Preparing for Your Birth
Perhaps you're undecided about how you'd like to bring your baby into
the world, or you'd like the option of pain medications during labor and
want to know the risks and benefits of the different types. This 6-hour
class, which may be taught in one, two, or three sessions, will help you
sort through the options available to you and help you decide which is
right for you. You will learn how to have a low-risk pregnancy,
the stages of labor, and various methods (medical and non-medical) for
having a comfortable labor.
This class does provide some information on laboring without pain
medication, but is not intended to be a comprehensive natural childbirth
class. You may prefer our
Intuitive Birth class if you have already
decided on a birth without medication. Please call us to discuss your
options.
Preparing for Your Birth begins with a discussion
of how to use proper nutrition and exercise to keep your pregnancy
healthy and low-risk. You will learn about the stages of labor, what is
going on with your body and baby during the labor and birth, and the
different options available to you for handling the intense sensations
that labor brings. You'll learn basic information about procedures you
may be offered, and how to create a birth plan.
My hospital offers a class. Why
should I take this one?
Hospital classes may be beneficial for finding out
specific hospital policies, but the teachers are restricted in what they
can teach by the hospital. Baby Steps is not
affiliated with any hospital. This means we can
offer unbiased, evidence-based information to expectant parents.
I might want to try for a natural birth. Can this class
help?
This class will offer a basic outline of alternatives to pain medication, as
well as the risks and benefits of different types of pain medication so
that you can make an informed choice. If you are undecided about
whether a natural birth is an option for you, this class is a good
starting point for making your decision. You may prefer our
Intuitive Birth class if you have already
decided on a birth without medication. Please call us to discuss your
options.
Can this class help me avoid a cesarean section?
The information you will receive in this class
will help you understand how the decisions you make during your
pregnancy can increase or decrease your risk of a c-section. You’ll also learn which procedures during pregnancy and labor
increase your risk.
I plan
on getting an epidural. Why do I need this class?
There’s a lot more to birth
than pain medication. There are many choices that must be made both
during your pregnancy and during the labor as well.This class will outline many of these
important choices for you, giving you the information you need to make
an informed decision. We’ll also discuss many pain management options,
including epidurals.
The cost for this class is $80 per couple. We accept credit cards
through PayPal, with a 3% service fee to cover our additional costs.
This class runs about 6 hours, and may be taught over one, two, or three
days. A $25 deposit will hold your place in class, the balance being due
prior to the class start date unless other arrangements are made in
advance.
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 $150 and
consists of 1 or 2 classes, totaling 4-5 hours, depending on your schedule and
that of your teacher.
Please read
The Birth Book by William and Martha Sears for class.
Click on the title to read more about the book or to purchase it.
