Client Perks: Childbirth Classes at Andaluz
We want to help our clients prepare well for welcoming a new baby into their family. Part of that preparation includes frequent prenatal visits with our midwives. And as an added benefit, we also offer comprehensive in-person childbirth education classes for our clients and their support!
Andaluz is a one-stop shop for all of your birth prep needs! We have three classes to provide you with information, tools, and strategies that will help you feel confident about your ability to give birth.
Essential Childbirth Class (4 hours)
This class is perfect for first time parents!
Our Essential Childbirth Class covers the basics of giving birth and helps answer common questions like:
How will I know when I am in labor?
What does a contraction feel like?
What should I do if my water breaks?
What is the difference between labor contractions and Braxton Hicks contractions?
When should we come to the birth center?
What activities should I do in early labor?
When can I use the tub for pain management?
It contains information specific to the out-of-hospital birth experience, to our facility, and to the process of having a waterbirth.
It also provides plenty of tips for helping partners be effective in their role as a labor support person, including teaching counter pressure techniques and practical recommendations (like how to use contraction timing apps without being annoying 😉).
It is a safe space to address your worries, focus your attention, engage in relaxing guided meditations, and build community with other Andaluz clients due around the same time as you.
This one-day class will leave you feeling informed and prepared, but you may wish for more hands-on labor practice, which is why we also offer our Comfort Measures for Childbirth class!
Comfort Measures for Childbirth (3 hours)
This class is perfect for people who have already given birth (either at a hospital or outside of one), and for those who already took our Essential class.
Our Comfort Measures class dives a little deeper into the emotional and mental side of the birth process.
It includes a brief overview of the labor process, along with activities to help you set intentions for your birth. There is an opportunity to share with the group about your previous birth experience (if desired), followed by an activity to help you explore and define your hopes for your upcoming birth with plenty of time for open-ended discussions.
It allows you to practice labor coping techniques to find which ones are most appealing to you, including helpful movements, positions, breathwork, and mental focusing strategies.
You will also have a chance to explore the tools available at the birth center, like our birthing hammocks, birth balls, and Swedish ladders. The more familiar you are with our tools, the more likely you will be to use them (and use them effectively!) during your labor.
What If? - When Birth Changes Course (2 hours)
This class is for all Andaluz clients and covers what to expect if you need to transfer to the hospital for care either during or after your birth.
While our midwives do all that they can to support our client’s desire for an out-of-hospital birth, some hospitals transfers are necessary, and we want to help our clients know what to expect if the decision is made to go to the hospital.
This class covers:
Common reasons for transfers
The shared decision-making process
What to expect at the hospital
Risks and benefits of common hospital procedures, like epidurals and pitocin augmentation
To see our schedule and book a childbirth class click here or email Callai at callai@waterbirth.net
