Cherish Birth » Childbirth Classes

Cherish Birth classes offer the opportunity to learn about the physiology of normal childbirth, relaxation and breathing, positions for labor and birth, comfort techniques, and other ways expectant mothers can prepare themselves prenatally for a healthy, positive birth experience. Some of the topics covered include nutrition, prenatal exercises, creating a birth plan, and developing confidence through knowledge about the process. Clients will have an opportunity to view videos of unmedicated births taking place in the hospital, in birth centers, and at home in the water, and will be introduced to information on breast-feeding, care of the newborn, and postpartum changes for the mom. How to make informed choices, the benefits and risks associated with common hospital procedures, medicated birth, and cesarean birth will also be discussed in depth.

“Boot-camp style” childbirth classes. Taught all in one weekend, (Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon, 12-14 hours in all) this series is convenient for busy couples whose schedules do not allow for a traditional CBE series, held over many weeks or weekends in a row.
Strong focus on natural childbirth. Because having an unmedicated childbirth is not the most common choice made in today’s culture, nor is it an option heavily emphasized in most standard hospital childbirth classes, couples who wish to try “going natural” can benefit from a class tailored to preparing them specifically for taking on this challenge.
Independent, individualized instruction. I do not work for any insititution or care provider, I work only for the couples in my class. I can candidly answer questions and freely provide information in a way that hospital-based instructors are not always permitted to do.
Affordable. At $200 for the whole series, Cherish Birth childbirth classes are affordable for almost everyone, and priced well below many independent childbirth class options. Family Centered Maternity Care clients receive a $25 discount on childbirth classes. In addition, all clients who complete my birth classes and choose me to be their doula, regardless of where they are giving birth, receive a $50 discount off of my usual doula fee of $750.
Introduction to a variety of coping techniques. Rather than focusing on a single “method” of childbirth education, such as Bradley, Lamaze, Birthing from Within, or Hypnobirthing, classes use a multi-disciplinary approach of incorporating the best of elements from many schools of thought about birth. With an introduction to different options available to them, and additional reading resources suggested about each, individual couples are able to pursue further education about the techniques they find the most helpful and appealing.
Class size. Cherish Birth childbirth classes include only three or four couples, facilitating individualized instruction, which is tailored to the needs of the specific participants.
Christian childbirth classes available. For those who value a faith-based perspective on the miracle of pregnancy and birth, and want to make Christ the center of their birth experience, this option is offered periodically. These classes cover all the same information and techniques as the standard natural childbirth class series, but with the added focus on including God in their preparations for birth.