Class 1 – Staying Healthy and Low Risk
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why a balanced diet with plenty of protein is important to a growing baby
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what harmful substances should be avoided during pregnancy
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conditioning exercises that will help prepare your body for giving birth
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introduction to relaxation and slow breathing
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plus, an overview of the physical birth process as a baseline of knowledge
Class 2 – Trusting the Normal Birth Process
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how do you know you are really in labor? what does a contraction feel
like?
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the stages of the normal birth process and why we should trust our bodies
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physical and emotional signposts that guide you along
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natural comfort measures and the importance of the support person’s role
Class 3 – Knowing Your Birth Options
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understanding your options and becoming an "informed medical consumer"
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the risks and benefits of common medical interventions and pain relief
medications
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plus, what happens if a cesarean is needed (25% of all births in Louisville
are surgical!).
Class 4 – Planning For Your Birth
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several birth videos will be shown to bring together everything you have
learned and help you begin to envision the type of birth experience you want
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tips for preparing your own birth plan
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the benefits of having a trained birth professional (birth doula) to
provide continuous physical, emotional and informational support
Class 5 – Succeeding at Breastfeeding
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why breastfeeding is the best nutrition for your baby
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getting off to a good start and getting the baby latched on correctly
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how to overcome common problems with breastfeeding
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plus, we will rehearse some common labor scenarios and positive positions to
use during labor and birth.
Class 6 - Preparing for Your New Family
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characteristics of a newborn
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developmental milestones
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diapering, bathing and comforting a newborn
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common postpartum adjustments for mom and dad
We will practice relaxation techniques (including Hypnobirthing) and we will
learn a variety of labor support skills in every class.
