Birth Talk
Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Support in Chicago

Welcome and congratulations! At Birth Talk, we are committed to educating and inspiring families to have safe and satisfying births as they define it. We have been serving families since 1999 in Boston and now here in Chicago. We teach group and private childbirth classes and provide birth and postpartum doula care. If you're expecting a baby, let's talk!

LABOR & BIRTH DOULA CARE
A doula provides physical, emotional and informational support during labor, birth and the postpartum period. At Birth Talk, we are committed to supporting choices in childbirth and helping you have a safe and satisfying birth and parenting experience as you define it. Our all-inclusive birth doula package includes at least one prenatal visit, unlimited phone/email contact during pregnancy, 24/7 on-call service from 38-42 weeks, support throughout labor, birth and the immediate postpartum period and one postpartum follow-up visit. A complimentary, no-obligation consultation is required.

POSTPARTUM DOULA CARE
Postpartum care may include feeding support and guidance, baby care education, care, household organization, light cooking and sometimes just an extra pair of ears to listen and an extra pair of shoulders to lean on during the joyous but oftentimes very challenging time of becoming a new parent. A complimentary, no obligation consultation is required.

GROUP CHILDBIRTH CLASSES
Our classes are based on the Lamaze philosophy of birth as a normal, natural process. We recommend finishing the series no later than your 35th week of pregnancy. In the series, you will learn about late pregnancy, the signs and stages of labor, the birth partner's role, natural comfort measures (breathing techniques, relaxation and visualization exercises, etc.), positions for labor, hydrotherapy, medication/epidural options, assisted deliveries, cesarean birth, communication skills, labor/doula support, unexpected outcomes, immediate postpartum care for mother and baby, initiating breastfeeding and the transition to parenthood. Classes are held at Salon Echo, 1136 W. Bryn Mawr in Edgewater. Upcoming 2007 class dates:

Sundays, November 4th & 11th from 11:30am-4:30pm
Sundays, December 2nd & 9th from 11:30am-4:30pm

PRIVATE CHILDBIRTH PREPARATION SERIES
The same outstanding preparation as above, but in the comfort and privacy of your own home! I bring the class to you! Ideal for busy families or those wanting a more one-to-one experience.

PRIVATE COMFORT MEASURES FOR LABOR WORKSHOP
If you already know a lot about the labor and birth process but wish to learn more about natural comfort measures and coping techniques, this workshop is for you! This is also an excellent refresher course and is ideal for mothers planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). We'll briefly review the stages of labor, and then focus solely on using natural techniques to help labor progress. You will practice relaxation and visualization techniques, deep breathing and positions for labor, and talk about the birth partner's role as well as labor/doula support. This class is offered in the comfort of your own home as a weeknight or weekend session for 3 hours.

For information about childbirth classes or our doula services, contact:

Birth Talk
Chicago, IL 60660

PHONE: 773-275-7725
EMAIL: Ami Burns
WEBSITE: www.birthtalk.com