Childbirth Education
Knowledge is Power
Have you taken a childbirth education class? Some may feel they don't need it, after all this is a natural human process that has been going for, well, as long as there have been humans! But, I highly recommend looking into one. Although humans have been doing this for all of time, many of us did not grow up watching our family members give birth like our ancestors may have. Additionally, birth has become highly medicalized in modern society, changing the way birth plays out. So, most of us could benefit from more education! I am a strong proponent of the idea that knowledge is power. Birth is a very important time to feel empowered about your choices in order to help you trust your instincts and advocate for yourself! I've heard of pregnant individuals planning on "winging it,” and though that mentality can be helpful to some extent - giving into the birth process is an important part of having healthy outcomes - it's also important to know what to expect and what kind of interventions you may have to make decisions about.
All classes should teach you about nutrition during pregnancy, the stages and phases of labor, some comfort measures, and ways your partner can help. For those hoping for natural and unmedicated births, childbirth classes can help you mentally prepare and learn comfort measures for every stage of labor. For those desiring pain medication or requiring medical induction, childbirth classes teach you about your options and the side effects of any labor augmenting medication and procedures. For those needing a cesarean birth, classes can teach you what to expect during and after the procedure and what recovery may look like. Classes will also give you an idea of what to expect after birth - newborn procedures and physical and psychological postpartum recovery. An added bonus - you get to connect with other pregnant families!
Given the variety of classes available, they will vary in the depth of information presented, their focus, their length, and cost. Hypnobirthing, Bradley Method, and Lamaze are just a very few of the bigger name options out there. There are a few class options at our local hospitals, many local, independent childhood educators are offering in person and virtual classes, and there are some more wide reaching classes that have always been virtual (such as Evidence Based Birth and Mama Natural). Do your research, turn to family, friends, Google, and Yelp for recommendations to find out what type of class best suits your birth wishes. Happy learning!
Rancho Springs Medical Center Classes
