Developing Your Pain Coping Toolbox:
Developing Your Pain Coping Toolbox:
Developing Your Pain Coping Toolbox Class:
This class is focused on the labor process, pain coping and developing your toolbox for labor. This class doesn’t cover postpartum recovery, newborn care, and infant feeding. I will send along MANY additional resources for learning, but it is not as in depth as the 6-week class.
In short, you already have what you need to in order to have a baby. REALLY. Birth doesn’t need to be a mystery, scary or traumatic. The body knows what it needs throughout the whole process and, to put it simply, if you can breathe, poop and have a uterus, you can have a baby.
However, we can make it MUCH more enjoyable with a few coping tools. As creatures of habit, mammals have useful learned behaviors for coping with pain and stress that are transferable skills! In addition to learning birth best practices form an experienced doula, this workshop helps you explore your natural and well honed physical and emotional pain coping strategies and apply them to birth.
We will cover:
Natural methods of coping with physical and emotional stress;
Rediscovering your own coping resources;
Connecting with your partner for birth and beyond;
Movement;
Positions for birth;
Doula best practices;
Acupressure;
Rebozo;
Massage;
Birth teams;
Navigating care options;
Birth plans;
Establishing great communication with your care provider;
Coping with detours;
AND much more!
This course is best for you if:
You don't have time for a full 6 week course;
You want to explore the physical AND emotional ways of coping with labor;
You know that birth doesn't need to suck;
You are engaged in your healthcare;
You seek out evidence-based information;
You want to connect with your partner and develop tools within your relationship that will serve you for life;
You want to cut through all the "shoulds" for coping with labor and parenting to find your own way;
You are planning ANY type of birth;
You want to feel validated;
You don't want to feel judged for your decisions; AND
You want to feel prepared and strong during your birth.
Cost of Class: $120 per couple (Scholarships available!)
Classes FAQ
When should I take classes?
Babies can arrive anytime after 37 weeks of pregnancy. It is best to be done with your childbirth education classes by 36 or 37 weeks to be on the safe side. **If you miss a class because you had your baby, I always offer one postpartum home visit to help with your transition.
How long is a childbirth education series?
Online classes are 8 weeks long and each class is 2 hours each.
I am having a (birth center/home/hospital/cesarean/VBAC/OBGYN-assisted/Midwife-assisted) birth. Would your class address my needs?
Yes! I don’t teach to a specific type of birth. Because every birth is unique and often differs from our own best-laid plans, I believe in teaching the full range of options available to couples and support them in their specific birth choices, rather than teach one way to give birth. There is no best way, there is no one way.
There are many different childbirth education classes available. What makes your class different?
Holistic Childbirth classes are designed to be much more than a birth class. A lot of information goes beyond just birth preparation to life after the baby comes, breastfeeding, sexual safety , informed consent, healthy relationships, identity, sexuality and culture. Classes engage students using a wide range of approaches and perspectives. Rather than come from one philosophy of childbirth education, I pull from many different styles as well as my bodywork, movement, and counseling experiences to best meet the specific needs of the class. Students can engage with the material through reading, discussion, movies, movement, touch and visualization. I encourage students to discover their preferences and follow their needs as they arise. Classes also foster a sense of community, and many students stay in touch after the babies arrive. Not to mention, it is a lot of fun!
I have a non-traditional family. Will I feel welcome in your class?
Yes, single parents, parents who are adopting, parents who are working with a surrogate/gestational carrier, grandparents, friends and parents of all genders and sexual orientations are welcome! Please feel free to share with you what your needs are so we are able to best meet them in class.
I am hoping to have a VBAC. Do you have a class to help me prepare?
Yes, I am happy to offer a private class that is designed to address your specific needs.
When and where are classes held?
In the comfort of your home!
How much are your classes, and are they covered by insurance?
The cost is $200 for online classes. You can also add on a private movement and massage session to those classes for $50 (online) to $75 (in person). Most classes, doula care and body work is reimbursable through a FSA/HSA account if you participate in one. Some insurance also reimburses for childbirth education. Let me know if you need a receipt for reimbursement.
When is your next class?
August 22 and 23 from 10am-noon
November 21 from 10-12 and 1-3