CHOICES IN CHILDBIRTH--Prepared Childbirth Class Options

~CHOICES IN CHILDBIRTH~

TO CREATE A JOYOUS AND EMPOWERING BIRTH EXPERIENCE... ATTEND PREPARED CHILDBIRTH CLASSES.

Childbirth education classes are extremely useful for helping expectant couples learn about the entire childbirth process as well as various techniques and comfort strategies for dealing with the pain of labor and birth. If taught appropriately, the classes may also give you a clearer picture of the philosophy of the birth center or hospital you are having your baby at, and insight into the various policies or protocol for giving birth in that setting.

There are many different types of childbirth classes, so it is important to find a class series that will prepare you properly for the birth setting you have chosen, as well as offering you specific ideas of the various medical interventions you may or may not encounter during your birth.

Many hospital-based childbirth classes offer a standard series of classes that reflect the philosophy of the hospital they service. These classes are typically taught by registered nurses that work in that hospital's Labor and Delivery department.

If you--as a consumer seeking to create a more unique birth experience-- are interested in learning more about alternative methods of childbirth preparation, you may need to seek out an independent childbirth group or instructor that focuses on a more consumer-oriented teaching approach.

Call the registration office of the group that offers the classes you are interested in and ask for a copy of their class syllabus or curriculum so that you may look over the topics that are covered in classes. Ask for references from previous students so that you may call them and find out their opinions of the instructors and course content.

There are many different groups that certify Childbirth Educators, and these groups offer many different philosophies and approaches to childbirth education.

ALACE--ASSOCIATION OF LABOR ASSISTANTS AND CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS

BIRTHING FROM WITHIN®

BIRTHWORKS®

THE BRADLEY METHOD®

CAPPA--CHILDBIRTH AND POSTPARTUM PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION

HYPNOBIRTHING

ICEA--INTERNATIONAL CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

LAMAZE INTERNATIONAL (FORMERLY "ASPO LAMAZE")

ALACE--ASSOCIATION OF LABOR ASSISTANTS AND CHILDBIRTH EDUCATORS
ALACE-certified Childbirth Educators are members of ALACE, have completed their Childbirth Educator Certification Program, and have passed a certifying exam given by ALACE. The ALACE Childbirth Assistant Training was developed based on the midwifery model of care, and was previously offered by Informed Homebirth/ Informed Birth and Parenting. Over 2400 women have taken the training since it began in 1983, making it the most experienced training program in North America. ALACE philosophy is to help expectant parents develop confidence and trust in the birth process by stressing psychological preparation and informed decision- making in addition to labor coping skills.

For a list of ALACE-Certified Childbirth Educators in your area, contact:

Association of Labor Assistants and Childbirth Educators (ALACE)
P.O. Box 382724
Cambridge, MA 02238
Ph. 617-441-2500

Web Site: http://www.alace.org

Email: alacehq@aol.com

BIRTHING FROM WITHIN®

Birthing from Within®--Certified Childbirth Educators have completed their Childbirth Educator Certification Program, and may complete up to three levels of training through their workshops.

Birthing From Within mentors (teachers) believe that childbirth is a profound rite of passage, not a medical event (even when medical care is part of the birth). They teach parents the power of birthing-in-awareness, even when their birth experience is not what they had anticipated. They teach about birth from four perspectives: mother, father, baby and culture. They help parents build a pain-coping mindset so they may fully participate in birth's rite of passage.

For a list of Birthing From Within (BFW) Certified Childbirth Educators in your area, contact:

Birthing From Within

P.O. Box 4528

Albuquerque NM 87106

Ph (505) 254-4884

Web Site: http://www.birthingfromwithin.com

Email: contact@birthingfromwithin.com

BIRTHWORKS®
Birth Works®--Certified Childbirth Educators are members of Birth Works®, have completed their Childbirth Educator Certification Program, and have passed a certifying exam given by them. Birth Works® embodies a philosophy that develops a woman's self confidence and trust in her innate ability to give birth. The classes are experiential and provide both a physical and emotional preparation for birth. Birth Works® does not teach breathing patterns, but instead encourages slow deep breathing as one of many ways to promote relaxation and facilitate labor. Families are encouraged to take Birth Works® early in pregnancy, or even prior to pregnancy, as this is an optimal time for identifying and exploring beliefs about birth, interviewing caregivers, and choosing a birth place that feels safe. Birth Works® philosophy is as follows: Birth Works® believes that the knowledge about how to give birth already exists within every woman, and it is a process, not a method. Birth Works® recognizes that there is not one right way to labor and birth.

For a list of Birth Works®-Certified Childbirth Educators in your area, contact:

Birth Works® Inc.
P.O. BOX 2045,
Medford NJ 08055. USA
Ph.1-888-TO-BIRTH

Web Site: http://www.birthworks.org

Email: mailroom@birthworks.org

THE BRADLEY METHOD®
Bradley®-certified Childbirth Educators (BCCE's or AAHCC's) are members of the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth (AAHCC), have completed their Childbirth Educator Certification Program, and have passed a certifying exam given by AAHCC. The standard Bradley® series is designed for small classes with lots of individual attention. The standard length of the classes is 12 weeks covering 12 units of instruction. The Bradley Method® philosophy focuses on prenatal nutrition, natural childbirth, active participation by the husband, avoidance of drugs during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding, relaxation and natural breathing, "tuning in" to your own body, breastfeeding, and consumerism.

For a list of Bradley-Certified Childbirth Educators in your area, contact:

Bradley Method® (The American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth - AAHCC)
P.O. Box 5224
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
Ph. (800) 42-BIRTH or (818) 788-6662

Web Site: http://www.bradleybirth.com/
Email hathawayja@aol.com

CAPPA®-- Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association

CAPPA® is an international organization that provides training, certification and support to Childbirth Educators, Labor doulas, Postpartum doulas, Antepartum doulas and Lactation educators. CAPPA® also helps expectant parents and new parents locate these professionals.

For a list of CAPPA®-Certified Childbirth Educators (CCCE's) in your area, contact:

CAPPA®
310 SWEET IVY LANE
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA 30043

PHONE: 1-888-548-3672
FAX: 678-215-1516

Web Site: www.cappa.net

Email: info@cappa.net

HypnoBirthing®
The Mongan Method!

HypnoBirthing® - The Mongan Method! is a method of relaxed, natural childbirth education, enhanced by hypnosis techniques. HypnoBirthing® philosophy is that their method allows women to use their natural instincts to bring about a safer, easier, more comfortable birthing in a way that most mirrors nature. Emphasis is placed on both pregnancy and childbirth as well as on HypnoBirthing®. HypnoBirthing® is one of the most current birthing methods; it is as new as today and as old as ancient times. It is presented in five childbirth classes.

For a list of certified HypnoBirthing® Practitioners in your area, contact:

HypnoBirthing® Institute
Marie F. Mongan, M.Ed., M.Hy., HBCE

Jun 1 - Sep 15, P. O. Box 810, Epsom, N.H. 03234 USA, (603-798-4781)

Sep 15 - Jun 1, 10738 W. Citrus Grove, Avondale, AZ 85323 USA (623-772-7738)
Web Site: http://www.hypnobirthing.com

EMAIL:hypnobirthing@hypnobirthing.com

ICEA--INTERNATIONAL CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
ICEA-Certified Childbirth Educators (ICCE's) are members of ICEA, have completed their Childbirth Educator Certification Program, and have passed a certifying exam given by ICEA. ICEA's philosophy is "Freedom of choice, based on knowledge of alternatives".

For a list of ICEA-Certified Childbirth Educators (ICCE's) in your area, contact:

International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA)
P.O. Box 20048
Minneapolis, MN 55420
Ph. (612) 854-8660
Fax (612) 854-8772
Web Site: http://www.icea.org

Email: info@icea.org

LAMAZE INTERNATIONAL (FORMERLY "ASPO-LAMAZE")
Lamaze-Certified Childbirth Educators (LCCE's) are members of Lamaze International, have completed their Childbirth Educator Certification Program, and have passed a certifying exam given by Lamaze International. The Lamaze mission is to promote normal, natural, healthy and fulfilling childbearing experiences for women and their families through education, advocacy and reform.

For a list of Lamaze-Certified Childbirth Educators in your area, contact:

LAMAZE INTERNATIONAL
2025 M Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036-3309

PHONE:(202)367-1128, (800)368-4404

FAX:(202)367-2128

Web Site: http://www.lamaze.org/

Email: info@lamaze.org

At CHOICES IN CHILDBIRTH, I offer private, individualized Childbirth Preparation classes. I am an ICEA-Certified Childbirth Educator and the classes that I teach offer instruction for a consumer-oriented approach to giving birth, regardless of what setting you have chosen to give birth in.

I believe in individualized classes that focus on the different needs of each expectant couple. Private classes, held in either your home or mine offer comfort and privacy. I fully embrace my business philosophy that birth can be an empowering, positive and life-enhancing event--when the woman has educated and prepared herself for birth with knowledge of all of the choices available to her.

Since I am also a Birth Doula, the classes I offer also include teaching the pregnant woman's birth partner a great many hands-on comfort measures to assist her during labor.

For further information on class availability and prices, please contact my business office at (248) 835-5808 (M-F during office hours only, please) or email Victoria.

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