So you
are researching childbirth classes? Maybe you are expecting, or maybe you are
planning ahead. Or maybe something else... For those of you in the first two
groups, ...
Don't just wish for a natural birth! Prepare for it with
time-proven, evidence based techniques and strategies! Whether your due date is
just around the corner or you're planning ahead, George & I can help. We
offer comprehensive classes that accommodate couples with busy schedules
without compromising class content.
This page will give you an idea of who we teach, why we teach and
what we teach.
Who we teach:
Expectant parents in the tri-state area and beyond (virtual, live interactive classes) who are seeking classes to empower them through their childbirth
experience and reduce their chances for a heavily medicinal or surgical birth.
We are now
offering live online group classes as well as in person!
Learn in the comfort of
your home or on the go!
You can give birth in the setting of your choice, with the labor
support of your choice, under the watchful eyes of experienced health care providers
you choose. You will be prepared for the unexpected so you can make wise
choices should your labor not go according to "the plan." We will
prepare you, not by offering medical advice, but by teaching science and
experience based keys to normal, natural pregnancy and childbirth.
Join our classes where we listen and
your concerns matter!
We know you have
choices. We know your time is valuable. We explored our choices for our births
and for what kind of classes we would want to teach. We have chosen this method
for its many positive distinctives:
1.
It is wholistic,
intuitive and simple to learn, and it works very well.
2.
It is evidence based and
AAHCC tracks the success. (Other methods don't track!)
3.
The relaxation and
breathing techniques are natural and common-sense.
4.
The comfort measures are
practical and broad-based.
5.
The classes are
Dad-friendly. We encourage continual support in labor and birth with the person of your choosing, usually baby's father.
6.
The topics are
comprehensive, preparing expectant parents for typical pregnancy, labor and
birth including prevention and strategies for common variations.
7.
It is the only
evidence-based method that has proven to significantly reduce cesarean and
other labor interventions.
8.
It is the first and most
universal utilized method to prepare the dad or other labor support, not just
the expectant mom.
9.
Natural alternatives can
be attempted before resorting to many common interventions.
10.
It is even beneficial
when circumstances require medicine and/or surgery. The techniques for
relaxation help reduce how much pain medication is needed for certain
interventions, so better for mom and baby. Healing may be fast
11.
Healing may be faster and better because of the emphasis on clean, healthy eating and exercise to prepare for
birth and techniques for minimizing tears and episiotomies.
12.
This method teaches you
how to cope with labor and birth by listening to you body, not tuning out the
sensations you feel to remove yourself from the experience.
Teaching this method is a labor of love. We are
so gratified, teaching what we believe is the best childbirth method, getting
so much positive feedback from students and providers, and hearing awesome
birth stories from our students!
A quick look at what we teach:
We provide information on staying healthy and fit in pregnancy and
a relaxation and/or a labor rehearsal so you & your continual labor support
(coach, doula, etc.) will be confident and comfortable with a variety of ways
to manage labor contractions.
We emphasize what labor typically feels like, when you should be
at your place of birth, warning signs, how to handle precipitous birth and how
to tune into and work with your body. You will learn how to communicate confidently and
effectively with each other and your birth team, and how to make wise decisions
in pregnancy and labor to prevent unnecessary interventions, should unexpected
circumstances arise.
We also provide basics about breastfeeding and taking care of your
new baby and yourself after the birth. See "Course Content" tab above
regarding standard class content we cover. Our classes include the official
worktext, a postpartum and breastfeeding booklets, supplemental handouts and
links for optional videos and related articles. We implement teaching methods
to appeal to different learning styles and convenient for preview, review and
missed lessons.
Birth stories and student feedback are available upon request and
at our private websites, naturalbirthprep.com and/or optimalchildbirth.com.
Visit us on facebook, "Optimal Childbirth", not an official Bradleybirth
website.