Preparing to give birth at home or in a birth center is a unique experience, representing about 2% of births in the United States. I believe that every woman should have the option to choose the provider and birth place that is the best fit with her values and preferences. As a birth professional and a mother who chose to give birth outside of the hospital, I know that giving birth at home or in a birth center requires you to be an informed participant.
I’m honored and excited to offer Louisville’s first and only class for families who have committed to giving birth at home or in a birth center. This class series will provide you with a firm understanding of natural physiological birth at home or in a birth center. This knowledge and information will help you to form appropriate expectations as well as a foundation on which to conceptualize pain theories, comfort measures and your priorities for your birth experience.
Empowered Birth: Home/Birth Center is a complete curriculum, lasting 6 weeks, covering labor, birth and postpartum. If you are giving birth at Tree of Life Family Birth Center, there are three required classes: Orientation, Breastfeeding & Planning For Birth & Postpartum.. If you are in Empowered Birth: Home/Birth Center, you do not need to take the Planning For Labor & Postpartum class that is offered at Tree of Life (per the Woman Care CNMs). You will receive all of the information from that class (and more!) in this 6 week series.
I believe that the birth of your baby is a profound life event. My goal is to provide you with the knowledge and tools you need to welcome your baby with confidence and joy.
schedule & registration
The cost for the 6 week series is $265. The fee covers the pregnant mom and her choice of birth partner. Classes are held in the Rainbow Blossom Gardiner Lane Community Room or in the classroom at Tree of Life Family Birth Center. The ideal time to start classes is anytime after the start of the second trimester.
Note: As of 4/18 there are 2 spaces (1 space=mom & birth partner) remaining in the May class.
Tuesdays, May 14th-June 25th, 6:30-9:00 PM
Mondays, July 8th-August 12th, 6:30-9:00 PM
Mondays, September 9th-October 14th, 6:30-9:00 PM
Class topics
- Assembling your birth team: who’s who & their roles
- How partners can support the laboring mother
- When will labor begin, and how long might it last?
- Stages & phases of labor
- When to call your midwife
- Coping with pain and comfort measures
- How to encourage labor progress
- Tubs & water birth
- Equipment for monitoring & safety
- Coping with bumps in the road during labor
- Transfers: why they happen & what to expect
- Postpartum self assessment in the early days
- Postpartum mood disorders: symptoms & risk factors