WHY CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION?
Maybe you or your partner are wondering, “why take a childbirth class?” or “isn’t this natural and my instincts will just kick in?” And while I do believe there are some maternal instincts that are activated in the labor and birth process, there are tremendous benefits to taking a class.
In the day and age of information overload, it can be overwhelming to sift through all of it to figure out what options you have and what is actually evidence based. A childbirth class funnels the endless information out there down to what is important and presents it in a way that will help you actually remember it when it’s baby time!
I tell my birth clients, the more knowledge you acquire, the more your anxiety will decrease and your confidence will increase. That confidence will help you to relax more in labor and let your labor progress as it should.
Life is busy and while we sometimes have the best of intentions to read all the books, listen to all the podcasts, etc. sometimes we need dedicated time and space set aside to learn about the childbirth process. A childbirth class will give you that time and space, and bonus; it can help the birthing mother and her partner get on the same page with what to expect and communicate their needs and desires.
Taking a childbirth class will give you a chance to practice hands on some of the positions, breathing techniques, and relaxation strategies while under the direction of a certified birth doula.
Studies have shown that participation in a childbirth education class can reduce the number of interventions in your birth experience, including making it less likely to be induced and lower the usage of analgesics.
Hospital Class vs. Private Childbirth Education
Why should I take a private childbirth class, when the ones at the hospital I will be birthing at are less money? Good question! For one, your experience in one of my classes will be personalized. While I will absolutely teach you the basics of labor, birth, positions, relaxation techniques, etc. I will also cater specifically to your concerns, anxieties and questions. You will also find that a private childbirth class will be more comprehensive, covering far more content because I am not restricted to utilize hospital curriculum. This will teach you far more about what options you have in your birth experience. It is said in the birth world, that hospital classes often teach you far more about hospital policies and how to be a compliant patient, than truly equipping you for a positive birth experience. A private class is also flexible to your schedule! I will work with you to find times that work well for you and your partner. I will also ensure that you get plenty of hands on practice, so you go into birth feeling confident to apply what you have learned. And of course, a private class with me means you get an experienced local birth doula as a resource to you! I have worked in the local hospitals and birth centers, I know many of the providers, and I can help equip you with any trusted referrals you may need. Midwife, OB, Postpartum doula, pelvic floor specialist, lactation consultant… I’ve got you covered!
What have clients said about
Christa Joy’s childbirth education classes?
Taking childbirth education classes with Christa was one of the best things my husband and I did to prepare for our first birth. Christa is an amazing teacher and the classes are so helpful for understanding what you can expect when it comes to end of pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. There was a lot we learned that we didn’t know. She uses different modalities of teaching to convey various lessons that help relay the information and make it fun in the process. Christa really gets to know you so she can tailor the classes to what you need. She provided us a packet of papers of all the things we learned and I routinely refer back to them for reference. We highly recommend any soon-to-be parents to take her classes. You’ll feel so much more prepared and knowledgable as you get ready to give birth.
-Alexa
We are so grateful to have had Christa for our childbirth education class! My last pregnancy ended with a c-section at 29 weeks so we did not have an opportunity to take any classes or even prepare in any real way. This second pregnancy has felt like our first in many ways and Christa has been there every moment. Her childbirth class is really incredible. She was thorough without being overwhelming, knowledgeable while still being completely understandable and relatable, and informed us on a wide range of topics while still personalizing the class for us. She provided us with plenty of written material that included visuals to refer back to so we never felt we had to remember all the information. The class was so organized and flowed smoothly. We really enjoyed the hands on practice to prepare for labor. Most importantly, the material and discussion she presented led to a lot of conversation between my husband and myself about logistics, expectations, and concerns leading into labor and post-partum. We were able to talk with Christa about a lot of these things and continued talking afterwards. The knowledge and expertise she shared with us has truly replaced so much fear, anticipation, and uncertainty we didn’t even realize we had. She will also be our doula and knowing the three of us are on the same page has increased my confidence so much. I have researched and read a lot about labor and birth on my own, but Christa’s knowledge and perspective is invaluable. I can’t recommend her childbirth education highly enough. Having realistic expectations, a fuller understanding of the birth process, and a solid plan in place will do so much for your emotional state in the weeks leading up to birth. We wouldn’t have had that without Christa!
-Casey
My husband and I had an amazing experience with Christa Joy’s childbirth education class as we prepared for the birth of our first child. She came to our home for two 3-hour sessions during my third trimester and taught us so much about the birth process—what to expect in labor, how to support natural birth through movement, and what labor and delivery can look like in a hospital setting. Her teaching style was engaging, interactive, and easy to remember (even in the middle of labor!), and the reference materials she provided were incredibly helpful.
During labor, my husband and I found ourselves continually referring back to what we learned from Christa Joy. Because of her class, we felt confident, informed, and empowered when discussing options with our medical team. She even followed up after birth to check in and offer lactation consultant recommendations, which we really appreciated.
Overall, we had a calm, positive birth experience thanks to the knowledge and confidence we gained from Christa Joy. Highly recommend!
-Katie