CHOICE Childbirth Education classes explore the physiological processes of labor, birth and postpartum recovery to help you prepare, physically and emotionally, for welcoming your baby into your life.
Our courses are designed for families who are planning to give birth at home or in the hospital. We offer instruction to aid physiological birthing techniques, breastfeeding, postpartum care, and advocating for your wishes with caregivers. Our classes include videos of people birthing at home, in birth centers, and in the hospital.
We offer differing class options to suit your family’s needs:
- 3-Week Childbirth Education Series (4 hour classes)
- 2-Week Refresher Series (4 hour classes): For those with previous parenting experience or those who have taken other childbirth education courses.
Class 1: You will learn the anatomy and physiological processes involved in birth, including learning to tell the difference between pre-labor and labor contractions and information about perineal massage. You will also practice basic relaxation and comfort measures during labor, including counterpressure, pelvic press and various acupressure points as well as learning tips to help the laboring person use the limbic brain during labor.
Class 2: You will practice optimal fetal positioning techniques, using a rebozo prenatally and in labor, as well as discussing other labor support measures for waterbirth. You will also learn techniques to advocate with your caregivers, including creating a birth plan, understanding standard care in home and hospital births as well as care for complications in labor and birth. Finally, you will have a chance to practice catching a baby and learn procedures for babies that are in a hurry and want to arrive before their providers!
Class 3: You will learn information about and techniques for breastfeeding, including using a breast pump and how to store breastmilk. We will also discuss evidence about breastsleeping and co-sleeping as well as other forms of safe infant sleep. We will work on establishing a support network to help with the first weeks of the Fourth Trimester postpartum period. You will learn about Perinatal Mood & Anixety Disorders and we will discuss common Fourth Trimester issues including the transition to life with a baby. Finally, we will practice baby wearing with a variety of wraps.
2024 Child Birth Class Dates:
January series: 1/6, 1/20, 1/27
March series: 3/2, 3/9, 3/16
May series: 5/4, 5/11, 5/18
August series: Coming soon
September series: Coming soon
November series: Coming soon
Classes are generally held from 11am to 3pm but times may change due to availability of instructor or needs of class participants.