Classes & Workshops
We recommend you finish your last class before you start your thirty-sixth week of pregnancy.
Why should I attend childbirth classes?
Whether you’re delivering your first or fifth child, childbirth classes can help you prepare to meet the challenges of labor and delivery. Consider the opportunities:
- Learn things you never knew about labor, delivery and postpartum care. Find out how to identify the signs of labor and understand your changing body.
- Address your fears By discussing them with other women who probably share the same concerns. The instructor can dispel myths and help put your mind at ease.
- Connect with your partner or labor coach. By understanding the process of childbirth your partner can discover ways to support you during labor.
- Discuss and learn options for handling pain. You’ll practice methods, such as breathing techniques, relaxation, and visualization, for coping with contractions. Classes also cover the pros and cons of common medications, such as epidural blocks.
- Get the basics on medical interventions and possible complications. Find out how routine interventions can influence the course of labor.
- Brush up on newborn care. Topics include choosing a pediatrician, breast-feeding, testing and procedures, and more.
What will I learn?
Sacred Knowledge offers childbirth preparation courses, with a focus on basic principles: Childbirth is natural, normal and healthy, therefore pregnant mothers and their partners need support on their journey. Proper tools and preparation, can help you feel relaxed, informed and equipped to have a rewarding birth, as well as a confident start with your baby. Sacred Knowledge Childbirth is a unique childbirth course full of evidence-based information for women who want to feel empowered to make the best choices regarding their birth. Whether you decide to give birth in a hospital, birth center, or at home, this course is designed to help you stay healthy and have a gratifying birth experience.
What we cover in childbirth classes:
- Basic pregnancy anatomy, adjusting to pregnancy, nutrition, and exercise.
- A look at pain in pregnancy, labor, birth and pain management.
- Comfort measures during pregnancy, pre-labor, birth,timing contractions, and methods of relaxation.
- The first stage of labor.
- What to expect, how to make informed decisions, and answers to questions like “When should I go to the hospital?” and “Is this the real thing?”
- How to be a supportive labor coach.
- Second and Third Stage labor, (pushing and placentas), birth plans, doulas, and lots of great tips!
- Labor positions and methods for pushing.
- Medications, common procedures, and complications.
- Cesarean birth, fetal monitoring, and episiotomy.
- How to make the best decisions for your birth.
- Postpartum adjustment, newborn care (diapering, bathing, cord care), sex after baby, six-week postpartum check-up, bleeding, and postpartum depression.
What classes are offered?
Sacred Knowledge provides childbirth education to expecting parents in a fun, interactive, positive, safe environment. We are committed to preparing families for childbirth with evidence-based information in a simple, nonjudgmental manner. We provide information that will assist you in having a healthy pregnancy. In addition, we will support you on your journey to becoming the best parents you can be.
We offer:
- Small Group Classes
Small group classes are a great alternative to hospital birthing classes. They are appropriate for both families planning their first birth or experienced families looking to brush up on birth basics. These comprehensive classes cover topics such as pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, newborn care, as well as postpartum needs. We encourage sharing information and experiences between families, as we all can learn from each other. Click here for class location.
- Private Classes
Private classes include the same information covered in group classes, except they are offered in your home and arranged around your schedule. Private instruction allows for more flexibility and individualization. Private classes can also benefit those who may be apprehensive about being involved in group activities. The freedom to ask personal questions that otherwise may not be addressed in a group setting is an additional benefit to private classes.
What workshops are available?
“Comfort Measures For Labor” Workshop
Hands on, physical preparation for labor and birth makes this our most popular class. This 3 hour workshop is a fantastic addition to your childbirth education, as a refresher, or just a stand-alone class. The central focus of this course is to practice comfort techniques. We demonstrate and rehearse different positions for labor, birth, breathing, vocalization, therapeutic touch, visualization, relaxation and other comfort measures. Learn how to create a peaceful environment, use tools such as a birth and much more. Partners learn ways to be supportive in labor! This class includes a take home packet to help you remember what we covered. We get rave reviews from this class, don’t miss out!
* This workshop is not recommended for first time parents. Instead, we suggest attending Small Group or Private Education Classes to gain a deeper understanding of your baby’s birth. All information in the Comfort Measures Workshop is covered in the Education Classes.
I am often asked which techniques are taught in our birth education classes.
We cover several different birthing techniques. For example, we encourage the Lamaze method of breathing during labor to promote relaxation. We discuss the importance of husband or partner-coached labor support like the Bradley method. We touch on the benefits of ease and freedom of movement, balance, flexibility, and coordination that the Alexander technique encourages. We teach principles that help remove fear and tension that are similar to Hypnobirthing, because severe pain does not have to be part of labor. Learning intense relaxation will enhance natural birthing instincts that lead to a calm and serene birth experience. Rather than seek to achieve a particular birthing process, our curriculum prepares mothers to “give birth in awareness,” similar to the techniques taught in Birthing from Within.
“Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers… Strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.”
~ Barbara Katz Rothman ~
