About My Classes

All classes meet on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 pm and last 2-2.5 hours. The full class series is 7 weeks long, plus 1 postpartum reunion class with babies. We meet in in the Wee Bunz cloth diaper store in the middle of Corvallis. I can accomodate 1 make-up class per couple for extenuating circumstances when the regular class must be missed. Class fee is $150 per couple. There are limited discounts available for those in financial need, and I offer package deals for class participants who use my doula services as well. I also accept payment plans.

I am an ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator (ICCE). ICEA supports educators who believe in freedom of choice based on knowledge of alternatives in family-centered maternity and newborn care. I will not be teaching a specific "method" (like Bradley, Lamaze, Birthing from Within, HypnoBirthing, etc), but I will integrate some of the most useful tools from these programs into my class. Overall, the focus is on preparing for birth with minimal interventions, but all scenarios will be discussed. At a minimum, the following topics will be covered:

• Normal patterns of pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum
• Common variations on these patterns
• Labor coping skills and methods, including relaxation practice
• Maternal and infant nutrition, including breastfeeding
• Common medical interventions and procedures during labor and birth, and their alternatives

Classes will be small with a limit of around 6 couples to encourage maximum interaction and community-building. Participants will receive a reference packet to keep for future use. Additional topics that will be covered include:

• The pregnant patient's right and responsibilities for making informed choices
• Legal rights and informed consent
• Effective communication and negotiation with other members of the health care circle
• Breastfeeding as the preferred means of promoting infant nutrition
• Parent-infant bonding
• Avoidance of routine medical intervention, with the use of evidence-based medical treatment should complications arise
• Birth plans
• Doulas
• Labor and birth positions
• Newborn care
• Diapering (including cloth options)
• Baby-wearing (i.e. slings)
• Community resources
• Getting help

An approximate schedule for the class is available here.

Please contact me if you are interested in taking my class. I would love to have you!