These classes are offered through Penny Simkin's office are held at Birth and Beyond in Seattle. The instructors are Penny Simkin, PT and April Bolding, PT.
Fee: $250 per couple. $50 non-refundable deposit at time of registration, with balance due on the first night of class.
Reading Materials: Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn; The Birth Partner; and many handouts (Both books are included with the class fee)
Fall/Winter 2010-11 class schedule:
October 12-November 23, Tuesdays 7-9:30pm - taught by Penny Simkin FULL
November 30-January 11, Tuesdays 7-9:30pm - taught by Penny Simkin
January 5- February 16, Wednesdays 7-9:30pm - taught by April Bolding
- Introductions: Names and other information
- Discussion: Long term impact of the birth experience on a woman and family
- Decisions to make: Baby's doctor; Water birth; Choice of support team (family, friends, doula); infant feeding, etc.
- Review of anatomy
- The 3 Rs of coping with childbirth stress: Relaxation, Rhythm, and Ritual
- Comfort Measures: Conditioning exercises: Relaxation; slow breathing
Class 2
- The events of late pregnancy leading to birth: for mother, fetus, and placenta
- Prematurity (the "unfinished pregnancy")
- How to know when you're in labor: the signs to look for
- What happens during labor: the stages of labor
- Comfort Measures: More on relaxation (partner's role) and slow breathing; intro to light breathing for relaxation and for mastery.
Class 3
- The emotions of labor, the emotional needs of the woman, and how the partner and others can meet her needs.
- Prenatal perineal massage to reduce the chance of a tear at birth.
- Comfort Measures: More on relaxation; massage; light breathing; positions and movements for labor; visualizations.
Class 4
- Emotions of labor (continued)
- Transfer to the hospital: reasons and what to expect
- Medical interventions: induction of labor; electronic fetal monitoring; intravenous fluids and medications (epidural); vacuum extractor, forceps; cesarean delivery.
- Setting priorities for care. Bottom line: Healthy Mother and Baby
- Comfort Measures: Back labor techniques; techniques and positions for pushing
Class 5
- Transfer to the hospital (cont.)
- Postpartum adjustment
- Comfort Measures: Review of all learned comfort measures and labor progress techniques
Class 6
- Newborn care
- Role play/rehearsal of all labor techniques in a simulated labor
Class 7
- Breastfeeding taught by a lactation consultant
Reunion (Scheduled at least three weeks after all the babies are born)
- Potluck meal
- Birth stories
- Group picture of all babies and families