Our Portland Birthing Classes
Wildwood Birth's childbirth education classes in Portland, Oregon include Preparing for Birth, Breastfeeding, Newborn Care, and Online Birthing Classes. Click the class names to learn more about each class.
“Taking a birthing class with my doula was the best thing I did leading up to labor. With each class my fear melted away and was replaced with the knowing that I can do this!”
Private classes with your doula -
$400*
8 hours of private Childbirth Education sessions. This is a great opportunity to further build a relationship with your doula while also gaining the benefits of a Childbirth Education curriculum tailored specifically to you, from the comfort of your own home! *The cost is $500 if not bundled with birth doula services
Participating Doulas/Childbirth Educators: Vera Hyatt, Heidi Long, Kim Kovac, Lauren Constantine, Genevieve Rowe, Kim Sabin
Preparing for Postpartum & Newborn Care - $400
The postpartum experience is…a lot. From recovery to sleep and all the ins-and-outs of taking care of your new baby, we will help you prepare for this transformative time. Offered privately in your home in one or two sessions.
Feeding Your Baby - $400
Though this class is focused mainly on breastfeeding, however you choose to feed your baby — whether with your body, bottles, formula, or a combination, we want to set you up for success! This 4-hour class will cover everything you need to know to prepare you for feeding your little one. Offered privately in your home in one or two sessions.
Online, On-demand - $197*
Prefer a course that you can watch in your own time as many times as you want, in the comfort of your sweatpants? We’ve got that, too! Wildwood Birth offers an online library of 8-hours+ of bite-sized videos with accompanying activities and handouts, plus a library of birth story interviews from parents who have walked the path before. *Wildwood doula or photo clients receive $50 off the course. Insurance reimbursement is available with a provided certificate of completion.
Check out Wildwood Birth Education website for more info.
What is Covered in Childbirth Classes?
Wondering what to expect from prenatal education? Here are some of the key topics to help you understand what is covered in childbirth classes:
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Stages of labor
Anatomy & physiology
Comfort measures
Fetal positioning
Making informed choices
Cesarean birth
Partner support
Immediate Postpartum
Newborn decisions & care
Breastfeeding
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Latching positions
How often to feed baby
How to know if the baby is feeding well
Building a good milk supply
Milk storage and formula safety
When and how to introduce pumping and bottles
Challenges and other common issues and how to solve them
Tips for returning to work or school
Nutrition while nursing
Introducing solid foods
and LOTS more!
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Postpartum recovery and how to prepare
Understanding normal infant behavior, communication, appearance, and sleep patterns
Understanding common newborn procedures in the hospital
Understanding the basics of soothing, diapering, umbilical cord care, bathing, and assessment of your baby
Newborn warning signs and when to call the pediatrician
Breast/chest & Bottle-feeding best practices, tips, and techniques
The Physiology of Late Pregnancy
You’ll learn how your body is naturally preparing for the experience of giving birth to new life and how to identify the signs of labor.
Breathing Techniques & Coping With Pain
Discover relaxation and breathing techniques, visualization strategies to help you cope with contractions and labor, and options for medication to help ease the pain of childbirth.
The Stages of Labor
Childbirth classes will take you through the stages of labor and what to expect from each phase of the process, as well as how to understand the messages your body is sending you. You will learn the goals of each stage of labor, approximately how long each stage will last, and how you can best support the process of each stage. Your partner or support team will also learn how to best support you during each stage.
Common Interventions
You’ll learn how various interventions such as inductions, IV pain medication, epidurals, fetal monitoring, , catheterization, episiotomy, and cesarean surgery can influence the course of labor and how to adapt.
Coping With Fear and Anxiety
Experiencing fear and anxiety related to labor is common and normal for expectant parents, and childbirth classes can help you acknowledge and address them in a safe environment. Exploring prenatally how your fears might manifest and effect labor, and determining potential ways to cope with these fears, can help significantly during the birthing process.
When to Take Childbirth Classes
Childbirth classes are often recommended during the later part of the second trimester or during the third trimester. However, the decision about when to take childbirth classes during pregnancy really depends on you.
If you feel unsure about the process and you want more time to practice techniques and build up your confidence prior to giving birth, you can absolutely choose to take classes earlier during your pregnancy. It can also be helpful to use the first trimester to research the various types of prenatal education and childbirth classes available so you can make a decision about the right kind of classes for you.
Childbirth Classes & Prenatal-Education
In the final stages of pregnancy, your body and your baby are preparing for one of the most intense and incredible journeys we can experience as humans. Childbirth classes and prenatal-education are designed to teach you techniques that will help you connect with your body’s natural capacity for childbirth.
Childbirth classes include:
The anatomy, physiology, and biological processes that take place in late pregnancy, labor and delivery
What to expect during the various stages of labor and childbirth
Techniques to help you cope with pain
How to adapt to a range of possible complications and medical interventions
Coping strategies to address any fears or anxiety you have about giving birth
Strategies for connecting deeply with your support system
Are Birthing Classes Necessary?
While they can be a wonderful way to learn and prepare to give birth, are birthing classes necessary? With the current popularity of epidurals, the increase in the rate of c-sections, and the availability of online information, some expectant parents choose not to take childbirth classes, and that’s a perfectly okay choice.
However, even if you opt for an epidural and/or require a c-section, prenatal education can still be beneficial. These courses can help you understand the stages of labor and interpret the signals your body is sending you and give you peace of mind that you know what to expect and how to adapt to potential complications or changing circumstances as you prepare to give birth.
Online Childbirth Classes
Many areas of our lives have changed due to COVID-19, and online birthing classes have become more relevant than ever. Online childbirth classes offer a safe and convenient way to plan for labor. While you may lose some of the hands-on and interpersonal benefits of in-person classes, online options still offer you all of the same information you need to prepare for the birthing process.
You have the option to learn via live and interactive instruction or pre-recorded video from experts who can teach you about what to expect and how to prepare for childbirth. In many cases, you also have access to course materials for several months, meaning you can come back to information you learned as you get closer to your due date.
Childbirth Classes in Portland, OR
While online classes can offer a comfortable way to safely learn about birthing techniques from your own home, taking a childbirth course in person provides unique benefits. Learning from local experts and teachers alongside peers from your community can be a great way to connect with other expectant parents and get hands-on, individualized advice and support.
There are a variety of different types of childbirth classes in Portland, OR and the surrounding area, including courses that focus on different approaches to the process of labor. These include classes focused on Lamaze, Hypnobirthing, Birthing from Within, and many others. It can be helpful to research the various strategies and approaches to childbirth or consult with a doula, midwife, or physician to help you determine which type of class is right for you.
Wondering how do I find childbirth classes near me? Ask a doula!
We’re here to offer support and guidance through the incredible journey you’re on through your pregnancy and labor. If you’re wondering how to find childbirth classes near me, want to sign up for our online childbirth classes, or just have concerns about your pregnancy and don’t know who to talk to, get in touch and tell us how we can help.