Today, most women in our culture have very little (or no) experience with birth when it comes time for them to do it themselves. Most of us have only seen birth on TV ("John--it's time!!!!" she screams, clutching her stomach). Or perhaps you've only heard horror stories, which many people feel compelled to share with any pregnant woman they can find, perhaps as a form of coping with their own fears about birth. Either way, this is not enough information to take with you into birth.

Attending a childbirth class gives you an opportunity not just to learn about what to expect and how it will happen, but also about your options. There are many options in childbirth, and we're not just talking about choices of medication. When the questions come up, are you ready to make an informed decision?

Being in a class also gives you an opportunity to meet other pregnant couples, and to benefit from others' questions and experiences. Childbirth classes exist to make the process of birth easier for you and your partner. Why wouldn't you want that?

Birthing your baby doesn't have to be an agonizing, scarring experience! We're here to suggest that birth can and should be empowering, beautiful, emotional, and do-able! Having a positive birth experience has nothing to do with whether we choose pain medication or choose to go natural. It doesn't even have to do with a vaginal or cesarean birth. Positive birth experiences are created when women and families feel prepared for what lies ahead, are educated about their choices, and are respectfully treated and well supported through the experience.

Fear creates pain.
A complicating factor to not knowing much about childbirth is the simple fact that fear creates pain. See the problem? The less experience we have with birth, the more fearful we become, and the more fearful we become, the more painful labor becomes, which makes it harder to cope with, and since we didn't know how to cope with it in the first place, we're really in a bad state now. Sure, it's completely normal to be a little fearful of what lies ahead. But the more you can learn about the process, about what is happening in your body and why, the more you can relax into it. Think of it this way: In the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors, Knowledge beats Fear.

Set yourself up for success.
The fact of the matter is that there are many options in birth. I'm sure you know all about Option A: The Horror Story, so I won't go into that one. But how much do you know about Options B, C, D, and E? Simply put, there are things you can do to increase the likelihood of a satisfying birth experience, and to reduce the likelihood that you'll be one of those bitter women in the mall, making inappropriate comments to pregnant strangers.

The Difference Between Hospital Classes and Our Classes
Hospital classes only offer one type of childbirth preparation. Doesn't this strike you as odd? Think about it--the many different types of parents out there. The many and varied ideas of what constitutes a "good" birth experience. You may be one of 20 couples in some hospital classes--and your group is not put together based on common interests, healthy mom & baby status, or ideas about birth. Rather it's a one-size-fits-all approach to preparing for the birth of your baby. There is no room or time for individualization.

Because of the current health care climate, most hospital routines are set up not to make labor easier for you, but to make it easier for doctors and nurses to manage their patients. Even the most well-intentioned labor nurses must manage multiple patients at once, complete oodles of paperwork, and report in to multiple doctors. As a result, the hospital classes are designed to support those routines. As one baby moon mom put it (a doctor who delivers babies), "hospital classes teach you about what they will do to you in labor. Not about how you might like to do it." Virtually no time is spent exploring options, discussing advantages and disadvantages of your many choices, or learning how to minimize risk to you and your baby throughout the process.

At baby moon, we believe that planning for your baby is an experience unique to you. In our classes, you will be in a small group setting with other, like-minded couples, where the information presented is tailored to meet your needs. Our instructors are experienced with birth, as well as with hospital routines and procedures--but remain indepedent to offer you the most complete, up-to-date preparation. We are guided only by the research supporting best practice--not by convenience. In our classes you will learn about the routines at various hospitals and what to expect, and also about simple choices you can make--working with your doctor and labor nurses--to make the process of labor easier for you, your partner, and your baby. Choices your doctor may not have time to educate you about, and the hospital classes simply won't cover. As one baby moon mom told her doula while laboring, "They have lots of things here to help you, but you have to know what to ask for." Bingo.

Finding the right fit.
Just as there are many options in childbirth, we now have many options in childbirth education. To help you make a decision, read through all the statements below to see which best describe your current attitudes about birth, and then explore the options listed. Whatever you choose, we recommend that you plan to complete your classes by about 36 weeks of pregnancy. That means you need to be making decisions about your classes by around 24-25 weeks in order to assure your place in the appropriate session. Contact us if you need more help!

• "I am all about the epidural, and I want it as soon as I can get it." If this describes you, we recommend the Baby Moon Prepared Childbirth Series. It is important to note, however, that getting an epidural at the onset of labor is neither possible nor practical. You should also be aware that epidurals do not take away all the intense sensations of labor, and sometimes do not relieve all the pain. All women need to prepare for birth and develop some coping strategies, even if an early epidural is planned. Childbirth is still an intense experience, and there are still choices to be made regarding your care and the care of your baby. Laboring with an epidural also means that other medical interventions will become necessary--and most women don't like being surprised by that! Familiarizing yourself with what to expect is important, and will relieve some of your anxiety on the big day. Another class you might benefit from is our Prenatal Yoga, designed to help relieve the aches and pains of pregnancy and strengthen your body and birthing muscles.
  
  
• "I want to keep an open mind about medication, and just play it by ear;" or "I know I want the epidural, but I'd like to wait as long as possible before getting it, to make sure my labor is progressing well and to reduce the amount of medication my baby will receive." If either of these statements describe you, we recommend the Baby Moon Prepared Childbirth Series, which includes our Labor Workshop for Couples. Hospital classes alone will not prepare you adequately for how to effectively labor without medication during active labor. We strongly recommend that all birthing couples add a Doula to their birth team, to act as a guide on this expedition and make the process easier for both of you. Prenatal Yoga classes will also help you to practice breathing and relaxation techniques that are very useful tools for moving through contractions.
  
  
• "I would like to avoid the epidural if I can, it kind of freaks me out and I would rather the baby didn't get the medication."  In this case, you need to have a variety of labor-coping tools in your toolbox. Because a natural labor requires more active support, your partner needs to know more about how to best support you during this experience. We recommend our Natural Childbirth Series, HypnoBirthing®, or Natural Childbirth Weekend Intensive classes. We strongly recommend that all birthing couples add a Doula to their birth team, to act as a guide on this expedition and make the process easier for both of you. Research shows that when doulas are present throughout labor, requests for epidurals and other pain meds are reduced by 60% (among other positive benefits). Some couples also add our Labor Workshop for Couples to their preparation, for more tips and additional time to practice what you've learned. It is also important to examine your choices, since the culture of your birth setting and the philosophy of your care provider greatly influence the outcome of your labor. Prenatal Yoga classes will also help you to practice breathing and relaxation techniques that are very useful tools for coping with the intensity of labor.
  
  
• "I have a strong fear of childbirth AND a fear of medication!!" (or hospitals, doctors, etc.) We recommend our HypnoBirthing® series to help remove the fear surrounding childbirth. It is this fear that causes anxiety and tension in childbirth, and increases our perception of pain. Our Natural Childbirth Series is also an excellent preparation to give you the skills you need to feel more confident about your ability to get through this experience. Adding a Doula to your birth team is vital, to remain with you and your partner and reassure you through the process. It is also important to examine your choice of birth setting and birth attendant(s)--it is important to have a team that you feel you can trust. Some also add our Labor Workshop for Couples, for more tips and additional time to practice what you've learned. Prenatal Yoga classes will help you to practice breathing and relaxation techniques that are very useful in combating fear and tension, and thereby reducing pain in childbirth.
  
  
• "I have a strong desire to avoid pain medications, mainly to avoid the side effects on me, my labor, or my baby. I will accept medication for a difficult or long labor;" or "I have a strong desire for a natural childbirth, for personal gratification as well as the benefits to my baby and my labor." We strongly recommend that you enroll in a natural childbirth class, such as our Natural Childbirth Preparation or HypnoBirthing® series, and to add our Labor Workshop for Couples. It is also important to examine your choice of birth setting and birth attendant--there are big differences among hospitals and care providers and those differences greatly influence your experience. A Doula is essential to support both you and your partner, and to increase the likelihood of a successful natural childbirth (research shows that when doulas are present throughout labor, requests for epidurals and other pain meds are reduced by 60%, among other positive benefits). Prenatal Yoga classes are also an excellent preparation for managing labor; the weekly practice with breathing and relaxation techniques are a good complement to natural childbirth classes.
  
  
• "My husband/partner is kind of freaked out by the whole thing. I'm not sure how much help he will be." It is important to recognize that although your partner's presence in the labor room is essential to your comfort, he (or she) is not trained or experienced in childbirth and in most cases just isn't able to provide the type of ongoing physical support that you will need. When your partner feels fearful and anxious about the process, that mood is contagious in the labor room, and is likely to leave you feeling more fearful and anxious too. In this case we recomend that you sign up for the childbirth class that fits your philosophy on medication/intervention (above), to prepare both of you for the experience and what to expect. We also recommend adding a doula to your birth team to help guide you both through the process.We haven't met a partner yet who regretted hiring a doula--even though many are unsure going into it. When the day arrives, having knowledgeable help eases the burden for all involved.
  
  
• "We waited too long to sign up for a class, and now there's not much time. Is there anything we can take right now?" Even with 9 months of preparation, sometimes it's still shocking to learn that you will be having a baby at the end of it all. If you're feeling sudden desperation in the last month or two of pregnancy, check our calendar to see if there's time to get into Prepared Childbirth Preparation, or a Labor Workshop for Couples. We also now offer a Natural Childbirth Weekend Intensive, for those who just can't fit in a 6-week series. Sometimes private classes can be arranged, and tailored to suit your needs--contact us for more information. It may not be too late to hire a doula, so if the idea of having some experienced help with you sounds good start making some calls! Even a few Prenatal Yoga classes may help you to release some tension and anxiety, and learn breathing techniques for labor. There are many good books out there that can help you, but be careful to choose a book with a birthing philosophy similar to your own. Otherwise you're just setting yourself up for more stress and worry at a time when you really don't need it.
  
  

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4 week series (8.25 hours), $100 per couple;
Add Breastfeeding Basics for a 5 week series, $125
Add Breastfeeding Basics and Breastfeeding for Working Moms for a 6 week series, $145.

This class is appropriate for those who want a thorough, personalized preparation as they plan for a childbirthing experience that includes an epidural.

Unsure if this is the right class for you? See How to Choose a Childbirth Class, or contact us for assistance in finding the best fit for your family.

Instructors: Elizabeth Stapleton, RN and Anne Rust, CD

See Childbirth Prep Calendar for upcoming dates.

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For experienced parents using this class as a Birthing Refresher, additional childbirth classes may not be necessary. For first-time parents, this workshop is intended as an addition to your childbirth series, not as a stand-alone class. The Labor Workshop is like a dress rehearsal--putting what you've learned (and more, specific skills) into practice, reinforcing your classroom learning and giving you a feel for the rhythm of labor. We recommend pairing this workshop with one of the childbirth series listed above, or with hospital classes if that is what you choose. If time does not allow for a longer series, you are still welcome here--it's better than nothing! In this case please contact us so we can send you some basic reading material ahead of time.

Workshop (2.25 hours), $40 per couple,
or $35 with our prenatal discount package.
(This workshop is included with the Prepared Childbirth Series.)

Recommended for women in the third trimester of pregnancy, along with your birth partner. Appropriate for all birth settings and all birth plans. This class is also good as a refresher course for more experienced moms and dads.

Unsure if this is the right class for you? See How to Choose a Childbirth Class, or contact us for assistance in finding the best fit for your family.

Instructor: Anne Rust, CD

See Childbirth Prep Calendar for upcoming dates.

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