There is no formula for the perfect birth. Intuitive birth is about
tuning into your instinctive wisdom. Reframing your perceptions will
release your fears surrounding labor and birth. Whether you are
planning a homebirth or would like a natural birth in the hospital, this
class will prepare you and your partner for labor and birth by providing
you with all the tools and information you need to start down the path
to a safe, comfortable, natural birth experience.
In addition to
increased emotional security regarding birth,
Intuitive Birth students
are 68% less likely to have a cesarean than the average
Georgia mother. 70% of Intuitive Birth students who give
birth vaginally do so with no pain medication.
This class will discuss the many important decisions you need to make during your pregnancy in order to have the kind of birth experience you want. Learn how nutrition and specific exercises can help keep you low-risk and make your pregnancy and birth more comfortable. We will discuss the stages of labor in detail, including how things might feel both physically and emotionally, and things you and your partner can do to make your labor easier. Each week you will receive a new relaxation script, and there will be two comprehensive in-class labor rehearsals where you can apply your knowledge to specific situations that may occur during labor. Learn about various interventions, tests, and procedures, and create a "birth plan." You will also learn what to expect postpartum, and how to have an easier transition into parenthood. Birth videos are shown in class to prepare you for what to expect, since many Americans have never witnessed a natural birth. Please click on each individual class for a description.
Below is class-by-class content for our 9-week format with 2-hour
classes. Classes may also meet for 6 weeks with 3-hour classes.
Check our class schedule for specific class dates.
Class One:
Nurturing Your Baby and Yourself: Nutrition & Exercise for Pregnancy
Class Two: Reframing Your Birth Concepts
Class Three: Your Birth Begins
Class Four: The Journey
Continues: Active Labor & Transition
Class Five: Second Stage &
Birth
Class Six: Off the Beaten Path (exploring variations and
complications)
Class Seven: Creating Your Birth
Class Eight: Putting it All Together
Class Nine: Your New Family
How is Intuitive Birth different from other
natural childbirth classes?
How will this class involve my partner?
Is a partner or coach necessary to benefit from this class?
How will this class help me through labor and birth?
I'm planning a homebirth. Will
this class be helpful for me?
I'm not sure if I want a natural birth. Is this a good
class for me to take?
What are your natural birth and cesarean statistics?
How is Intuitive Birth different from other
natural childbirth classes?
Intuitive Birth isn't a method. The
founders recognize that women are individuals, who each give birth their
own way, with their own instinctive knowledge of what their babies need
in order to find safe passage into the world. In
this class, we will teach you how to let go of your fears regarding
labor, birth, and parenting. We will guide you in finding your own
best way to birth. You will be given specific
techniques as well as general guidelines, and encouraged to explore
things that are likely to work for you and discard those that don't.
How will this class involve
my partner?
This class was designed to prepare both you and your partner for the birth of your
baby.
Through these classes, your partner will develop an understanding of how
your body works during labor and birth, and techniques that often work
to comfort and support women during childbirth. Multiple labor
rehearsals, games, and exercises will provide him or her with a wide
variety of comfort measures for labor, as well as a thorough
understanding of labor and birth. Through explorations
with you, he or she will also learn specific things that comfort you,
individually, and how those can be used to make labor smooth and
comfortable.
Though "partner" typically
refers to a spouse or life partner of some kind, your birth partner can
be anyone you feel close to and comfortable with. You may choose
to bring a friend, mother, or sister. Anyone is welcome to attend
class with you.
Is a partner or coach necessary to benefit from this class?
Though having a partner will be helpful for some of the exercises, a
partner is not necessary.
How will this class help me through labor and birth?
The goal of Intuitive Birth
is to deal with your fears, provide you with many different tools and
techniques for labor and birth to make your journey more comfortable,
and to help you get in touch with your intuitive understanding of how to
give birth to your baby. Each week you will learn more to prepare
you for your baby's birth, and give you confidence in your ability to
handle whatever events may unfold.
I'm
planning a homebirth. Will this class be helpful for me?
This class was designed for any birth place. You will learn ways
to work through your anxieties about birth, whatever they may be, as
well as detailed information on the physiology of labor and birth and
ideas for staying comfortable. This class will also prepare you to
navigate the hospital system in the event of a transfer, however
unlikely.
I'm not sure if I want a natural birth. Is this a good
class for me to take?
There are definitely ways you can benefit from this class no
matter what your goals are for your own birth. Knowledge is power,
and the knowledge you gain in this class will help you make informed
decisions during your pregnancy and birth. You will be given many
tools in class to help make your labor & birth a safer, more positive
experience for both you and your baby.
What are your natural birth & cesarean statistics?
Of the mothers in our classes who have given birth vaginally, 70% have
done so without any pain medication. The cesarean rate among our
students is 10.6%, which is 68% less than the state of Georgia's rate
(32.0% in 2007). This is also within the World Health Organization's
recommendation of 10-15% as a maximum rate for cesarean surgeries.
The cost for this nine-week series is $295 per couple, which
includes a guidebook and all class materials except for the recommended
reading. A $50 deposit will hold your place in class, the balance being
due prior to class one unless other arrangements are made in advance.
We accept credit cards through PayPal, with a 3% service fee to cover our
additional costs. In order to attend all the classes, we recommend
starting class by 28 weeks. If you need to start later, we will
do everything we can to make sure you are able to attend all nine
classes.
Class may be cancelled if a minimum number of students do not register.
In case your class cancels, you may be offered the option of a private
class. The cost of a private class is $400 and consists of 4
classes, 2-3 hours each, depending on your schedule and that of your
teacher.
by Henci Goer for
class. Click on the titles to read more about the books or to
purchase them.
