* Prepare * Inspire * Relax * Learn * Discover * Support
Should we take a childbirth class?
Many expectant parents ask us this question wondering what they'd learn that's different from the information they can find on the internet or from their circle of friends. We feel that childbirth classes are a starting point to a lifelong journey of education as parents. More than just a useful source of evidence based information, they provide a source of inspiration, relaxation, learning, discovery and support.

Recent studies in medical literature have upheld the benefits of childbirth education.

• Learn how to make pregnancy more comfortable.
• Get answers to common questions and information about concerns.
• Learn about prenatal development.
• Learn about danger signals in pregnancy.
• Learn about pregnancy and how your life is affected.
• Learn about premature labor and how to prevent it.
• Learn how to involve your family in your pregnancy and birth.
• Learn good communication skills and birth plans.
• Learn how to tell if this is labor.
• Learn about support options (doulas, montrices, etc.).
• Learn what to expect during labor and birth. Learn about pain relief options.
• Learn infant stimulation and development techniques.
  

How to choose a Childbirth Preparation Class
Having a baby if often new territory for a family. Exploring the changes in pregnancy, what to expect in the birth process, pain coping techniques and meeting other parents are many of the reasons expectant couples choose to come to a childbirth class. Studies show that families that choose take a class of any sort tend to be more satisfied with their birth process, feel they had more control and more informed about their choices and more connected to their babies.

Choosing the right class for you however, can feel overwhelming. From large lecture style classes to small intimate settings, to private sessions or online courses, there are many choices to get the experience that will be most valuable for you.

What's the difference between a hospital class and an out-of-hospital class?
Hospital based classes are often lecture style information based classes. They emphasize the "what to expect" in the hospital including stages of labor, when to go to the hospital and pain management and interventions. Larger class sizes (8 - 30 couples) are the norm and classes are fairly inexpensive at ($65 to $95 per couple). These classes are often taught by RN's or childbirth educators who may or may not have birth experience themselves either professionally or personally

Community-based classes are often interactive and process-oriented with smaller class sizes (4 - 7 couples). They emphasize the couples unique coping style and helping a couple integrate the birth information with their own hopes and wishes for the birthing process. Often taught by doulas, midwives, naturopathics, and other multi-disciplinary instructors with direct birth experience, these classes often support families no matter what their intended birthing location---hospital, birth center or home birth. Due to the custom-nature of these classes they are often a little higher priced at $200 - $350 per couple.

How do the learning styles differ in each class?
Beyond the environment of the class, the learning styles are very important to how well a couple will mesh with their class style.

Most classes mix some lecture with video and other visuals to give families a sense of what to expect in the birthing process overall. They also offer various forms of deep relaxation ranging from visualizations, focal points to comfort massage. From there, each class offers a unique lense with which to learn.

Here's an overview of the classes offered at the Zenana Spa as well as some comments from our Mother Tree mamas.

Birthing From Within®
A Right Brain Approach: Guiding expectant parents to a deeper understanding of the physical, emotional, spiritual and social aspects of birth, this course provides a multi-sensory, holistic approach to childbirth education. Parents will learn through interactive and creative participation, in a spirit of fun and curiosity. The central themes to this course are understanding the instinctual aspects of the birthing process while processing the emotional journey via art exercises (you don't need to be an artist at all but it helps if you learn visually). A highlight of this course is helping couples explore their own assumptions and create what they really want for their birth experience!

"This course helped us build our own unique coping style as a couple and feel confident we could respond to our birth with joy--no matter what the challenges."-- Crystal

Mother Tree Childbirth™
An Intentional Approach: Discover your own Mother Nature in this unique balance of evidence-based practices rooted in solid practical knowledge (Lamaze). Combined with deep relaxation techniques and personal explorations that help couples awaken to their unique potential as parents, the Mother Tree is a unique guide to childbirth as you consider growing your family tree. Building trust in the partnership that can carry into parenting is a central theme to this class. It can satisfy most learning styles because it uses a custom style where each person focuses on their own intentions in the birth process. A highlight of this course are the great massage techniques!

" I felt transformed by this class. I discovered how to trust myself, my partner and my baby in this process. Our birth journey was awesome as a result." -- Kayla

HypnoBirthing® The Mongan Method
Using Hypnosis to help women deeply relax in the birthing process, this class assists women and their partners to learn hypnosis as a form of natural pain relief. Using scripts read by the partner and cds' for repetition, the class uses step-by-step guide to inducing a trance-like state that can allow a woman to step away from her fears and concerns and let her body do it's work. A highlight of this course is that it offers the mind the focus to direct the bodily responses in labor.

"I was able to fully relax and felt like I was floating through the process. A very pleasant surprise!" -- Jody

There are numerous other types of community classes worth mentioning as well: Lamaze, Yoga Way to Birth and the Bradley Method both are offered in this area.

What about an online class?
Online classes or distance learning classes can provide information in easy chunks on your own time (usually free) such as Hypnobabies (another hypnosis based program) or even great blogs such as: www.pregntastic.com or forums: www.mamasource.com and urbanmamas.com can be other great sources of knowledge. A highlight is that you find a huge online community and tons of great anecdotes! A downside is that you often cannot get your partner to join you on those late night chats or get the personal feedback and local peer group that you might in a personal class.

Please contact us:
Portland ~ 503-343-9911
Vancouver ~ 360-635-5666
...or contact us online!