In our information-based world, knowledge is at our fingertips. Why would a couple want or need a birth class?
A lot of the information you may find online about pregnancy and birth can be conflicting, and inaccurate. Very often it is opinion-based - ”this is what worked for me.” And sometimes we travel down a Google rabbit hole and fear starts to build. “Am I really going to be able to have this baby?! Gah!”
How do you take all the things and compile them into something that would work for you and your partner?
Choose a great birth class.
Choose a great birth class that helps to prepare you and your partner for the unknown.
The benefit of a birth class is that the instructor curates all of the best, evidence-based information for you. Many instructors are also very familiar with what is happening at area hospitals regarding interventions and which birth centers might best suit your needs. In addition, they’ve helped many birthing individuals with common pregnancy discomforts, discussed prenatal tests, and helped them navigate pregnancy after a miscarriage. You’ll have someone to mentor you through the process of pregnancy and birth, step by step.
In addition, couples will learn techniques to work with birth instead of against it. Positions, comfort measures, and most essentially - what to expect. Yes, your midwife or doctor is the knowledgeable provider you chose to assist you in the birth of your baby, but, they can’t give you the confidence in your body’s ability to birth when things get challenging. Nor can they take away fear when you are experiencing sensations in your body that are unlike anything you’ve ever felt before.
But having personal knowledge about birth and what to expect, as well as an arsenal of positions to incorporate during labor, will help you to feel safe and capable to bring your baby into the world. And the very best classes also include meditations to get your mind prepared for your big day. Mantras. Visualizations. Breath work.
Some birth classes also include breastfeeding education, newborn care, and postpartum prep...vital skills needed to help you navigate the time after baby arrives, which is just as important as the birth itself!
My most favorite classes are personalized. Everyone comes to their birth with a unique life history that impacts how they view and feel pain, how they respond to being vulnerable, and how they view choice. A great instructor will help you figure out what options might work best for you and your partner, as well as how to navigate unexpected situations, and have a solid “plan B”.
The final benefit of a birth class is connection. You will be around other couples going through a similar journey that you can chat with about how they are handling discomforts or challenges during pregnancy. Some classes develop friendships that last decades!
Connecting with other birthing individuals is good for the soul.
So if you are considering a birth class, reach out and connect with me here: https://www.grnaturalbirth.com/classes. I have an amazing in-person class series as well as online class options. And if you feel I am not what you are looking for, I have a list of all the birth class providers in the Grand Rapids area that might be!
