Mamarama

Childbirth Classes and Information

My childbirth education classes are designed to take the stress and fear out of the birthing process and leave you feeling capable and empowered.

I have been working with couples through pregnancy and birth for the past four years. This previous year I have made my training more formal by joining the Childbirth Education Association of Metro New York (CEA/MNY). Their rigorous training program has provided me with additional skills via workshops, class audits and a mentoring program. I expect to achieve certification via this group in early 2012.

I am teaching childbirth education with the following approach:

Birth, for many first-time parents, can seem daunting and difficult to imagine. But the more you know and understand about the birth process, the more relaxed and comfortable you'll feel going into it. If you reach me early in your pregnancy we can discuss what your vision of birth is like and I’ll help you find a practitioner and facility in keeping with your wishes. You may want a birthing center, a hospital or a home birth – and each of these choices require knowledge and the ability to select your practitioner with care. My approach for teaching childbirth education is to help you become an informed consumer and to prepare you for what’s ahead.

The classes (private or group) will teach you:

  • Stages of labor and birth
  • Pain management and partner support
  • Medical procedures and interventions
  • Cesarean birth and prevention
Current Class Schedule for Winter 2012:

Please email me directly for information about private sessions.

Four Week Series (TBA) will begin at 6:30 pm and finish at 9:30 pm on Tuesdays - perfect for the working couple.  For some, the information about childbirth is best absorbed in smaller chunks. This also gives you a chance to create friendships with other couples who are having a baby around the same time.  Location:  Tribeca Parenting in Jersey City (same space as Tribeca Pediatrics.)

Weekend Intensive Series (2/11/12) will begin at 10:30 am and finish at 6:00 pm and run for two consecutive days. This class is the same 12 hours as the weekday class, but you can finish in one weekend instead of four weeks; perfect for couples who are closer to their due dates and need a more condensed series.  Location:  Tribeca Parenting in Jersey City

Email me directly:  Jayne@mamarama.tv
"I can't imagine NOT being educated for such a momentous event when your body is going through so much that you don't understand. It would be so much better if you knew what was going on." -- Judith Nolte, Editor-in-Chief of American Baby on why childbirth classes are important.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why do we need childbirth classes? After all, isn't birth something we just naturally know how to do?

Birth may be a natural process but that doesn't mean it comes naturally to all women. The more information you have about labor and delivery, the less intimidated by the process you will feel. Most women have not been present at a birth before - and even ones they may have watched on TV do not necessarily depict a typical birth process. Taking a childbirth class gives you the tools to understand your practitioner better and to have a clearer idea about what may or may not happen. For example: Will you know how to time contractions? When to leave for the hospital? How to manage pain throughout the labor or before you receive an epidural?

When is the best time to take childbirth classes? And will my insurance cover it?

The best time to take a class is in the beginning of your third trimester, but you can speak to me about fitting into the existing schedule, starting in 2011. Ideally, I'd like to speak with couples at the start of their pregnancy so they can receive some insight and counseling on what type of practitioner (OB or midwife) best suits them as well as the appropriate setting for their birth (i.e. home, hospital, birthing center.) Feel free to contact me early in your process. Most insurance carriers will not cover childbirth education classes; but you can submit an invoice and see if they'll cover part of the expense, just in case. Classes are often covered as part of your flex spending program, however.

Aren't childbirth classes really for people who want to have all-natural births, without pain medication?

Many of the couples I've worked with decide to utilize pain medication in the form of an epidural; some intend to do so, but don't have the opportunity to - some think they didn't want to but end up doing so anyway. The fact is no one can predict what your birth will be like; so it's best to be prepared for many different scenarios - just in case. Pain management is just one aspect of the birthing process and you will learn how to manage pain in different ways which include deep breathing, massage, and relaxation techniques. There are many other things you will want to learn about what's ahead, including newborn care and breastfeeding, for example.

Is your class like a Lamaze class where you teach different breathing techniques?

Lamaze and Bradley are particular methods of childbirth education, but are not specifically what I teach. Elements of both styles are present in my class, however.  My approach is more of a "balanced blend" where the focus is on the birth process and all that comes with it, from the physiological to the emotional.

How are your classes different from the ones taught at my local hospital?

Hospital classes are typically more crowded and consequently cover less information. Sometimes they are required to follow the protocols dictated by the hospital itself, so you may not be getting the entire unbiased picture. You have rights as a patient and consumer; in my class I help you recognize what is within your rights to request concerning your birth. I will also teach you how to discuss these topics with your practitioner (or hospital staff) in a productive and respectful manner.

I'm pregnant with my second child and feel like I might need a refresher course, should I take your class?

I love working with parents who have already birthed. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, birth does not unfold the way we expected it to.  Many women look for a different experience the second or third time around, whether it's for a VBAC or simply because they have a clearer idea about how they'd like to approach the second birth.  Even if you already know the stages of labor or how to time contractions, it's always helpful to reinforce that information. I will also focus on how to involve and include your older child into this new experience of being the "big sibling."  You can schedule private sessions with me so that the content is tailored to your needs and parental obligations or you can join the group and make some friends who are delivering around the same time as you are.

My husband doesn't see why he has to attend classes with me - does he?

I certainly wouldn't want to force anyone to take classes against his will, but you have to ask him what he'd like his role to be, if any? You might want to enlist the help of a female friend or relative or even hire a doula (labor support) to be with you during your labor and to take classes with you. You also might want to use the analogy of consumer electronics with your husband. For example, if he were buying a new camera or television, wouldn't he want to do his research and make the best possible selection from the choices available? Understanding the labor and birthing process is not so different; the more you know, the better choices you can make and the more positive the outcome can be. In addition to that idea is the notion that support you receive from your partner is an extremely valuable way for him to participate in the process.