The purpose of childbirth classes is to prepare the body and mind of a woman and her support person to meet the challenges of labor. While women give birth everyday all over the world, it is done behind closed doors. We often need some information and tools to normalize what will be happening to our bodies and psyche as we go through this with our partner. Here at Realbirth we are often asked what our "method" is. We most often refer to it as the no method-method, or the all method-method. That means there is no one approach that works for everyone.

Realbirth classes are part of our comprehensive program that emphasizes giving the pregnant woman and her support as many choices as possible to move through labor and the birth experience. Our classes were developed by Reabirth's founder, Erica Lyon, author of The Big Book of Birth which is the definitive manual for labor. Our community of childbirth teachers provide crucial information in a non judgmental environment, as well as support to help you apply the information practically. Regardless of which class you take or what class format you take it in, you will learn a tremendous amount about labor. Topics include signs and length of labor, extensive coping strategies for the various stages of labor, and hands on natural pain coping options as well as complete explanations of pain medications. Technology available when labor moves outside the range of normal, such as induction, augmentation and cesarean birth is also covered in detail. Class is a mixture of hands on practice, lecture and video.

You and your partner will leave with a thorough map of labor both physically and emotionally, the emphasis is on labor being a normal body process and having as many pain coping choices as possible. Generally we recommend that you finish your classes at least 3-4 weeks before your due date (or by your 37th week) so look for a start date sometime in your seventh month. Classes are capped at 10 couples depending on format.

This class teaches a thorough map of labor both physically and emotionally, all natural pain coping options and complete explanations of pain medications and technology available. The emphasis is on labor being a normal body process and having as many pain coping choices as possible. This class is ideal for women who want to have a natural childbirth or who are considering pain medication but want to know extensive coping choices.

Class content will include:
• how your body prepares for labor in the third trimester
• detailed overview of signs of labor, physical stages of labor
  and normal emotions of labor
• the role of your support person(s) and the partner's experience of childbirth
• natural pain coping options such as physiological positioning, hydrotherapy,
  breathing, relaxation techniques, vocalizing, massage, acupressure as well
  as the normal physiology of the pain in labor
• pain medication choices with detailed explanation of the process
• induction and augmentation
• cesarean birth and recovery, and cesarean prevention

Our Comprehensive Childbirth Preparation class is offered in a variety of formats:
• weeknights: 5 weeks meeting once a week
• consecutive weekends: 2 or 3 consecutive Saturdays or Sundays
• weekend intensive: all day Saturday and Sunday
• daytime: generally summer sessions only

Fees: The Comprehensive Childbirth Preparation Class is $350 for the 15-hour Series which includes the pregnant woman and her partner/support person. We ask for a deposit of $150 to secure your place in the Childbirth Preparation Class with the balance of $200 due 48 hours before class begins. Couples have the option of taking our discounted Childbirth and Parenting Package. This includes our excellent Newborn Care and Breastfeeding Classes at a discounted fee of $55 each rather than the regular fee of $75 each. The total package fee is $460 for a complete course of 21 hours of education for the couple. Most couples take the full package with us as it fully prepares them for both the labor and the early months of being a brand new parent.

This class is specifically for the woman who has decided to use the epidural as her main pain-coping tool. Designed for her and her support, this class gives an overview of labor, early labor management and most effective use of the epidural as well as other paths labor could take. The only difference between this and the comprehensive class is that it will spend slightly less time on natural pain coping techniques.

Content will include:
• how your body prepares for labor in the third trimester
• detailed overview of signs of labor and the physical and emotional stages of labor
• early labor pain coping options and management, and some natural coping stategies
• the role of your support person and the partner's experience of childbirth
• pain medication choices, including but not limited to epidurals
• other paths labor could take: induction and augmentation, precipitous labor, cesarean birth and cesarean prevention

Our Childbirth with Epidural class is offered as a weekend intensive course for a total of 12 hours:
• Weekend intensive Saturday and Sunday for 6 hours per day

Fees: The Childbirth with Epidural Class is $325 for the couple. We ask for a deposit of $150 to secure your place in the Childbirth Preparation Class with the balance of $175 due 48 hours before class begins. Couples have the option of taking our discounted Childbirth and Parenting Package. This includes our excellent Newborn Care and Breastfeeding Classes at a discounted fee of $55 each rather than the regular fee of $75 each. The total package fee is $435 for a complete course of 18 hours of education for the couple. Most couples take the full package with us as it fully prepares them for both the labor and the early months of being a brand new parent.

When pregnant with twins, Childbirth Prepartation Class can be a valuable resource. This class is designed to specifically meet the needs of couples with twins. It's also a nice way to meet other expecting parents of twins.

Content will include:
• physical and emotional map of normal labor with twins
• what are the babies doing in Labor?
• natural coping and pain medication options
• specifics for Second Stage, Pushing Twice!
• technology used to assist labor when outside the range of normal
• cesarean birth and cesarean prevention
• concerns specific to twins, e.g What if I push one out and then need a c-section?
• intro to postpartum with multiples

Fees: Childbirth for Twins is $295 for the couple. Please note, this is a semi-private course, as the class is capped between 5 and 6 couples. We ask for a deposit of $150 to secure your place in the Childbirth Preparation Class with the balance of $145 due 48 hours before class begins. Couples have the option of taking our discounted Childbirth and Parenting Package. This includes our excellent Newborn Care and Breastfeeding Classes at a discounted fee of $55 each rather than the regular fee of $75 each. The total package fee is $405 for a complete course of 12 hours of education for the couple. Most couples take the full package with us as it fully prepares them for both the labor and the early months of being a brand new parent.

The Childbirth Refresher/VBAC is a class for second time around expecting parents. It is a review of the first birth, a review of labor and a review of pain coping strategies. Time is also spent discussing the differences of this pregnancy and family adjustment as compared to the first. This class is a great way to give a little space and focus to the second (or third) labor process and baby.

Fees: The Childbirth Refresher/VBAC class is $95 per couple.

Our Comprehensive Childbirth Education Class is also available in private sessions for an increased fee. Clients have the option of sessions with the Founder and Director of Education at Realbirth or may be referred to one of our other Childbirth Educators.

In general, we recommend that our clients take our group classes, since this environment creates a sense of community while providing you with an opportunity to learn from the questions and experiences of others. However, we do realize this is sometimes not possible or desired. The syllabus, similar to our group classes is an overview of the physical and emotional aspects of labor, complete natural pain coping techniques and pain medications and technology available. We will also discuss cesarean birth and prevention. Please refer to the overview for specific syllabus information. An advantage to the private sessions is that they can be tailored more specifically to the couple's individual needs.

Fees: The Comprehensive Childbirth Private Sessions are two 2.5 hour sessions, total of 5 hours. The fee is $110/hr or $550 total to have sessions with our Director. We also offer a package option with private childbirth classes in that you can take with a regularly scheduled Newborn Care Class and Breastfeeding class for the package fee of $90 for both. Breastfeeding and Newborn Care private sessions are $110 an hour.

For information about scheduling and cost of private sessions, please call a location or email us at info@realbirth.com.