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