Class 1
Introduction, progressive relaxation, pregnancy yoga, healthy nutrition, fears and communication.
Class 2
1st stage labor, transition, 2nd stage labor, 3rd stage labor, birth positions, rainbow mental relaxation.
Class 3
Variations of labor (long, slow, PROM), complications, coping skills, mental relaxation, labor rehearsal, birth planning.
Class 4
Postpartum care for mom, breastfeeding and new baby care, relaxation practice, birth celebration.
Optional Hospital Tour
If students are interested, I also offer a 1 hour tour of Bozeman Deaconess Labor and Delivery and Postpartum Recovery. We check out the labor rooms, all of your options and meet some nurses as well. We also peek at the nursery and postpartum rooms so you have a good sense of your surroundings before birth. Students love my “unofficial” tour, because it’s efficient, useful and fun, and walk out feeling great about their upcoming birth. We choose a convenient time for all interested students and the tour is included in your class fee.
Optional Birth Resources evening
About once a season, I invite many helpful and gentle birth practitioners to the Bodhi Tree Wellness Center. Students are invited to come, listen to presentations and ask questions and learn lots of helpful tips. Usual attendees are birth and postpartum doulas from the Montana Childbirth Collective, acupuncturists experienced in relieving labor pain, a babywearing guru, prenatal yoga teachers, physical therapists and a chiropractor who specialize in pregnant women’s health, a baby massage teacher, a lactation counselor, and a postpartum mood disorder counselor. It’s a fun way to meet a few other pregnant couples as well as many helpful people in our community. This is included in your class fee.
Class Reunion
After all class babies are born everyone gets together one more time for dinner, sharing birth stories and showing off adorable new babies (and Dads show off swaddling, diapering and expert calming).
Make-ups: If you have to miss one of the 4 classes in a series, you are welcome to come to that class in another series (space permitting). Check the schedule and call me to see if that series is being taught. I do not do private make-ups.