Week Four Childbirth Class – Postpartum Health, Expectations, and Breastfeeding

Comfort Postpartum
Sexuality and Family Relationships

**Exercise – Beliefs Quiz for Each Person

**Video of Breastfeeding Latch with Mothers

Breastfeeding
~Guest Father Speaker with Dads
Relaxation Practice: Visualization/Guided Imagery
Birth Plan/Birth Options

**Handout – Birth Plan Options, each person highlights important portions to them

**Video - Full Birth Video

Labor Rehearsal – Stations with Scenario Cards
Newborn Babies – What to Expect

Week Three Childbirth Class – Unexpected Labor Challenges, Common Interventions in Oklahoma area hospitals, and Relaxation Techniques

Discussion of Interventions and Childbirth Choices
Introduction Exercise – Terminology and Definitions Matching Game

Inductions

EFM

Epidural

Other Drug Options

Relaxation: Massage Demonstration

IV’s – 5 minutes

Episiotomy

*Demonstration – Cloth Fabric
Cesarean Birth/VBAC discussion
Unexpected Outcomes/Cascade of Interventions
~Exercise – Dad tied with yarn and ribbon

**Video – HillRom Video

Challenges of Labor
Relaxation: Words of Affirmation and Vocalization
~Exercise – Contraction Stretch Exercise and Discussion

Week Two Childbirth Class – Pregnancy Nutrition and Healthy Eating, Normal Labor Progression, and Commonly Helpful Comfort Measures

Opening Icebreaker – Nutrition Crossword Puzzle
Nutrition During Pregnancy

** Handouts – Nutrition, Eating for Two

Sneaky Ways to Add Protein

Keeping Track Bradley Worksheets (or Article Printout)

**Video – Healthy Journey Nutrition Portion

~Exercise – Have each mother write out foods she especially likes from each food group.
~Exercise – Daddy Belly Bag – Average Weight Gain.
Discussion of First Stage Labor
Teaching How to Time a Contraction
Relaxation – Breathing During Labor
~Practice Side-Lying Relaxation and Tense/Release
Discussion of Second Stage Labor and Pushing

** Video - Easy Birth Video

** Group Exercises – Three Scenarios and Questions

** Labor Stations – Each station has a card with position for laboring in. Each station has a card for partner to do to help her. One contraction at each station – 1 minute long and then switch.

Relaxation – Touch and Progressive Relaxation

Week One Class Outline – Pregnancy Exercises, Comfort Positions During Pregnancy, Basic Pregnancy Anatomy and Pregnancy Affirmations

Introduction and Class Overview

Alphabet Icebreaker
Exercise During Pregnancy
Basic Exercises During Pregnancy
Fun and Fast – 5 minute activity – Stretching series
Positioning During Pregnancy

Handout – Optimal Fetal Positioning

Other Pregnancy Changes

Video Healthy Journey – Fetal Development and Three Trimesters
Handout – Fetal Senses and Development, Article by Angela England
Handout – Sex During Pregnancy, Article by Angela England

Overview of Labor w/Pregnancy Anatomy
Visual – Baby Demo Doll – Pelvis and Knit Uterus

Labor Pain Discussion – pg 32-33 – 20 minutes

Handouts – What Initiates Labor

Hormones Driving Labor and Birth
How Stress Impacts Birthing Outcomes
Your Beautiful Uterus!
Sources of Pain During Labor

Discussing Gate Control and Fear-Tension-Pain
Basic Comfort Measures and Positions

Handouts – Positions for Labor and Birth
Love Languages During Labor

Birth Partner Checklist – All Methods of Relaxation and Coping
Exercise – Men and Women Do Separately – Love Languages
Discuss importance of birth partner support
Discuss Positive Attitude

Handout – Affirmations List

Many students wonder what they will learn during a childbirth class series. Here is a copy of the four-week class series outline so you can see all of the subjects covered by the lessons. You’ll see a wide mix of discussion, hands-on activities, videos and practice time making it easy for any learning style to participate.

Childbirth Classes in Southeast Oklahoma

• Week One Childbirth Class Outline – Icebreakers, exercise during pregnancy, fetal development, basic comfort measures and communication with your partner.
• Week Two Childbirth Class Outline – Pregnancy nutrition and healthy foods, first stage labor, timing contractions, second stage labor introduction, and relaxation practice.
• Week Three Childbirth Class Outline – Discussion of common interventions in McAlester, Durant and Ada Oklahoma hospitals; unexpected outcomes, cascade of intervention, words of affirmation and active labor positions
• Week Four Childbirth Class Outline – Postpartum comfort, family relationships, guest father speaker and breastfeeding discussion.

I also offer a more in-depth six week class series centrally located in Atoka, OK. Private class sessions are available and if you want to gather a group of your own I will travel to Durant, Ada, McAlester and other surrounding areas to teach a group of classes for you and your friends!