Update: November 15, 2020

I will not be offering any childbirth classes until at least 2022.

Original Post:

Currently teaching private, comprehensive childbirth classes to individual couples who are seeking a flexible schedule. The current price for a 12-hour course is $400.

For groups of two or more couples, the price is $200 per couple.

Topics included in a comprehensive childbirth class:

Healthy Pregnancy

• Healthy Lifestyle
• Emotional Changes
• Anatomy and Physiology of Normal Changes in Pregnancy
• Nutrition
• Comfort Measures
• Prenatal Care

Confidence

• Confidence in Your Body, Support, Place of Birth, and Care Providers
• Addressing Fears
• Benefits of Natural Birth and Breastfeeding
• Role of Culture in Pregnancy, Birth, Post-partum, and Caring for Baby

Pain

• Role of Pain
• Receptors, Gate Control, and Coping
• Fear-Tension-Pain Cylce

Informed Decision Making

• Informed Consent, Refusal, Communication, Negotiation
• Rights of Childbearing Women
• Creating a Birth Plan
• Unexpected Outcomes, Traumatic Birth, and Grieving
• Birth Networks and Advocacy and Support Groups

Let Labor Begin on Its Own

• Mother and Baby Readiness for Birth
• Anatomy, Physiology, and Emotions of Labor
• Hormonal Transitions Before, During, and After Birth
• Stages and Phases
• Induction and Bishop Score
• Preterm Signs of Labor

Have Continuous Support

• Role of Partner, Family, Friends, Doula, Nurse, Midwife, Physician, and Others
• Birth Memories and Satisfaction
• Positive Environment
• Emotional Support
• Packing a Labor Bag
• Affirmations
• Touch and Massage
• Hydrotherapy
• Heat and Cold
• Focusing, Imagery, Visualization
• Breathing
• Rhythm, Ritual, and Relaxation
• Vocalization or Chanting
• Stimulating Senses
• Prolonged Labor and Back Pain
• Support in PostPartum

Walk, Move, and Change Positions

• Positions
• Tools

Remaining Upright and Following Urges to Push

• Support During Second Stage
• 3 Stages of Second Stage
• Positions
• Spontaneous Pushing vs. Directed Pushing

Avoid Unnecessary Interventions

• Restriction on Number of Support People
• Cascade of Interventions
• Augmentation
• Restricted Liquid and Foods
• IV Infusion
• Restriction of Positions or Movement
• Continuous Electronic Fetal Monitoring
• Frequency of Vaginal Exams
• Time Limits
• Amniotomy
• Episiotomy
• Pain Medications
• Circumcision
• Instrumental Delivery
• Timing of Newborn Procedures
• Cesarean
• Active Management of 3rd Stage

Keep Your Baby With You After Birth

• Physiological Third Stage
• Skin to Skin
• Uninterrupted Hour and No Separation of Mother and Baby Postpartum
• Delayed Cord Clamping
• Breastfeeding Basics
• Baby Led Latch
• Nursing Positions
• Infant Feeding Cues and Infant States
• “Is Baby Getting Enough?”
• Risks of Formula
• Calming and Soothing Techniques
• Safe Sleep
• Hand Expression
• Newborn Appearance
• Jaundice
• Baby’s Poop
• Intact Penis vs. Circumcision
• Encouraging Attachment and Responding to Baby’s Needs
• Baby Wearing
• Postpartum Emotions
• Physical Changes
• Support Systems and Postpartum Reality
• Role of Fathers or Parenting Partners
• Nutrition