Comprehensive birth preparation is for EVERY birthing person – those planning a natural birth, an epidural, or a cesarean birth -Preparing for Birth will leave you excited and ready for whatever birth you are planning.
The Preparing for Birth course recognizes that we are unique individuals and that throughout our lives we have developed skills to cope through life’s challenges. We recognize that the expecting parent(s) can do hard things, and that their experience in birth matters. We understand that there is no ideal way of birthing a baby, that each family’s path to parenthood is different and sacred in its own way. We seek to support and empower parents through information, discussion, and community with other parents. The course strives to discuss birth in a way that is relatable to parents and focuses more on their experience and their language. The course does not place focus on the care provider but presents language and resources to help expecting parents engage in conversation with their provider and to navigate their way through modern birth settings. We discuss birth based on emotional and behavioral changes experienced during labor and move away from the narrow focus on cervical dilation. Birth is an incredible and magical process; it is also vastly different from person to person. While new parents love to learn guideposts for stages of labor, we also acknowledge that not every person will experience these things in the same way. The Preparing for Birth course seeks to help parents prepare for life with their baby, for feeding their baby, for caring for themselves and their relationships, and for important signs to look out for after birth to keep the whole family thriving. Parents receive a student handbook as a tool for reflection and journaling to help prepare mentally and emotionally for this journey. It also includes handy references such as questions to ask your provider, options to consider for your birth preferences, birth and postpartum plans, how to know baby is getting enough mild, and the Edinburgh scale which allows parents to do a self-assessment for how they are coping emotionally after the birth of baby. The curriculum was created to be a course for parents that would honor the incredible and transformative journey they are embarking on. It was created to help parents trust their own intuition and arms them with the information needed to make the right choices for their family, their body, their baby. It is an inclusive curriculum, including all different types of parents, because despite how vastly different we all are, there is one fact that remains true for all of us – parenting is at once, both the most beautiful and the most challenging experience. Becoming who we are as parents is an ongoing process that continues beyond birth, but it all starts with the journey we embark upon during pregnancy. The goal for the Preparing for Birth course is to guide expecting parents on this oftentimes overwhelming and dizzying process of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. It seeks to honor the wisdom of parents and their babies – after all, your body and your baby know more about your birth than anyone. When presented with unbiased information, parents can make choices that are best for their families which leads to a positive birthing experience.
What makes Preparing for Birth the perfect course for you?
classes demonstrate and provide practice for various positions, relaxation exercises, types of touch, and use of tools to create effective coping rituals.
classes will prepare you for the unexpected, explaining the benefits, risks and alternatives to common interventions and effective ways to communicate clearly with your care providers. These skills are designed to help you to navigate any detours from your ideal birth, while minimizing risk and maintaining birth satisfaction.
classes are small, allowing space to practice hands-on skills as well as encouragement and opportunities for questions and feedback.
classes are modern, fun, comprehensive and interactive.
Participants in class will receive:
A beautiful Preparing for Birth journal which creates positive conversation between partners and with health care providers.
a Birth Ball (one per couple).
Complementary access to Prepared Feeding – a breastfeeding and infant feeding course available via online streaming. Prepared Feeding, featuring Amanda Devereux, IBCLC, gives parents all the information they need to feed their new baby. This can’t miss video is included with all course registrations.
Access to meditation exercises learned in class so you can continue preparing for your birth wherever you are.
Does an multi-week course commitment not fit into your schedule? No worries, I offer weekend classes in a small group setting, as well as private classes.
Fees: Weekend Class (two 4 hour days) $250/Couple
Private Class (either one 6 hour day or two 3-4 hour days in your home) $50/hour
Not your first baby, consider Comfort Measures for Labor. This two-hour class will give you and your partner the tools you need to for your labor, give you a refresher on your options for birth and resources for a smooth postpartum journey. Email me or give a call for more information or to arrange a session. $125/couple