Childbirth Education Classes

Knowing how to select the right childbirth education class can help give you all the information you need to have a healthy and satisfying childbirth experience. Regardless of what method you choose, you may want to look for these features in a class:

• A curriculum that supports birth as normal, natural, and healthy and empowers women to make informed choices.
• Class content that includes normal labor, birth and early postpartum, positions for labor and birth, relaxation and comfort techniques to manage labor, labor support skills, information on medical and hospital procedures, breastfeeding, and healthy lifestyles.
• Small classes (maximum 12 couples).
• Qualifications of the instructor, including certification from a nationally recognized program such as Bradley, ASPO/Lamaze, ICEA (International Childbirth Education Association), or ALACE.

Classes can fill up quickly, so doing early research will guarantee your space in the class of your choice. It's best to end class within the last month of your pregnancy to ensure that you remember class materials and techniques. Other valuable classes offered at local hospitals you may want to consider at this time include:

• Breastfeeding
• Baby Care Basics
• Infant/Child CPR

Method Guide for Childbirth Education Classes

ASPO/Lamaze International
Lamaze is one of the best known childbirth preparation methods, most commonly taught in the hospital class setting. The method has its roots in Russia where obstetricians used "conditioned responses" to ease labor pain. This method prepares a woman for how her body works during labor, as well as hospital routines and medication options. Through patterned breathing techniques and focusing on real or imagined diversions, the mother disassociates her attention from her contractions to convince her mind that her body doesn't really hurt. Classes are often 4-6 weeks length.

Bradley Method
The Bradley Method, also known as Husband Coached Childbirth, was developed in the 1940's by Denver obstetrician Robert Bradley. This approach teaches women to be involved in their labors rather than escape them. In an 8-12 week course, women learn to trust their bodies and the natural process of labor. Bradley believes that an unmedicated birth is the healthiest and safest for mother and baby but still teaches the pros and cons of medications, interventions, and C-sections. Nutrition, exercise, consumerism, and a wide variety of relaxation techniques are reviewed. The labor partner learns how to best support, comfort, and care for the laboring woman.

Birth Works
Birth Works believes that women's bodies are designed to give birth and that the knowledge about how to give birth already exists inside of every woman. They do not teach breathing patterns but instead encourage slow deep breathing as one of many ways to promote relaxation and facilitate labor. It recognizes that there is no "right" way to labor and birth.

Classes are innovative and experiential in design. Families are encouraged to take Birth Works early in or even prior to pregnancy as this is an optimal time for identifying and exploring beliefs about birth, interviewing caregivers, and choosing a birthplace that feels safe. This program is suitable for those planning a hospital, birthing center, or home birth.

Birthing From Within
Birthing From Within is a new and holistic method conceived by midwife, mother, and prenatal-birth therapist, Pam England, who combines art therapy to work through labor fear and mindful meditation techniques for coping with labor itself. The method is outlined in her book, Birthing From Within. The Birthing From Within approach prepares a mother for birthing from within herself. She needs insight about what labor and birth will be like from her perspective and preparation to be in labor and give birth. Teacher trainings are being conducted nationwide, but classes may still be difficult to find. This is a powerful and innovative preparation method, and the book will be of great value regardless of what class is taken.

Hypnobirthing
Hypnobirthing is a method taught in four 2-hour sessions, which teach self-hypnosis as a tool to control pain during labor. Classes focus on relaxation, releasing fear and limiting emotions, the labor process, how the partner can help, birth planning, and labor positions. This method was recently featured on 20/20 and received an overwhelming public response.

While many counselors and therapists are also trained in hypnosis, it is best to seek a teacher who is certified in this method to be sure all of the important information is included in class.

Editorial provided by Dena H. Marchiony, ICCE. Dena is certified in Bradley (1995), Motherwell - pregnancy fitness (1998), and recently affiliated with ICEA (2003). She teaches through private practice, hospital and community, and is the author of Mother-Source Pregnancy Resource Directory.