Childbirth and Parenting Classes in the Seattle Area
For
lots more 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
**In
the charts, the Birth Prep column includes 1) “series” of classes, which may 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 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: hospital or home birth, planning
“natural” birth or planning epidural, 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 |
|
|
(206)789-0883 Classes
on Capitol Hill, Eastlake, Northgate, Edmonds, Bellevue, Burien, Bainbridge |
Series
(includes NC, BF, reunion): 14 hrs / 7 wks, 14 hrs /
4 wks, $170*. With
Penny Simkin $250*. Hypno-birthing
$170. L&B:
8 hrs, $120* 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
May be best for those planning on birthing
without pain medication, at a hospital, home, or birth center.
|
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 $225. 19
hr weekend intensive $225. Lesbian weekend $225. Refresher 7 hrs, $100. VBAC, 7 hrs, $100 |
After-Birth Series. 9 hrs/3
wks: NC, BF, and postpartum $120. (or $45 for one class) |
Early Pregnancy – at Great
Starts Diaper Free Class $25 Carrying your Baby $35 |
|
Birthing Inn / Tacoma Birthing
from Within |
L&B: 15 hrs/5 wks -
$160*. 8 hrs/1day $160. Refresher, 4 hrs, $95 |
NC $60 BF $60 Life After Baby $60 |
|
|
Sara Farthing
/ South Puget Sound Birthing
from Within |
6 wks $150 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
Sarah Smith.
Tacoma. Birthing from W/in |
L&B: 10 hrs / 5 wks.
$160 |
|
|
|
Bradley
classes. Various instructors teach in their homes. Directory.
Bradley. |
Series: 20 hrs/10 wks. $275
for Betsy Hoffmeister’s series |
|
|
|
Patti Ramos - Tacoma |
L&B: 18 hrs/2 days $285.
Refresher, 9 hrs $185 |
|
Waterbirth, 2.5 hrs, $125 |
|
L&B (I can birth) 9
hrs/6wks $180 |
|
|
|
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 |
6 week, 12 hours, $90* |
|
First Aid / CPR: $40 Car seats. Free |
|
|
|
|
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/ |
|
Heather
DeZort, Gentle Beginnings. http://gentlebeginningsdoula.com/classes.html
|
|
Lori
Shen, www.lorishen.com/hypnobabies.htm
|
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
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
Back to Seattle Area Resources
Document updated 04/09. 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, 2009.