Childbirth and Parenting Classes in the Seattle Area

 

The charts below list the childbirth and parenting classes I am aware of. Although I try to keep this information up-to-date, please contact the providers directly for the most up-to-date information. If you would like a general overview of information about what is covered in childbirth classes, why they’re worth taking, how to choose a class, and questions to ask in choosing a class, see www.transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/parented/birthclasses.htm.

 

Understanding the terms in the charts: the Birth Prep column includes 1) “series” of classes, which may or may not include newborn care (NC) and/or breastfeeding (BF), 2) L&B, which cover info on Labor and Birth only; 3) Refreshers, for parents who have already had a baby. It also notes how many sessions the class is split over (e.g. 8 hrs/4 wks would mean a class that met for 8 hours total, over 4 weeks. (For example, two hours per session, on four Tuesdays in a row).

Almost all class fees cover two people: typically, the expectant mother, and a support person of her choice. Fees for CPR classes and Conscious Fathering may only cover one adult. * = can accept Medicaid medical coupon as payment.

 

Most Recommended Program – Great Starts Birth & Family Education

Fair disclosure: I am an instructor at Great Starts, so I am not unbiased in my recommendation!

However, I truly believe that we do an excellent job of educating expectant couples about all of the options available to them, and empowering them to make the choices that are best for them and their families. Good for all types of parents: whether birthing at a hospital, birth center, or home; planning “natural” birth or planning epidural; and all diverse family structures. Instructors incorporate aspects of Lamaze, Birthing from Within, ALACE, ICEA and other training methods so parents can choose the techniques that work best for them.

 

Birth Prep **

Newborn Care (NC) Breastfeeding (BF)

CPR and Safety

Family preparation

Others

www.greatstarts.org

(206)789-0883

Classes on Capitol Hill, Rainier,  Northgate, Edmonds, Monroe, Bellevue, Burien, Bainbridge

Series (includes NC, BF, reunion):

·  7 wks / 14 hrs or 4 wks/ 14 hrs, $180*.

·  With Penny Simkin. 8 wks/ 17 hrs, $250*.

·  Hypno-birthing, 5 wks / 15 hrs, $180.

·  Lamaze 8 wks $200.

L&B: 8 hrs, $125

Refresher 3 hrs $45

Included in series.

Or, $30 each.

Happiest Baby on the Block. $45.

Adoptive Baby Care $30.

Babysafe $40

CPR $40

Vaccinations - $40

Conscious Fathering $30

Sibling Prep - $25

Planning for Pregnancy $40

Early Pregnancy - $35

Working w/ Labor Pain $45

 

 

Other Community Based Classes

Some of these are targeted at parents planning a birth without pain medications (whether at a hospital, birth center, or home) – see their websites to learn more.

 

Organization/Teacher / Location / “Method”

Birth Prep **

Newborn Care (NC) Breastfeeding (BF)

Others

Big Belly Services Eastlake/Seattle

Birthing from Within

L&B: 21 hrs/7wks $250. 19 hr weekend intensive $250. Lesbian weekend $225. Refresher 8 hrs, $100.  VBAC, 8 hrs, $100

After-Birth Series. 9 hrs/3 wks: NC, BF, and postpartum $120. (or $45 for one class)

Early Pregnancy – at Great Starts

Cloth Diaper Class $25

Wearing your Baby $45

New Moon Birth. (Sharon Muza) Lamaze. Seattle / Fremont

Labor Your Way, Labor Coping Techniques that Work, 4 hrs, $65. VBAC 8 hrs. $100

 

Birthing Inn / Tacoma

Birthing from Within

L&B: 15 hrs/5 wks - $160*. 8 hrs/1day $160*. VBAC, 3 hrs, $75

NC $60    BF $60

Life After Baby $60

 

Birth Zone / Liz Chalmers / Redmond

Focus on non-drug coping techniques

L&B 19.25 hrs/7 wk - $200. 6 wk $175. 5 wk $150. Refresher, 4 hr, $25

 

 

Rosalys Peel / Lamaze

Lamaze Getaway Weekend at a B&B on Kitsap Peninsula: includes L&B, NC, BF, and postpartum / couples relationship. $350 plus room cost

 

Bradley classes. Various instructors teach in their homes. Directory. Bradley.

Series: 20 hrs/10 wks. $275 for Betsy Hoffmeister’s series in Seattle. Also check out Jennifer Baxter’s series in Kitsap/ Pierce County.

 

 

Patti Ramos - Tacoma

L&B: 18 hrs/2 days $285. Refresher, 9 hrs $185

 

Waterbirth, 2.5 hrs, $125

 

I don’t know these instructors personally, so can not attest to the quality of their classes.

 

Organization/Teacher / Location / “Method”

Birth Prep **

Newborn Care (NC) Breastfeeding (BF)

Others

Sara Farthing / South Puget Sound

Birthing from Within

6 wks $150

 

 

Linda Ware / Seattle / Birthways. (206)

463-9572 or (800) 882-3559 linda@empathybelly.org

10 wks / 30 hrs  $295. (includes BF, NC, and a postpartum reunion

 

 

 

Hospital –Based Classes

(Contact information and websites. Summary of advantages and disadvantages of hospital classes versus community based classes.) 

 

Hospital / Location

Birth Prep **

Newborn Care (NC) Breastfeeding (BF)

CPR and Safety

Family preparation

Others

Package

Auburn Regional Medical Center, Auburn

Series includes BF and NC: 14 hrs/7 wks or 8 hrs/1 day $135*.

L&B: 7.5 hrs/3 wks, $100*

Newborn class, 2 hrs, $20 (or take series)

Breastfeeding, 2 hours, $20

Car seat class. Free

Conscious Fathering, $20. Big Brothers and Sisters (sibling prep), $20, ages 3 and up.

Bates Technical College. Bates, Madigan, Tacoma General

L&B 13.75 hrs/5 wks $90*. Condensed class 2 days - $83*. Intensive – 8.5 hrs in one day - $78. Hypno-birthing, 16 hrs, $83

NC, 3 hrs, $37

BF, 2.75 hrs. $15, or free with a birth class

Conscious Fathering, 3 hrs, $35.

Sibling Prep, $30

Multiples, 2 hrs, $40.

Massage for Pregnancy, 2 hrs, $40

Enumclaw Community Hospital (info current as of 3/08)

L&B: 10 hrs/5 wks, $75*

Baby care classes, 2 sessions

Young mom’s class, for moms 13 – 20.

 

Evergreen in Kirkland

L&B: 10 hrs/5 wks, 10hrs/2 days, or 6 hrs/1 day, $120*. L&B with multiples, $75. Hypno-birthing, 5 session, $135. Refresher, 4 hrs, $50

A Day about Babies, 5 hrs, $75.

Infant Feeding & pumping, 2 hrs, $35

Life with multiples, 2.5 hrs, $35

Happiest Baby on the Block, 2 hrs, $60.

Car Safe Kids, free.

Dads Only, 2 hrs, $20. Conscious Fathering, $40. For Siblings, 90 minutes, $25. Expecting a Grandbaby, 1.5, $25.

Pondering Parenthood. Free.

Advanced Labor Coping skills, 2 evenings, $50. Postpartum, $25. Bringing Baby Home, 14 hrs, $125. Pelvic Health, 2 hrs, $20.

 

Group Health.

Classes taught by Great Starts (see above). www.greatstarts.org or (206)789-0883

Highline in Burien

 

Series includes

BF. 4 wk, 6 wk, or 2 days. $135* if birth at Highline, $150 for others. Includes breastfeeding.

Offered in Spanish

Preparation for Breastfeeding, $20.

 

Conscious Fathering, $20; Kangaroo Kapers (Siblings) $20

Northwest Hosp

Classes taught by Great Starts (see above). www.greatstarts.org or (206)789-0883

Overlake in Bellevue (classes also in Issaquah)

Some classes are limited to clients planning to birth at Overlake.

Series includes NC: 14 hrs / 7 wks, $105.*

10.5 hrs / 5 wk, $95/120 if not delivering at Overlake. Or Friday night, Sat, and Sun. $105. Expecting Multiples, 2 hrs, $60. Refresher, 5 hrs / 2 nights. $60.

Breastfeeding, 2 hours, $35.

Happiest Baby on the Block - $60.

CPR and Safety Proofing^ $30.

Car Safe Kids free.

Conscious Fathering^, $30. Siblings are Special (age 3.5 – 7) $25. Grandparenting^ $30.

Planning for Pregnancy, free.

Breathing and Relaxation Booster, $30. Bringing Baby Home, $150. You and Your New Baby – 5 wks, $45*. Support Group. Infant Massage^ $25.

$175 for birth prep, breastfeeding, and You & Your New Baby

Providence in Everett .

L&B: 8 hrs / 4 wks or 8 hrs / 2 wks, $95. Refresher, 4 hrs / 2 wks, $50

Newborn Care – 2 hrs, $30

Feeding your Baby, 2 hrs, $30

Infant Safety and CPR $30. Car Seats - $30.

New Dads, 2 hrs, $30

Siblings age 3 – 6, 1 hour, $20.

Mid-Pregnancy – 2 hrs $30

Practical Skills for Labor – 2 hours, $30. Planned cesarean 2 hrs, $30.

 

Stevens in Edmonds

Classes taught by Great Starts, but registration through Stevens. http://stevenshospital.netreturns.biz/Events/Default.aspx

Offer childbirth prep series, labor & birth, siblings classes. See prices under Great Starts above.

Swedish – classes in Ballard, Seattle, Issaquah

L&B^:  8 hrs (in 1 day, 2 day, or 4 weeks): $95*. 12 hrs / 6 wks $105*.

Multiples (includes NC & BF): $165.

Refresher - $80 6 hrs, includes sibling class.

Newborn Care^ – 3 hours, $45. Breastfeeding^, 2.5 hours, $40.

NC & BF combo – 6 hrs, $85

Happiest Baby on the Block $45.

Infant CPR and Safety^ – 3 hrs, $40.

Car Seat $35.

Conscious Fathering^, 3 hrs $45

Sibling Prep - $20.

Grandparent^, $35

Early Pregnancy^, $25.

Coping w/Confidence^ 2 hrs $35

Postpartum Prep^, 2 hrs, $40. Bringing Baby Home $150

Planned Cesarean, $45

 

Welcome Baby package $250 includes classes marked with ^

UWMC - Seattle

Series includes BF: 12 hrs / 6 wks or Saturday and Sunday.

$110*  Expecting Multiples: 6 class series, 12 hrs for $200, or $40 per class.

Baby Care Basics, 2 nights, 5 hours. $60. Breastfeeding beyond the basics, 2 hrs, $35.

Infant CPR & Safety, 3 hours, $50.

 

Preventing Preterm Birth: 2.5 hours, free.

 

Valley General – Monroe

 Classes taught by Great Starts (see above). www.greatstarts.org or (206)789-0883

Valley Medical in Renton

Series includes BF & NC: 15 hrs / 6 weeks or Saturday / Sunday. $195*  May offer classes in Spanish. Refresher, 2.5 hr, $45

Breastfeeding and the Working Mother , 2 hrs, $25^.

Infant / Child  CPR - $40

Home and Car Safety, $35^.

Conscious Fathering, $25. Sibling class, $30. Expecting a Grandbaby $35.

Relaxation and comfort for labor, $35^.  More than One (multiples), $45.

First Baby Package $195, includes birth class, and one ^’ed

 

 

Other Birth Classes

Spanish language may be available at: UWMC, Valley, Highline, Auburn

Japanese: There is a Japanese speaking midwife in Kirkland, she may teach childbirth education. Sachiko Oshio, Nadeshiko Clinic, www.nadeshikoclinic.com (206)354-7045

Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese. Contact Tina Vuong, LM. (425)747-0080

 

Hypno-Birthing

Barb Decker – see Great Starts

Nancy Allin. www.hypnosisforbirth.com 

Debbie Wagner, www.withinthemiracle.com/

Phyllis Moses, http://www.hypnobirthingandyoga.com/  (425)814-4702

 

Natural Birth Classes in Bellingham: Beth Arcese: www.naturalbirthsupport.com/

 

Private Classes.

Many of the organizations above offer private classes, typically done in your home (or at the hospital for moms on hospital bedrest) at a mutually agreeable time. Check their websites or contact them for details.

Parents who may choose private classes: moms on bed rests, couples with complicated work schedules, families with emotional difficulties related to the birth (e.g. a pregnancy after an infant loss, a history of sexual abuse that affects their ability to cope with this birth preparation, etc.), and the occasional celebrity who doesn’t want to disrupt a group class by attending.

Some educators also only offer private classes. Here are a few:

Debra Shelden, Eastside Doula Care. 4 sessions, each lasting two hours. $200. www.eastsidedoulacare.com/Private%20Childbirth%20Education.htm

Jodilyn Owen. 3 meetings. 2 hours each. $70 www.seattlebirthnet.com/childbirthed.html

Kristina Chamberlain, CNM, IBCLC. $200. http://www.kristinacnm.com/Classes.php

 

Other Classes of Interest to Expectant / New Parents

Barks and Babes: Bringing a Baby into a home with a dog. www.dogsdayoutseattle.com

Let’s Talk about Sleep: third Monday of each month, 12 – 2 pm, Birth & Beyond. $10. For parents of babies 1 – 12 months old

Mommy Matters, group for mothers of toddlers. 6 weeks. $150? $200? Pre-registration required. North Seattle.

 

 

Back to Seattle Area Resources

 

 

Document updated 03/10. For the most current information, please go directly to websites for each organization.

If you know of any needed updates, email me at janelyntemp@hotmail.com

Janelle Durham, 2010. (About me)