Questions?
Logistics
I actually believe you don't need a childbirth class. After all,
humans have given birth across the millennia without formal childbirth
classes. However, there are a couple of cultural reasons why childbirth
classes can help more now than ever. Most women have never seen a birth
before they give birth themselves. In times past, girls would see family
members giving birth many times before it was their own turn. Secondly, our
culture broadcasts relentless messages about how risky birth is, how painful
it is, how essential it is to have medication and have specialists on
standby. The birth
zone class is a counter message to all of that.
Also, the class provides the chance for you to:
- practice relaxation and pain management techniques
- hear far more detail about labor and birth than you will get in
prenatal appointments
- explore the role of birth partner
- meet with other expectant parents
Ideally, you should complete the class series between 35 and 37 weeks
pregnant. But since your pregnancy and my class schedule may not be quite in
sync with each other, you may need to time your class outside of that
window. If you retain information well and are motivated to practice
elements taught in class, then completing the series when you are 32 weeks
pregnant may work well for you. If you prefer to be in class close to the
time you will actually use the information and won't mind possibly missing
the last class or two, then think about timing the class completion for 40
weeks--the average first time mom delivers 5 days past her due date, so
you'll probably get all the classes in anyway!
Classes have been filling up as much as 2 months before the series
starts, so I suggest you reserve a place when you are around 20 weeks
pregnant. However, if you have left it until the last minute, click
here to check
for current class openings--there may still be space available. Even if the
class is full, give me a call. We can sometimes make it work by having you
attend a couple of classes from one series and the rest of the classes in
another series.
The Refresher class is designed for couples who have experienced birth at
least once already. We'll listen to everyone's
birth stories and address any particular concerns about the upcoming birth.
This is a very fluid class that covers what couples are most interested in
reviewing.
For some who have birthed before, the full 5 or 7 week series is a better
choice. If you feel that your previous birth was not what you expected and
you feel that more preparation would help, the longer class would be perfect
for you. Also, if you used pain medication the first time but would rather avoid it this time, the longer class will
help you prepare for the new experience of unmedicated birth.
If you still are in doubt about whether a class would help, feel free to
call me and we can discuss your needs.
I have a couple of concerns about a first time mom taking the
Refresher class. The
curriculum is crafted at the start of each class by listening to previous birth stories and
addressing only those areas that moms and partners specifically would like
to re-visit. This means that you won't get a comprehensive coverage of
labor and birth--you may only hear about pushing, or long early labors, for
example. My second concern is that some of the moms who
choose to attend a Refresher class do so because of an unusually challenging
first birth. What this means is that the birth stories tend to be about an
unusually high percentage of difficult labors, and I worry that
attending just the Refresher could undermine your confidence--the last thing
you need!
What I suggest instead is that you call me and we'll figure out a subset
of the full series for you to attend. If you attend 1 or 2 classes, the cost
per class is $50. If you attend 3 or more classes, the full tuition applies.
If you are planning to get an epidural as soon as possible and do not
want to experience labor, you would probably be better off taking a hospital
childbirth class. There you will learn all about when epidurals can be
administered and how labor is monitored.
If you are unsure about getting an epidural, or you are hoping to
experience as much labor as possible before requesting pain medication, this
class can help you a lot. You will learn techniques that will get you
further through your labor, and you may well surprise yourself and get
through it all unmedicated.
During the class, I do not demonize medication or other interventions.
During my year as a student midwife, I saw how valuable such options can be
when labor does not proceed normally. But I do emphasize the message that
women are designed for birth and can birth without the use of drugs. I also
cover some of the reasons why it may be better for mom and baby to avoid
medications and interventions in a labor that is progressing normally.
We cover the same material in all three classes, with the pace adjusted
to the length of the series. The pace in the longer series is more relaxed,
and each class is more likely to end on time! We also watch more birth
movies and do a couple of extra exercises. The shorter series works
particularly well for couples who are very busy or who schedule their
childbirth class late in their pregnancy.
Absolutely! Ideally, bring the person who will accompany you in labor.
You have my sympathy! My husband was not at all thrilled at taking a
childbirth class when I was pregnant with my first child. (The good news is
that his ambivalence toward pregnancy and birth has not prevented him from
being an awesome father to our four kids. He just isn't that fond of the
stages before they can walk and talk!)
Yes, you can take the class alone and during any partner exercises, I
will act as partner as much as I can. I encourage you to explore the option
of hiring a doula for the birth itself. Doulas are a fabulous part of any
birth team, but I think they are particularly useful for any mom who does
not have a fully engaged partner.
No, I haven't found an insurance policy that covers classes. However, if
you are enrolled in a medical savings plan (sometimes called a Flexible
Savings Plan) your tuition may be an eligible expense. Rules vary from plan
to plan, so please check yours carefully. I am happy to provide a printed
invoice if you require one.
The full classes lasts from 7pm to 9:45pm, with a short break for snacks at
about 8:30pm. You are welcome to arrive any time after 6:30pm if you would
like to bring dinner with you and eat it before class starts. The guest
house has a kitchen where you can heat things up and plates etc that you are
welcome to use.
The Refresher classes last from 9am to about 1pm. The exact duration
depends primarily on how many couples attend. We spend time reviewing
previous birth experiences and tailoring the class contents to the needs of
each couple. That usually means that a class with 5 couples will last maybe
4 hours or so, but a class with 2 couples would take up to 3 hours.
We don't have any babysitting available, unfortunately.
- Birth ball (required by class 2)
- Your birth zone
study guide (given out in class 1)
- Because the birth zone
cottage is a shoe-free environment, you may want to bring slippers
You can buy inflatable exercise balls at Target and most sports
retailers. Usual retail price is about $24-$30. If you are between 5'3" and
6', you should use a 65cm ball. If you're below 5'3", 55cm balls work best.
Above 6', you should use a 75cm ball.
I also stock birth balls, so you can purchase one at your first class. I
sell them for $25 including tax.
- Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Simkin, Whalley, and
Keppler
- The Baby Book by Dr William and Martha Sears
- Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Natural Childbirth
- The Thinking Woman's Guide to Better Birth by Henci Goer
- The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin
- From the Hips by Rebecca Odes and Ceridwen Morris
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