May 19-June 2   from 1:00-4:00pm this is a 3 class series meeting on Saturdays at CHOICE.

WEEK 1: Childbirth Education Course. This course is 3 weeks long. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 1-4pm.

We will cover the anatomy and physiology of labor and birth, which will inform our discussion of why moms and babies have better outcomes with undisturbed birthing practices. We will also be practicing relaxation methods.

We will identify signs of early labor, active labor, and pushing stages through discussion and watching videos, as well as practicing hands-on techniques, including acupressure points, and ‘catching’ the baby. There will be a question and answer session.

WEEK 2: Childbirth Education Course. This course is 3 weeks long. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 1-4pm.

We will discuss labor support and activities in each stage of labor. We will focus on positive affirmations and time will be set aside to create positive affirmation art.

We will discuss complications that can be resolved at home, as well as methods to make transfers to the hospital go smoothly, including your rights and responsibilities as a pregnant person. We will also discuss common hospital procedures as well as demonstrate use of intervention models. There will be a question and answer session.

WEEK 3: Childbirth Education Course. This course is 3 weeks long. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 1-4pm.

We will discuss strategies to ensure a successful breastfeeding relationship, including education on the 9 instinctual stages of the Golden Hour, and methods to encourage the breastcrawl in the initial breastfeeding experience. We will also discuss methods to promote a positive postpartum experience/’babymoon’. We will practice using slings and wraps for babywearing.

We will also discuss issues that often arise in the later postpartum, including information about cloth diapering, life with a new baby, strategies for transitioning from a couple to a family/adding another sibling to your family, and building community with other families. There will be a question and answer session.