Childbirth Education
Expecting(nyc)’s childbirth educators will work with you to identify the kind of birth you envision for yourself, starting with the kind of preparation that is right for your family. We get it, childbirth education can be an additional hassle that you might not feel necessary. That is why we offer approachable à la cart classes that can be taken individually or as a series. No need to cram it all into a weekend if your needs can be met in just a couple of hours on a weeknight. We also offer more intensive classes for the information seekers and super preparers. We strongly uphold to providing evidence-based information in all our classes. For more information, please check out our FAQs and Resource List.
Join us at our free Monthly Open House to learn more.
A La Carte Series
The A La Carte courses are designed to offer flexible scheduling for busy parents. Each class is offered 1-2 times a month. We strongly recommend taking each class within this series, however we don't want to restrict the lessons to only those that have the ability to attend all. Therefore, we we offer single class pricing as well as class-bundling discounts.
Birth Plan Basics
The elusive birth plan, we know you've heard of it, but what is it and how does it make a difference?
We will take you step-by-step through the process of childbirth - we promise to only teach you the things you need to know and to cut out the noise. This class may be short but it is RICH with information that only a full time Labor Doula would know. We have spent thousands of hours at births gleaning this information so that you don't have to.
You will feel prepared and ready to navigate your best possible birth experience with or without a doula. This class is perfect for busy folks who want to know what they need to know and don't have time for the rest.
This class includes:
- What to expect during early labor, active labor, transition, and the pushing stage - we will minimize the surprises and build your confidence
- Guidance on when to go to the hospital, so you don't get sent home
- What to expect at your place of birth and how to feel heard and empowered
- Understanding a typical birth process and how to cope with it mindfully
- How to advocate for yourself and how to make friends with the hospital staff
- The first breastfeeding and those precious hours after birth
- How a partner can be a good support before, during, and after
Duration about 2 hours
Browse calendar to sign up.
Postpartum Preparation
We'll tell you a secret: newborns are cute, but they are also a 24/7 gig.
We know the challenges of having a newborn, but the research tells us that the more prepared the new family is for the postpartum time, the better their outcomes are. That's why we offer you this super charged preparation class.
This class covers:
- Demystifying the baby to reduce stress and anxiety
- Normal newborn feeding behaviors (hint: they eat 8-16 times a day)
- Normal newborn sleep cycles
- Basic newborn language and cues
- Techniques for soothing your baby
- How to diaper, bathe, swaddle, etc.
- Setting up systems so that your baby brain can focus on the baby, including logistical considerations
- Setting up the right support systems from family, friends, or paid support
- Setting up good boundaries with visitors
- Communication between partners
We recommend couples take this class together, and you may also bring along other support people like mother-in-laws, doulas, and baby nurses.
Duration about 2 hours
Browse calendar to sign up.
Single Moms' Childbirth Education
Being a single mom is a powerful identity, but it can also be quite challenging. That is why we want to equip you with knowledge and support so that you may trust in your inner power during this time.
Come join single mom Jess Smiley as she walks you through the basic physiology of birth, where to give birth, how to set up a birth plan, how to prepare for the postpartum time, and so much more.
Duration about 2 hours
Please contact us if you are interested.
Special Workshops
From sound healing and women's circles to prenatal yoga and reproductive health workshops, check out all we have to offer here.
For the information seekers
Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting
Perhaps you already have a meditation practice or have always been interested in starting one. Now is the moment. This Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) program is a nine-week practical preparation course (the weeks seriously fly by, so don't let the time commitment overwhelm you). The process of childbirth can be overwhelming, exciting, scary, and thrilling. This class offers you valuable tools to get through the transformational process of birth and prepares you for parenting. Most importantly, it offers you a framework for applying evidenced-based mindfulness techniques to your daily life, starting from the first class.
The teaching of mindfulness through the MBCP program is fully integrated into the current knowledge of the psycho-biological processes of pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period, and the psycho-biological needs of the newborn and infant. Included in the course are a variety of mind-body pain coping practices, positions for labor, the physiology of childbirth and breastfeeding from a mind-body perspective and postpartum adjustment.
Clinical observations and qualitative data from post-course questionnaires show that pregnant women and their partners consistently report an increase in confidence and a decrease of fear of childbirth, an overall sense of well-being, and an increased ability to manage stress in everyday life. Couples report improved relationships and more effective communication. The pleasure of connection with a community of others is an additional health benefit. Though still in its infancy, research is growing to support these clinical observations.
Fee $395 per couple • Duration about 2-3 hours per class
Next Class starts September 13, 2017 at 6:30pm
Browse calendar to sign up.
Comprehensive Childbirth Education Intensive
This is so much more than your mother's Lamaze class. Passionate and experienced, our doulas will guide you step-by-step through the process of labor and childbirth. This all-day intensive will cover the signs and stages of labor, medical procedures and interventions, pain coping techniques, tools for support people, and cesarean awareness and prevention. The goal of this class is to help you feel prepared, confident, and excited for your labor and birth.
This small, interactive class incorporates a combination of lecture, video, demonstrations, and time to practice several of the techniques and tools discussed across the following topics:
- Signs & Stages of Labor - what is happening during each stage of labor and how to prepare your mind and body for these changes
- Comfort Measures & Coping Techniques for Managing Pain - mindfulness, relaxation, breathing, massage, positional choices for different stages of labor, hydrotherapy, and more
- Labor Support Essentials - who should be part of your birth team and understanding the support they can provide, how to time contractions, and when to head to the hospital/birth center
- Medical Procedures - what you need to know about epidurals, interventions, inductions, and other procedures you may encounter during labor, birth, and shortly thereafter
- Cesarean Birth & Prevention - what is a cesarean birth, how can it be prevented, and what to do should it become necessary
- Birth Plans/Preference - understanding your options, informed consent, making medical decisions, and communicating effectively with your team
- Postpartum Wellness & Feeding Your Baby* - what to expect when recovering from birth, and the basics of getting breastfeeding off to a great start
It’s our goal that after this class you’ll feel more prepared for the labor and birth experience and confident in your choice of how and where to birth your baby.
Each pregnant person will be given a binder of resources to support (and dive deeper) into the topics discussed in class. Additionally, registrants will be provided online access to articles, videos, and an extensive list of NYC pregnancy, birth, and postpartum support resources.
*Postpartum Wellness & Feeding Your Baby – Since the primary focus of the comprehensive childbirth class is the labor and the birth of your baby, we will only touch briefly on postpartum recovery and breastfeeding. However, we feel so strongly about the need to educate and normalize expectations around this critical time for new families that we offer this in our à la carte series as well.
Browse calendar to sign up.
Individual classes: $120 • Two class discount: $225 • Three class discount: $340 • Four class discount: $440
Contact us for more information.
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