There are pros and cons for all the birth classes on the market, and depending on what you are looking for from a class (your personal goals for your birth, your schedule, and the like) many of the mainstream birth classes can be unappealing.
You may feel like taking a childbirth series is one more thing to do before your baby arrives, but this is one thing that could make an incredible difference to your birth experience.
Childbirth education classes share information that is not just about the physiological birth process, but the myriad of options that could be present at the birth of your child. And, if you pick a quality class, it is about much more than that.
Most parents are asking their providers for recommendations of where to attend, and for many, that means signing up for the hospital’s class. But not every childbirth class is created equal.
We want to share why choosing an independent professional childbirth education class could be one of the best things you do for you and your baby.
1) All The Options
Because our childbirth classes are taught outside of the hospital, our instructors are free to share all options and not only those that support hospital policy. As independent instructors we focus on sharing information, explaining the many options available during labor and birth, and the various scenarios that may arise. This way our students feel informed and prepared to enter their own experience.
We are invested in getting you the knowledge for the type of birth that you desire, and the delivery you will have.
Are you looking for a low intervention birth?
Are you curious about epidurals?
Are you curious about what to do before you get an epidural?
We give easy-to-understand knowledge, and tools to help you bring your plan to life, and, if necessary, help to navigate the unexpected.
2) Specialized Birth Educators
Once you decide to take a childbirth class, why not rest assured your instructor is someone connected and knowledgeable about birth in your area. To be a childbirth educator with Doulas of Baltimore, years of study, hundreds of hours teaching, and first-hand experience helping families in labor are what make the difference.
The nuance of birth is such that there is no pattern that everyone will follow. However, with enough time working with families, a new kind of skill develops which your teacher is happy to share with class attendees. It may be silly to say, but that ability is having trust and confidence in birth. When you know what is possible, and learn the necessary skills to discuss needs and wishes with your care providers, you increase the potential for an excellent birth experience.
3) Partners Enjoy Them
There’s a stereotype that non-pregnant partners are uninterested in attending or participating in birth classes. We find birth partners engaged in our classes and happy to feel more confident when class has ended!
We do not shove you into a classroom with grainy videos of birth from the 1970s, and we don’t make a screen the focus of the class. We know your time is valuable, and endeavor to make our time together result in you having more confidence about your child’s birth. And more confident about how to interact with one another during your baby’s birth.
If you’re not convinced yet, read testimonials from former students and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. If you are ready to get started – head straight to our class registration page!
