Mothers Advocate offered a great article on choosing a childbirth class. Here are their questions- with our answers regarding our classes. My input is in italics and is in purple below.
Choosing a Childbirth ClassWhat to Consider When Looking for a Childbirth Class
A good childbirth class can not only prepare you for labor, it can expand your personal
philosophy of birth, lessen your fears and, most importantly, build your confidence in yourself
and your body. It is a good idea to contact a childbirth educator or two to find out what their classes
are like before you sign up.
Questions you might want to ask an educator:
• Are you certified to teach childbirth classes?
Our childbirth educators are all trained and certified to teach classes from a national or international organization. Pam and Guina are both mentors with Birthing From Within. Teresa did two trainings with BFW but chose to complete her certification with CAPPA as a certified educator. Pam is also certified with CAPPA. Pam and Teresa hold other teaching certifications. They both are certified with the Happiest Baby on the Block. Teresa also has her certification as a Lactation Educator with CAPPA.
• What do you believe are the most important ways a woman can prepare for a healthy, safe, and satisfying birth?
We believe gathering information, making decisions that are right for her and working through fears that may impede her labor are paramount. We all agree that staying healthy by eating properly and exercising to stay fit are important. We also teach and believe that having the baby in optimal fetal positioning is important. Choosing the right team is most important - the midwife or doctor, the doula or birth partner, preparing your partner and the birth location are all pieces of a very important puzzle!
• Is a specific childbirth method taught? If so, what is the method and how does it work?
We teach a montage of ideas that have been gathered from our training with Pam England and the Birthing From Within trainers, the exposure to other methods we have had including Bradley, Lamaze, Hypnobirthing, Hypnobabies as well as the work of Micheal Odent, Suzanne Kitzinger, Barbara Harper, Janet Balaskas, Gail Tulley and many others as well as our personal experience.
• What topics are covered? A childbirth class should cover the following:
- The normal, natural process of labor and birth, and health-care practices that support it
- Changes during late pregnancy and the stages of labor
- A wide variety of coping strategies for managing pain in labor
- The importance of labor support
- Movement and positioning during labor and birth
- Medical interventions and their indications, risks and alternatives
- How to communicate with your health-care provider
- Developing a birth plan
- Breastfeeding and newborn care (we also offer additional classes with much more information on these subjects.)
• Will my partner learn how to play an active role in labor and birth?
Absolutely. They will learn what is "normal" and how to support you in the choice you determine are right for you.
• Does the class help participants create their own birth plans?
Yes. We work on a more fluid birth plan process. One that allows you to change your mind and one that allows some revisions as your labor unfolds. We prefer to call it an open birth plan or birth ideals.
• What is the class style?
There is lecture, discussion, hands on work with art, videos, physical interaction and lots of hands on practice. You will get a notebook with some work outside of the classroom suggested.
• How big is the class?
We limit the six week series to eight couples and the Immersion to six couples.
• How often will the class meet?
The six week series meets for six consecutive weeks usually and the Immersion is a Saturday- Sunday for two weekends. The refresher class is a Friday night women only and two Saturday sessions.
• What is the time and location?
Teresa's classes meet Saturday mornings in Lawrenceville. Pam's classes meet Sunday late afternoons in the Marietta/Smyrna area. Guina's classes are two weekends in Roswell.
Tips:
• It may be tempting to sign up for an intensive day-long or weekend session, but there are many benefits to a course that meets five or six times over the span of a few weeks. These benefits include having more time to absorb the information and getting to know other people who are approaching parenthood.
• Be wary if the childbirth instructor simply presents hospital rules. A good instructor is an advocate who shares all of the information you need to make truly informed decisions.
(Often times hospital classes are restricted to a curriculum that is approved by the hospital- therefore may be restricted to not giving you all of your options.)
• Make sure your partner knows that you need his or her presence in class just as you will need it in labor.
• You’ll likely get the most out of a small childbirth class; it will be more personalized and will allow for more questions and answers. Private classes are also available for couples with complicated schedules.
We offer private classes but believe the classes with other students offer a flavor that is rich with interaction that oftens will lend more information to be gathered and explored than in a two on one class situation. We also are often asked why we do not teach a weeknight class. We do not think most people learn well rushing from work, skipping dinner and being tired.
For more information on our classes visit our website A Labor of Love Doula and Childbirth Services, Inc. Email us at info@alaboroflove.org to get our class agreement to sign up for a class!
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