Why Take an In-Person Childbirth Class?

Information is at your fingertips. You can Google anything from round ligament pain to pushing positions. Your favorite pregnancy/birth influencers post mind-blowing new information daily. Many childbirth classes are offered online, and you can watch them from the comfort of your home on your own time. Why take an in-person childbirth class?

In class, you'll build a community of support.

There's nothing like face-to-face connection with other people. Pregnancy is a unique time in life, and it feels good to connect with other expecting parents who get it. Yes, there are zillions of online pregnancy groups and forums you can join, but the familiarity and connection that happen in person exceed what a virtual group can offer.

Summit Birth Utah's Comprehensive Childbirth Class runs for 8 weeks, so there's ample time to form friendships. They say it takes a village to raise a child--maybe you'll meet your village in your birth class!

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You can have a say in the class's agenda!

I've planned eight classes' worth of material about labor, birth, and postpartum, but it doesn't have to be set in stone! During the first class session, I will ask each class attendee what they're hoping to get out of the class, and will tailor the class series to meet the needs of the class participants. So start thinking about topics and tools that you want to learn, and come ready to share them. I can't wait to personalize the class to fit your needs!

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When you're invested and accountable, you'll learn more.

I know, eight weeks is a big time commitment! It can be difficult to carve out time on your calendar for a comprehensive, in-person birth class. And it's a financial investment as well. I'm confident, though, that it'll be worth it. When you show yourself that something is important to you by committing time and money to it, you'll learn more and make it worth your while. I promise, it'll be waaaay better than scrolling on your phone. :)

I'm passionate about evidence-based care and I've thoroughly vetted everything I'll share in class. Rest easy knowing your sources are trustworthy.

It's awesome that the internet makes information so accessible, but one of its drawbacks is that no one checks to make sure the information you read on the internet is accurate! It's my priority that the information you use to inform your decisions about your pregnancy and birth is trustworthy. I only share information that I trust in our birth class, so you don't have to mine the internet for reliable information.

You'll have a private space to ask your personal questions.

Did you read about something online that left you with questions? Do you need someone to walk you through how to do that stretch or Spinning Babies position? Wondering what the benefits and risks of X, Y, and Z are? Before and after class and during breaks, I'm happy to be a source of information for you and to point you towards trustworthy resources as you continue to answer your own questions.

We'll practice labor and birth positions with props like those you'll have at home and in the hospital.

It's nice to sit and scroll with your thumb, but getting your whole body involved in practicing labor positions is going to prepare you much better for birth! I'll bring props to class so we can practice kneeling, lunging, standing, dancing, swaying on a birth ball, squatting, lying or sitting with a peanut ball, and more. Each time I teach a new position, I'll be sure to highlight when and why this position may be helpful in labor. The day of your labor and birth, I hope your bodily knowledge and intuition will guide you to be able to feel which position is best for you. Practicing labor positions in class will help inform your intuition so you feel as comfortable and as mobile as possible on your birthing day!

You will really practice labor comfort measures.

There are so many ways to cope and optimize your comfort during labor and birth. In class, you'll have hands-on practice with a wide range of them. Fill your toolbox with comfort measures so that you know what you can draw on during labor and birth! We'll practice guided meditation, using a TENS unit, counter pressure, aromatherapy, breathing techniques, sounding out your labor, and more!

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By handling models of a pelvis (both bones and muscles), baby, amniotic sac, uterus and ligaments, you'll learn how Baby will move through your pelvis and how your body positions can help Baby on the journey!

It can be tricky to visualize how your baby moves through your pelvis during labor and birth--there are so many components involved! I've found that manipulating 3D models makes it click. In class, I'll have a model of the skeletal pelvis, pelvic floor muscles, a newborn-size baby, amniotic sacs, and a uterus complete with ligaments that show how the muscle attaches to your bone. When you see and handle all of these elements, it's easier to understand why counter pressure feels so good, why changing positions in labor is helpful, why some positions aren't great for you or baby, and how your pelvic floor is involved in the process of labor, birth, and recovery.

At each class, feel free to check out books from my lending library.

I have an always-expanding lending library of books about fertility, sexuality, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and baby care. I'll bring books from my lending library to each class, and you'll have the chance to check out or exchange books each week. If you're interested in getting a taste for some of the books in my library, give this blog post series a read!

We'll discuss and practice hypothetical situations as a group.

The one for-sure thing about birth is that it's unpredictable. What if labor goes so smoothly that you don't make it to the hospital as early as you wanted to? What if labor starts and stops? What if your water breaks before contractions start? What if you get to the hospital and your cervix isn't as dilated as you thought? In class, we'll discuss lots of possible hypothetical situations so that you're prepared to confidently move through your labor and birth... however unpredictable it may be!

You'll watch and participate in meaningful, memorable role plays.

Discussing hypothetical scenarios, though helpful, isn't quite as effective as participating in role plays. To really help prepare for birth and make concepts stick, we'll do some role playing. Think of it as a dress rehearsal for your birth! You'll feel more at ease during labor and birth if it doesn't feel like the first time you've encountered anything like this.

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I've specifically chosen birth videos to coordinate with class content.

Watching birth videos can be a great way to prepare for your birth. They can help you visualize a variety of ways that birth can go. And watching an empowering birth helps your mind create that expectation for your own experience! I find that birth videos are most helpful if you watch them with a specific purpose in mind, so I'll be weaving them into the class curriculum with prompts to maximize your learning.

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You can practice breastfeeding positions with doll models.

It can be tricky to get the hang of breastfeeding! We'll go over the basics of lactation and preparing to breastfeed, and we'll practice several different ways to hold Baby. I'll explain the benefits of each of the positions, and give you a doll to practice each position with. When you have a baby in your arms, you won't be experimenting with different holds and positions for the first time! This familiarity can ease some first-latch nerves.

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I hope you'll join me!

Have I convinced you yet that in-person birth classes are the way to go? I hope you'll join me at an upcoming series of my Comprehensive Childbirth Class. The next series starts in just two days, on October 15! It runs through December 10, so this is a great class to take if your estimated due date is in early 2023. My next class series will begin in January 2023. I hope to see you in an upcoming class!