Childbirth-Related
Class Offerings in the
This
page is designed to be a fairly comprehensive list of classes related to
childbirth preparation and early parenting (breastfeeding, CPR, newborn care, and
more). I have noted some of the particular strengths of the individual or the
organization, to help guide you in choosing the best class for you. 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
Most Recommended Program
|
Childbirth Prep |
Baby Care |
Other Programs |
|
|
Great
Starts Birth & Family Education. www.greatstarts.org or www.cmiregistration.com/user/org/category__org__590.htm
or (206)789-0883. Classes on Capitol
Hill, in Eastlake, Northgate, Edmonds, Redmond, Burien, and Bainbridge. Strengths:
diverse organization, committed to 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 backgrounds. |
14
hour series include Breastfeeding and Newborn Care - $160*. (Penny Simkin teaches
an 8 week series - $250) Labor
and Birth only, 7 hours - $110*. Refresher (includes VBAC) – 3 hours,
$40. Working with Labor Pain, 3 hrs,
$40 |
Breastfeeding
and Newborn Care are included in series. Or can be taken separately:
Breastfeeding, 2 hours, $30. Newborn Care – 2 hours, $30. Happiest Baby on
the Block. $45. |
Sibling
– 1 hr, age 2.5 and up, $20. Babysafe (includes
overview of CPR) – 3 hours, $40. Infant & Child CPR (for certificate) 3
hours, $40. Private childbirth prep (in your home or at their office): $50
per hour. Early Pregnancy, 2.5 hours, $35.Planning for Pregnancy, $40.
Vaccinations - $40. |
Fair
disclosure: I am the program coordinator for Great Starts, so I am not unbiased
in my recommendation! However, I truly believe that we do an excellent job of
providing unbiased education which helps to provide a diverse array of
expectant parents with the tools they need to prepare for labor, birth, and
early parenting. But, in the interest of informed choice, here are all the
other options.
Other Community Based Classes:
Comprehensive Programs
|
Organization / Teacher / Location |
Childbirth Prep |
Baby Care |
Other Programs |
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|
Big Belly Services / Seattle (Capital Hill) Strengths:
Good for those planning home births or unmedicated births. Uses discussion,
art, and other “right-brain” techniques to help people explore birth, and
discover their own abilities. |
7 wks, 21 hours - $225 per couple. Weekend intensive, 19 hours - $225. Lesbian weekend $225. Birthin’ Again Refresher – 7 hours, $75. VBAC – 7 hours $75 |
After-Birth Series: 3 wks, 9 hrs. Newborn Care, Breastfeeding, and Postpartum. $100 for all 3 classes, or $35 for 1 |
Early Pregnancy Seminar – taught at Great Starts. Diaper Free Class. 2 hours $25. Carrying your Baby $35. |
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|
Birthing
from Within / Palmer Scheutzow / Tacoma. Strengths:
similar to Big
Belly Services. |
6
wks, 15 hrs - $150.* 1 day, 8 hrs, $150. Birthin
Again Refresher, 4 hrs, $100 |
Breastfeeding,
$50. |
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|
Birth
Zone / Liz Chalmers / Redmond |
7
week 19.25 hrs - $200, 5 wk 13.75 - $150.
Refresher, 4 hr |
|
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|
Bates Technical College: Classes at Bates, Madigan, and Tacoma General |
Childbirth
Preparation. 13.75 hrs over 5 weeks. $90*. Condensed class – 17 hours over 2
days, $83.00*. Intensive – 8.5 hours in one day, $51* (also available in
Spanish). Weekend getaway at a B&B: $545. |
Breastfeeding
Success: $15 (or free with a childbirth class). Newborn Basics, 3 hrs $37. |
Cesarean,
2 hours, $33. Multiples $33. Sibling Preparation $27. Grandparenting
$33. 4
day hypnobirthing, 16 hours, $83. Private classes,
4 hours for $265. Conscious Fathering 3 hours, $35 per dad. Massage for
Pregnancy, 2 hours, $33 |
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|
Gracewinds ( Strengths:
Gracewinds also offers fitness classes, massage
therapy, doulas, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and cranio-sacral
work. $290 package covers birth prep, breastfeeding, newborn care, Safety, and Conscious Fathering. |
7 two-hour sessions, $240, includes newborn care and breastfeeding. 5 weeks without baby care - $160. Or 2 4.5-hour Saturdays - $160 |
Newborn Care – 2 hours. $40. Breastfeeding –2 hours. $40. |
Sibling class. Infant massage, 4 week session - $85. Infant Safety and CPR, 2 hours, $40. CPR certification, $50. Signing with your baby class - $72.50 for 4-week series. Foundations for Fatherhood, $30 |
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|
Parent
Power Project, Jennifer Roney-Aguilar |
From
Pain to Power, 3.5 hours, $75. 5 weeks, $150 |
Breastfeeding,
2 hours, $45, Baby Basics, 2 hours, $45 |
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|
Rosalys
Peel, http://herbertholeman.com/lamazegetaway/
(206)
842-8059 |
Lamaze
Getaway weekend, $350 plus room cost |
|
Also
does childbirth classes on Bainbridge Island |
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|
The
Art of Birthing – Sarah Smith – Birthing from Within. South
end of |
6 2-hour sessions, $175. 4 2.5 hour sessions $125, 2 7.5 hour sessions $150 |
|
Babywearing, 2 hrs, $25 |
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|
Bradley
classes. Various instructors and locations. (To find one, try
www.bradleybirth.com/info_request.asp.)
Strengths: nutrition and healthy pregnancy focus,
focus on husband-coached childbirth. Strongly discourages medical
interventions. |
Typically,
8 – 12 week long series. The currently practicing instructor that I know of
is Betsy Hoffmeister. She teaches a 10 week / 20
hour series for $275, limited to 4 couples. More: http://www.hoffmeisters.com/bradley/default.htm |
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Patti Ramos – Tacoma |
Birth
Preparation, 19 hours over 2 days, $265. Labor Tools & Techniques,
(Refresher) 7.5 hours, $175. Waterbirth Class – 2 hours,
$75. |
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|
I
Can Birth. 9 hours over 6 weeks, $180 Belly
Dance for Pregnancy, 1 hour, $16 |
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Dr. Brandy Ross, ND, LM. Moonrise Health and Birth, Lynnwood |
Childbirth
preparation classes for lesbian and bisexual women. |
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* will also accept medical coupons as payment
Hospital –Based Classes. (Contact information and websites, summary of advantages and disadvantages of hospital classes versus community based classes.)
|
Hospital |
Birth Prep |
Newborn Care |
Breastfeeding |
Family class |
Others |
Package |
|
|
Childbirth Prep, 7 weeks, 14 hours total, $135*; also in Spanish, also for teens/young parents. Includes baby care & feeding. One Day, 8 hours or 3 weeks, for 7.5 hours total, labor and birth only, $100* |
Newborn Class, 2 hours, $20
|
Breastfeeding, 2 hours, $20 |
Big Brothers and Sisters, $20, ages 3 and up. Conscious Fathering, $20. |
Pregnancy
and diabetes education series. Car seat class. Free |
|
|
|
Childbirth Prep $75.* (5 weeks, 2 hours per week) |
Baby Care classes, 2 sessions. |
|
|
Young mom’s class, for moms 13 – 20 who are pregnant or have had baby New mom’s class: offered weekly, parents of 0 – 3 month olds. |
|
|
Evergreen
in
|
Childbirth
preps: 5 wks, 10 hrs, $100. (Teen childbirth prep option). Fast-track, 2 days,
10 hrs, $140. Labor and birth with multiples, 2 sessions, $75. Also hypnobirthing, 5 session, $125. Labor & Birth
Refresher course, 4 hours $50 |
Life with Multiples, 2.5 hrs, $35. A Day about Babies, 5 hrs, $75 |
Infant Feeding & pumping, 2 hrs, $35 |
Dads Only, 2 hrs, $20. Expecting a Grandbaby, 1.5, $25. For Siblings, 90 minutes, $25 for first child, $5 per additional. |
Practice
only: Labor Coping skills, 2 hrs, $35. Pondering
Parenthood. Free. Happiest Baby on the Block, 2 hrs, $60. Postpartum, $25. Pelvic Health, 2 hrs, $20. Car Safe Kids, free. Exploring child care, 2 hrs, $35. Bringing Baby Home, 14 hrs, $125 |
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|
Group Health. |
Classes taught by Great Starts (see above). www.greatstarts.org or (206)789-0883 |
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Highline
in Burien |
Childbirth
Prep, 4 wk, 6 wk, 2 days, or 1 day. $105* if birth at Highline, $115 for
others. Offered in Spanish. |
|
Preparation for Breastfeeding, $20. |
Conscious Fathering, $20. Kangaroo Kapers (siblings) $20. Grandparents, Family & Friends $20. |
Prenatal yoga, pregnancy aquatics, |
Package: birth prep, 2 other classes. $135 if
birthing at Highline, $150 others. |
|
|
Childbirth
Prep, 4 sessions / 8 hrs, $115. 6 wk includes newborn care and breastfeeding:
$195. Weekend intensive, $125. |
Newborn
Care, $40, 2 hours |
Breastfeeding
Basics, $35, 2 hours |
Foundations
for Fatherhood, $30, 2.5 hrs |
Infant
Safety / CPR $40, 2 hrs, students do not receive certification card |
All
classes $245 |
|
Overlake
in Some
classes are limited to clients planning to birth at Overlake. |
Preparation
for Childbirth and Newborn Care – 7 wks / 14 hrs. $105*. 5 wk, 10 hrs, $95/115. Or weekend class:
Friday night, Sat, and Sun. $105 |
Newborn
Care 2.5 hours $25 (included in birth series) |
Breastfeeding,
2 hours, $35. |
Conscious
Fathering^, $30. Siblings are Special (age 3.5 – 7) $25. Grandparenting^
$30. |
Refresher,
2 nights / 5 hours total. $45. Expecting Multiples, 2 hrs, $30. You and Your
New Baby – 5 wks, $45*. Support Group. Infant Massage^ $25. Infant CPR and
Safety Proofing^ $30. Car Safe Kids free. Planning for Pregnancy, free. |
5
classes for $195 or 225: Birth,
newborn care, b’fdg, plus 2 of ^’ed options |
|
|
4 week, 8 hrs, $95. 2 wk, 8hrs, $95. Refresher, 2 wks, 4 hrs, $50 |
Newborn Care – 2 hrs, $30 |
Feeding your Baby, 2 hrs, $30 |
Siblings 3 – 6, 1 hour, $20. New Dads, 2 hrs, $30 |
Refresher – 3 hrs, $45. Infant massage, 3 one-hour classes, $30. Infant Safety and CPR $30. Car Seats and Kids - $30. Coping Skills for Labor, 2 hrs, $30. Planned cesarean 2 hrs, $30 |
|
|
Stevens
in |
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. |
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|
Swedish |
4
week (8 hours), or 6 weeks (12 hours) $105.* Seminar, one or two days, 8
hours: $95.* Spanish 1 day? |
Newborn Care – 3 hours, $45. |
Breastfeeding, 2.5 hours, $40. |
Grandparents, $40. Sibling Preparation - $20. Conscious Fathering^, 3 hrs $45 |
Refresher - $80 for 6 hours, includes sibling class. Private: $150 /home visit, $100 clinic visit, for 3 hours. Infant CPR and Safety – 3 hrs, $40. Coping with Confidence^, 2 hrs, $35. Postpartum Prep, 2 hrs, $35. Planned Cesarean, $45 |
Baby Club $199 includes birth, b’fdg, newborn care, plus ^’ed options. |
|
Newborn Prep (N. Care and Breastfeeding combined) – 6 hours, $70. |
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|
UWMC |
6 weeknights, or a Saturday and Sunday, 12 hrs, $110*. Spanish Childbirth Prep. Two Saturdays, 10 hours. $110. Include breastfeeding basics. |
Baby Care Basics, 2 nights, 5 hours. $60. |
Breastfeeding beyond the basics, 2 hrs, $35. Private bf ed, prenatal or postpartum, $45 per hour. |
|
Preventing Preterm Birth: 2.5 hours, free. Expecting Multiples: 6 class series, 12 hrs for $200, or $40 per class. Infant CPR & Safety, 3 hours, $40. Private childbirth $50 per hour. Breathe & Relax 201: 3.5 hours, $40. |
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Valley General – Monroe |
6 week, 12 hours, $75* |
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Choosing and Using a Car Seat – 1 hour, pre-reg. Free. |
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Valley
Medical in |
6 weeks, 15 hrs, or Saturday 9 – 5, Sunday 9-2: $185 Covers
labor and birth, newborn care, and breastfeeding basics. Offers classes in Spanish |
Breastfeeding and the Working Mother , 2 hrs, $15^. |
Expecting a Grandbaby $25. Sibling class and tour, $20. Here comes daddy, $15^. Home and Car Safety, $25^. More than One (multiples), $35. |
Refresher, 2.5 hrs, $35. Planning for pregnancy, free. Care during pregnancy (early pg) $25; Adopting an Infant or Child, $50. Relaxation and comfort for labor, $25^. |
First Baby Package $185, includes birth class, and one ^’ed |
|
Non
– English classes
Spanish language: 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
|
Nancy Allin. www.hypnosisforbirth.com |
|
Sue
Lingle and Phyllis Moses www.seattlehypnobirthing.org/
|
|
Debbie Wagner, www.withinthemiracle.com/ |
|
Heather
DeZort, Gentle Beginnings. http://gentlebeginningsdoula.com/classes.html
|
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Lori
Shen, www.lorishen.com/hypnobabies.htm
|
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 are: moms on bedrest
or with medical complications that make it hard to attend regular classes,
parents with very complicated work schedules that make it difficult to attend
regular classes, 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. Sometimes
people have a group of friends that are all expecting a baby around the same
time, and they put together their own special group class.
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
Document updated 1/08. 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