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 |
|
|
(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)