FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What you really want to know
IS THIS A "NATURAL BIRTH" CLASS?
The Birth Village Class aims to prepare parents for ANY kind of birth. Many of our parents come to our class to prepare for an unmedicated/low-intervention birth, and many come knowing that they want an epidural. This class emphasizes comfort measures, techniques to help labor progress, and how to communicate with your healthcare team to have the best possible birth experience.
I WANT TO TAKE THE CLASS, BUT I CAN'T COME ON MONDAYS. ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS FOR ME?
We want EVERY parent in our area to have the support and education they need! If Monday's don't work for you, get in touch. We are often able to work out a private class at a time that works for you, and we are piloting a self-paced, all online version of the class.
DOES YOUR CLASS HAVE A HOSPITAL TOUR?
Because our students plan to give birth in many different locations, and because we want to maximize learning time, we do not do a hospital tour. But we do encourage our parents who are planning to give birth at EAMC to participate in the "Baby Walk" tour of the Childbirth and Mother/Baby Units. You can learn more here.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME IN PREGNANCY TO TAKE THE CLASS?
There are advantages to taking the class earlier in your pregnancy, and there are advantages to taking it later. If you take the class earlier in your pregnancy (we still recommend waiting until at least 20 weeks), you'll have more time to do the exercises you learn in class and to put some of the other things you learn into practice. If you take the class closer to your due date, it may be easier for you to remember the things you've learned and apply them during birth and the postpartum time.