The course designed to prepare your relationship for parenthood

(Because it deserves more than just a footnote in an antenatal class)

Relationship Bootcamp

Are you ready for the endurance test of your lives?

No matter what shape your relationship is in now, get it toned up to handle the beautiful chaos of parenting together

Overwhelmed & Worried

↑ WORDS TO DESCRIBE 99% OF EXPECTANT first-time PARENTS*

* Okay, I’ve completely made that up. But I bet I’m not that far off. You’re facing a huge life adjustment - plus a never ending to-do list of prep. And it’s nerve-wracking to think about all the possible changes ahead…

○ “Will we become horrible to each other when we’re sleep deprived?”

○ “Will we start arguing about household chores and who’s done what?”

○ “Will we find the time, effort and desire to keep our sex life alive?”

○ “Will we start resenting each other if our lives are impacted in very different ways?”

○ “Will we handle the strain of overnight care?”

○ “Will we keep prioritising our relationship when we’re busy juggling everything?”

○ “Will we stop being ‘us’?”

So let me make this a no-brainer for you.

YES - you really do need to prepare your relationship for parenthood…

Here’s why:

67%

of couples experience a decline in marital satisfaction, after the arrival of their first child.

SHAPIRO ET AL. (2000)

yikes! so, WHAT ABOUT THIS INSTEAD?

Feeling connected and prepared to navigate the challenges of parenting together with as much joy - and as little stress - as possible

You want to…

…have meaningful, structured conversations on all the important topics, with ease & convenience

You don’t want to…

…waste time researching or guessing what to discuss, only to struggle through it without guidance, accountability or (probably) much motivation

You want to…

…gain practical tools and create plans to confidently handle any bumps in the road

You don’t want to…

…feel like you’re winging it when you’re sleep-deprived, overwhelmed and time-poor

You want to…

…feel empowered, excited, and even more connected as a couple - a proper team!

You don’t want to…

…avoid talking about important topics because the changes feel too massive or unknown

Cassie Young

PRE-BABY BOOTCAMP GROUP, JULY 2023

“The course came at the perfect time in our journey into parenthood - providing us with a brave space to reconnect, see how we're more aligned than not, and outline small, actionable steps toward being the united, loving team we want to be for our baby.”

“It definitely exceeded our expectations in every way.”

What does the Pre-Baby Bootcamp cover?

  • Let’s get started.. One of the major concerns couples have when entering parenthood is what they'll leave behind. By considering the concept of duality, you’ll do exercises exploring what you might lose when you go from a two to a three, but also, what you’ll gain. You’ll talk about your rituals of connection and strategise for how to keep finding one another amongst the chaos.

  • Jumping straight in to one of the meatiest topics, because this one is just so important! Doing it early gives you as much time as possible to set yourselves up for success. You’ll think about how you’re currently sharing the load and assess how you ideally want to. We’ll also dig into ‘maternal gatekeeping’ and cover the ways you can mitigate its impact.

  • One of the most common disconnects between couples in parenting is the perceived disparity in how much one of your lives has changed compared to the other’s... Yep, I’m looking at the mums! The remedy, of course, is cultivating understanding, empathy and appreciation for each other’s roles. The focus is a bit more on motherhood for this session, in terms of hormones, recovery and identity - but you also think about lifestyle changes together - from a positive, zoomed out perspective.

  • I’ll help you to get on the same page about sleep, understanding your needs and why it’s so important from a couple’s perspective. One of the hit parts of this session is actually on rest - and how to think about it differently. And then of course, we’ve got night time baby care to consider… You’ll gain a ‘shared language’, with the help of real-life strategies, to plan for how to get through any disrupted nights coming your way - as a team!

  • I'll present you with my couple’s communication toolkit, which helps you to have more productive, less inflammatory conversations when emotion is high and cognition is low. We’ll look at the importance of effective repair and you’ll come up with a plan for how to do this together. And finally, decision making, because boy, are there a lot of decisions in parenthood! Then you’ll practice your newfound skills with some conversation prompts around communicating with others (your family and friends).

  • You might find that your appetite for sex can change when you’re tired, almost constantly holding (or breastfeeding) a baby and have some untold number of someone else’s bodily fluids on you before 12pm each day (usually the baby’s). So this session helps you to think about what intimacy means outside of sex, how to keep physically connecting and how to dialogue about it in an open and constructive way. We’ll cover body image, the green light and ‘nurture mode’ so you can be supportive of one another, if you experience changes.

  • Finally, we tackle the impossible job of the life balancing act! We touch on resentment, prioritising limited time and the emotive topic of money. It includes exercises designed to get you flexing your perspective taking skills and most importantly, to get you talking about the nitty gritty. There’s a huge amount of individual variation between couples regarding how they set up their lives and finances, which is why you’ll be left with prompts to go even deeper.

How to do the Pre-Baby Bootcamp

Private

7 x online COUPLEs coaching sessions

(75 mins EACH)

  • Fits your schedule

  • At your own pace

  • Individualised attention

  • Tailored coaching

£280/mo. (x 4)

Or a one-off payment of £1120

Group

3 x live group sessions (90 mins each)

+ 4 x DIY modules

  • Accountability & structure

  • A friendly community to share with

  • (Private discussions on mute!)

  • Own time to delve deeper

£130/mo. (x 2) + £50 deposit

Or a one-off payment of £240 + £50 deposit

DIY

7 x DIY modules

(7 to 14+ hours of content)

  • Pre-recorded & on-demand

  • Suits your own pace & schedule

  • Complete privacy

  • Own time to delve deeper

£90/mo. (x 2)

Or a one-off payment of £165

FREE 3 DAY TRIAL

Check it’s right for you, before you pay

It’s really important to me that you love your Pre-Baby Bootcamp experience! So let me de-risk it for you as much as possible. Feel free to take a look around, in a FREE 3 day trial*, before being charged anything. If you’re considering the private or group option, you can take a peek too! Just remember to cancel before you’re charged anything and come back here to select the option you’re after.

*Please note, this is only available for the one-time payment option (£165)

John & Rachel

PRE-BABY BOOTCAMP GROUP, JULY 2023

“The course was extremely helpful in bringing a lot of aspects of big change that happen in a relationship to full awareness & are often overlooked by many couples when preparing for a new baby, enabling my partner & I to strategize & create ways to lessen the negative impacts & instead work together as a loving team.”

Oh By the way

In case we’ve not met yet - I’m Ellie

Despite being a couples coach, becoming parents has been the hardest ‘season’ in my relationship with my husband so far.

There are so many conversations I wish we’d had before parenthood that would have made our journey feel smoother. Yet, during pregnancy, I couldn’t find the kind of support I was craving — something specifically geared towards this new chapter, giving us the space and time to connect, strengthen, and plan for the rollercoaster ride ahead.

Our daughter, Remy, arrived in June 2022, and with her, a whirlwind of insights, reflections and a stream of hastily written notes on my iPhone.

I began jotting down every idea, framework, and tool that could have helped us in our lowest, most sleep-deprived moments. Combining these lessons with my years of experience working with couples, I’ve created a course for expectant parents to navigate the emotional and relational shifts ahead - through guided conversations, thought-provoking material and interactive exercises. It’s exactly the service I wish had existed for us.

With 3 delivery options to choose from (private, groups, or DIY) there’s a solution for every budget and availability.

All that’s left to say is - congratulations! You’re pregnant. Yay! Now let me help you prepare yourselves for this crazy, wonderful journey.

Jake & Caileen

PRE-BABY BOOTCAMP GROUP, JULY 2023

“Ellie provided us with the tools and knowledge to have better and more productive conversations as a couple. She took our hour long, tense conversations, and turned them into productive 10-15 minute discussions.”

The Wall of Client Love:

FAQs

  • Each live group call has a theme we’ll explore and I’ll present ideas to you in a workshop format which includes exercises to complete as a couple (in private on mute!)

    We'll also catch up on the modules you've completed privately, giving you a chance to reflect and share as a group.

    If you’re not in either the US or the UK/Europe and want to understand what options are available to you, please get in touch at ellie@coupld.co and tell me where you’re based and I’ll get you sorted!

  • The small group environment is a really lovely way for couples to share their thoughts and feel understood by others going through the same thing. That’s why I like to keep the group size small at around 5 couples (maximum) per group course.

    This means spaces are limited by number - so don’t forget to secure your place as soon as possible by paying the non-refundable deposit.

  • I’m based in the UK, so please bear that in mind from a timezone perspective if you want private sessions.

    For the group option, sessions are held over three weekday evenings for UK timezones and over three weekend days for US timezones (morning for PT and early afternoon for ET).

    Check out the link under the group option to see the upcoming course dates and times.

  • Whilst it will be designed with first time parents in mind, the conversations and tools will be useful for seasoned pros too. Especially if you feel there’s room for improvement from the last time!

    The focus is on the transition to parenting and specifically, navigating the 4th trimester… But even if it’s not your first time, you’ll likely develop ways of approaching things differently with some fresh input.

    Reach out directly to me and we can set up a call to discuss your needs: ellie@coupld.co

  • Inclusivity is very important to me and I aim to (eventually) cater to all couples. However, given the inherently sexed processes of birth and recovery, this first version of the Pre-Baby Bootcamp caters specifically to heterosexual couples.

    I believe that in trying to meet the needs of all, I run the risk of not talking to anyone directly.

    Research (albeit limited) suggests that some of the factors attributed to the decline in relationship satisfaction post having a baby (e.g. division of responsibilities) is shared in a more egalitarian way in same sex couples. There are also unique aspects of the journey that would benefit from other tailored support.

    Therefore, whilst there is a lot of content relevant to every couple becoming parents, some of the course content might not feel very inclusive to your situation. However, through consultation with you, I’d love the opportunity to tailor the sessions to meet your needs. This would only be available in a private session format. If this is of interest or if you’d like to consult, advise or get involved in sharing your experiences to help with future course development, I’d love to hear from you at ellie@coupld.co.

  • Firstly, congratulations! I only have a limited understanding of the process and journey it is to become parents these ways - except that it is one… But if you’re reading this, I hope that means you’re well on your way.

    I would love to understand more about the experience, so that I can develop something tailored more specifically to these needs in the future.

    Every transition to parenthood is unique. I believe that by attempting to speak to everybody, I run the risk of speaking directly to few. That is why, for its first iteration, I have decided to focus on some of the aspects impacting couples that relate to labour, delivery and postpartum recovery.

    Whilst I believe there is a lot of content relevant to every couple becoming parents, covering these aspects might not feel very inclusive to your situation.

    If you’d like to consult, advise or get involved in sharing your experiences of adoption or surrogacy, I’d love to hear from you at ellie@coupld.co.