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Informative   Inspiring    Memorable    Personal Growth for the Childbearing Year

Several fundamental differences make Birthing  From Within classes more than just another childbirth education method. In many ways, our classes stand alone.

In your Birthing  From Within classes, you will learn how to:

• Experience birth as a rite of passage
• Eat a sound diet (pregnancy and breastfeeding)
• Open your body-mind before and during labor with self-hypnosis and visualizations
• Build confidence in yourself and your partner  
• Ask questions and make decisions in labor
• Protect your birth space
• Tame your "Birth Tigers"^TM
• Push your baby out
• Welcome your baby
• Recover and plan postpartum
• Care for and feed your newborn 
• Give birth from within during a Cesarean, while using pain medication, or with medical support.

The essence of childbirth education is self -discovery, not assimilating obstetric information.

However, if you are seeking information on the routines and policies of the hospital, or if you believe that having additional research-based information about birth will give you peace of mind, you may benefit by complementing your  Birthing  From Within childbirth class by taking a hospital, Lamaze, or Bradley childbirth class, or by reading an evidenced-based book about birth. (See our parent reading list for some ideas!)

If you want to take a tour of your hospital's labor and postpartum areas, and your Birthing  From Within Mentor doesn't include this in her class, call your hospital to find out their tour schedule and go on your own.

Parents' individual needs and differences determine class content. 

BIRTHING FROM WITHIN^® Mentors do not present the same standard class curriculum to every class. A Mentor is more like a Mary Poppins who arrives to each and every class completely present to you, to what you are concerned about or interested in learning. She brings a deep well of creative resources from which to co-create your class with you, your partner, and other expectant couples.

So, if something is important to you, bring it up with your Mentor in class. Your Mentor has a broad base of knowledge about matters concerning birth and parenting. She can be a valuable resource to you, both in presenting a meaningful discussion or process in class, and in referring you to the right person or group in your community.

Part of spiritual and holistic childbirth preparation includes acknowledging that unexpected, unwelcome events may happen during labor (even if you are prepared and do everything "right").

By being willing to mobilize your coping resources, you can relax more fully in body-mind before labor. We believe that holistic childbirth preparation means preparing body, mind, and spirit for whatever the Birth Fairy may bring.

Your BIRTHING FROM WITHIN Classes will be:

• a balance of practical, useful information and creative, experiential exercises.
• personalized to your needs and interests.
• not narrowly focused on a particular type of birth
• stimulating, lively discussions and interesting exercises
• learning, not just about birth, but also about yourselves!

Our classes really do prepare you to birth from within.

BIRTHING FROM WITHIN classes are not:   

Dull lectures, handouts, and videos. Instead, women and men have fun learning through lively discussions and interesting activities.

Outcome-focused. In other words, we do not promise that if you practice or believe in a certain thing, you will achieve a specific result. Your positive actions and intentions will influence your body-mind, but there is no way of knowing just how.

About relaxing or "pain-free" birth. No need to bring pillows: you will not be “relaxing,” because the truth of labor is that it is hard work, and you may move better through labor by being upright, active, dancing, rocking, or sitting. You and your partner will learn about coping with pain and the challenges of labor, and have lots of time to practice together.