Cowichan Valley Childbirth Preperation classes differ from traditional childbirth education in that the focus is not just on the clinical stages of labour and a set pattern of breathing.  It is about developing a mindset that will help you cope with labour and birth. These classes will answer all your questions around the physiological aspects of labour and birth and they will give you some good pain-coping techniques to practice.  More importantly though they will address your personal concerns and assumptions that you hold around labour and birth and help you to reframe any negative images that you carry related to pregnancy, birth and parenthood.  Partners will also learn how the coming birth affects them as well, and how they can become a nurturing, active part of the process.

Topics Covered in our Childbirth Preparation Classes

Understanding Labour & Birth
When we understand labour and put trust in a woman’s natural ability to give birth then we are better able to relax and let nature take it’s course. In this first class we will explore how your body is naturally equipped to cope with labour and birth. We will also talk about any concerns that you have regarding pregancy, labour, birth and parenting.

Stages of Labour
A practical look at the changes your body is going through, both physically and emotionally as it passes through each stage of labour.

Comfort Measures & Labour Support
Learn and practice pain-coping techniques and how to create a supportive birth environment in the home or the hospital.

Variations of Labour, Informed Consent & Pain Medication
In this class we will discuss informed consent and look at what we can do when labour does not progress as planned.

Breastfeeding & Newborn Care
Breastfeeding may be natural, but it doesn't always come naturally. This class will provide you and your partner with information about the basics of breastfeeding. We will also cover basic baby care and become familiar with newborn emotional and physical needs and behaviour.

Transition to parenthood: baby proofing your relationship.
In our final class we will discuss your new life as a mother, couple and family and how to prepare for this life changing event.

“Women's bodies have near-perfect knowledge of childbirth; it's when their brains get involved that things can go wrong.” Peggy Vincent