Private child birth Education Classes:

I offer natural child birth classes specifically designed to meet the informational needs of families giving birth at home or in the hospital. A child birth class is the best way to prepare for labor and birth and to provide you with the information you need to minimize your fears and help you make informed decisions.

My child birth classes can be customized to fit your needs.

These child birth classes explore the physical, psychological, sexual and emotional aspects of pregnancy, birth and parenting.
Classes will provide the tools to help guide you through labor and birth, including intensive breathing and relaxation.
Topics covered include information important to maintaining a healthy pregnancy all the way through breastfeeding and the immediate postpartum period, helping you make informed choices all along the continuum of the childbearing cycle.
This unique course will prepare you in taking responsibility for the birth of your child and the transition in becoming parents.

Class Series Outline:

Class One: Birth Today is an introduction to the anthropological, historical, sociological and psychological threads of consciousness that will be woven throughout the series of seven classes. The midwifery model, consumerism and media influences on birth and women's self-image will also be explored.

Class Two: Pregnancy - Growth and Decision Making emphasizes parents' responsibility and choices regarding the place of birth, care provider, use of labor assistants/birth doulas, interventions and medications. Communication exercises are introduced and the importance of nutrition and changes that occur during pregnancy are explored, including body image and sexuality.

Class Three: The Process of Birth explores how the baby is born and how the mother and her partner can work together towards a more positive labor and birth. This class covers breathing, relaxation, positions, vocalization and other tools for meeting the intensity of labor.

Class Four: Creating Your Birth explores what it takes for families to attain the desired birth. Standard hospital and home procedures are discussed, including options and the “domino theory”of interventions. Cesarean prevention is a large component of this class, along with options concerning standard medical interventions such as episiotomy, epidurals, EFM and “active management of labor”. Students will also discuss creating a birth plan.

Class Five: When Birth Doesn't Go The Way You Planned discusses dealing with the unexpected, ranging from having an undesired IV to the death of a baby. The goal is to help parents address their fears and have the tools for dealing with unexpected outcomes. An important aspect of this class is learning how to best communicate with their care provider to ensure the families are getting the personalized care they need.

Class Six: The Newborn, Postpartum, and the Family explores the psychological, emotional and physical concerns of the postpartum period and new parenthood. The newborn exam, breast feeding, postpartum mood disorders and decisions related to baby care are also covered.