/text 0451 669 090