Since each childbirth educator works independently, they set their own curriculum and therefore the outline of your class may vary. The following is an example of what you might expect to cover during each week of your class.

  • WEEK 1
    • PRELIMINARY
      • Introductions
      • Thoughts of birth
      • REACH VIDEO

    • THE BASICS:
      • Anatomy: uterus, cervix, placenta, umbilical cord, amnion (bag of water), bladder, fundus, perineum
      • Definitions: effaced, dilated, position, presentation, station, kegal exercises, doulas, Braxton Hicks contractions, "false labor" vs. real labor, oxytocin, Prostaglandin
      • Birth place options
      • Nutrition in Pregnancy - handout

  • WEEK 2
    • CHILDBIRTH
      • Overview - Cardinal Movements
      • Fight or Flight
      • Autonomic nervous system, instinct, becoming primal
      • Stages of labor: Early labor - Active labor - Transition
        • Timing contractions
        • Cervical changes
        • Emotional signpost
        • Common reactions
        • What is baby doing?
        • Go potty every hour!
        • Mucus plug - "bloody show"
        • Ruptured membranes
        • "back labor"
  • WEEK 3
    • COPING WITH LABOR
      • Review fight or flight
      • Gate control theory
      • Review primal laboring
      • Climb the Ladder
        • hydrotherapy
        • visualization
        • hot/cold therapy
        • aromatherapy
        • support and encouragement
        • position changes
        • vocalizing
        • prayer
        • massage
        • acupressure
        • atmosphere/low lights
        • distraction
        • nourishment/drinking
        • empty bladder
        • rest/relaxation
        • roaming body checks for relaxation
        • music
        • breathing
        • movement
  • WEEK 4
    • PUSHING AND BIRTH
      • The "rest and be thankful" stage
      • Second Stage: Pushing
        • Self-directed vs. 'purple pushing'
        • Positions
        • Crowning
        • Episiotomies/tears
      • BIRTH!
        • Catching the baby
        • Cutting the cord - early or delayed clamping
        • APGAR scores
        • Looks/behavior of a new baby
        • Vernix
  • WEEK 5
    • AFTER THE BIRTH
      • Third Stage:
        • Cord traction
        • Pitocin
        • The placenta
        • Cord blood banking
        • Fundal massage
      • Postpartum
        • Post partum depression
        • Lochia
        • Activity
        • Care for your bottom
  • WEEK 6
    • INTERVENTIONS DURING CHILDBIRTH
      • Purpose of this class
      • Definition of "intervention"
      • "B-R-A-N"
      • IV's
      • Inductions
      • Amnioinfusion
      • External fetal monitoring
      • Internal fetal monitoring
      • IntraUterine Pressure Catheter (IUPC)
      • Vacuum extraction
      • Forceps
      • Analgesics
      • Epidural
      • Cesarean Surgery
      • Writing a Birth Plan
  • WEEK 7
    • BABY CARE BASICS
      • Immediately After Birth
        • Where does baby go
        • Vitamin K
        • Hep B
        • Eye Ointment
        • PKU/Newborn Screen
      • Feeding
        • breastfeeding
        • bottle feeding
      • Jaundice
      • Holding
      • Swaddling
      • Colic
      • The controversies: vaccinations, circumcision, bottles/pacifiers
      • Diapering
        • How to put on a diaper
        • From meconium to potty training
      • Bathing
      • Cord care
      • Burping
      • Nighttime Parenting
      • co-sleeping
      • sleep positions
      • sleeping through the night = mom or baby
  • WEEK 8
    • BREASTFEEDING
      • Why Breastfeed? - AAP guidelines, WHO guidelines
      • The Basics
        • supply and demand
        • latch
        • let-down
        • frequency of feedings
        • nipple care
      • Scheduled feedings -vs- On Request feedings
      • Hunger Signs
      • IS BABY EATING ENOUGH?
      • Growth Spurts
      • Challenges
        • engorgement
        • thrush
        • flat/inverted nipples
        • clogged ducts
      • Pumping / Storing
      • Going back to work
      • Formula Feeding
      • Weaning
    VIDEOS ARE SHOWN PERIODICALLY AND CONTAIN GRAPHIC IMAGES. VIEWING THESE IS NOT REQUIRED BUT IS ENCOURAGED.