Childbirth Classes
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Hypnobirthing: Mind-Body Childbirth
Join us locally or internationally -virtual & livestream For many expectant parents, birth seems like an insurmountable feat. Negative imagery in popular culture or gloom-ridden stories told by those within our inner social circles have distorted the reality of birth for the lot of us.
Imagine what it would feel like to put your fears aside and instead be excited about birth; to know that birth doesn't have to be scary, agonizing, or mysterious; to feel prepared and to have a birth toolkit of sorts to delve into in your time of need. Boston Births supports mothers, partners, and caregivers in Boston and beyond in creating positive birth experiences. Our class provides evidence-based knowledge and techniques that we have found to be effective for gentler, calmer, less stressful births. |
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What you'll get
- A complete childbirth preparation program taught by a hypnobirthing-trained and certified lactation expert
- Boston Births Toolkit -a colorful course pack (we're told it's a lifeline for some mamas), complementary book, and set of beautiful affirmation cards all mailed to your home
- Access to weekly office hours which you can schedule at your convenience
- Ongoing phone, text, and email support throughout your pregnancy
In our 4-week program, you will learn about...
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Curriculum outline:
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Unit 1 – Fostering a Positive Mindset
- Introduction to principles of active birth, hypnobirthing, and family-centered maternity care - How women have birthed throughout history - Beliefs about birth in today's culture - What the uterus does during labor - The mind-body connection (psychophysical association) - How fear can interfere with the labor and birth process - Breathing and relaxation (diaphragmatic breathing) - Creating positive mental imagery of birth; viewing spontaneous childbirth videos Unit 2 – Creating a Comfortable Birthing Environment - Bonding with your baby before birth - Fetal development and changes in your body - Finding a birth environment that feels safe and a supportive birth team that is in sync with your birth preferences and philosophies - Provider styles and attitudes - Cultural belief systems regarding pain and reconceptualizing labor sensations - Assisting your body's natural process - Breathing techniques - Self-hypnosis (hypnotherapy) and meditation techniques - Meditation - Visualization techniques - Hydrotherapy - Nutrition, exercise and body positioning - How birth companions can support you and play an active role - Doulas |
Unit 3 – Promoting Relaxation & Preparing for Birth
- Identifying and releasing subconscious fears or thoughts about birth to promote positive birth - Ways the body prepares for birth - Physiology of birth and role of hormones - Breech-presentation and posterior babies - Understanding your estimated due date - Common diagnostic and labor interventions - Risk-benefit assessment and alternatives - Initiating labor naturally - Creating birth preferences (your birth plan) - Feeling prepared if special circumstances arise Unit 4 – Conscious Birthing & Postpartum - The phases of labor and birth - Identifying false labor and knowing when labor has begun - Birth partner's checklist and advocating for mother/baby - The labor process - What happens if labor slows or rests and common misconceptions - Working with your labor surges - Hallmarks of advancing labor - Birth visualizations - Upright positions for birthing, options, and water birth - Birthing with special circumstances: positive births do not have to be natural births -The "Golden Hour" -Skin-to-skin and bonding with baby -Early breastfeeding -Postpartum care of mother and baby |
A compassionate approach to reducing fear
Childbirth is a major physical, psychological and social event in which mothers deserve to be treated with respect and kindness by their companions and healthcare providers. Research shows that mothers who receive positive social support during labor and childbirth often have shorter labors and less need for medical interventions (World Health Organization. 2013. Counselling for Maternal and Newborn Health Care. WHO Press).
When a mother doesn't feel supported, safe, heard, or respected, her body can manifest physiological responses to stress, leading to tension, pain, potentially negative repercussions during the labor and birth process, post-trauamatic stress and delayed lactogenesis. Our work is centered on self-empowerment: helping women and birth companions realize that they always have choices throughout their experience. Those choices extend to who you might choose to accompany you during your birth, what healthcare team you want supporting you, how to create a birth environment that reflects your needs, and what to include in your birth plan. Boston Births can help you have the confident birth experience that you desire, and will always be here for you well after you've completed our course.
When a mother doesn't feel supported, safe, heard, or respected, her body can manifest physiological responses to stress, leading to tension, pain, potentially negative repercussions during the labor and birth process, post-trauamatic stress and delayed lactogenesis. Our work is centered on self-empowerment: helping women and birth companions realize that they always have choices throughout their experience. Those choices extend to who you might choose to accompany you during your birth, what healthcare team you want supporting you, how to create a birth environment that reflects your needs, and what to include in your birth plan. Boston Births can help you have the confident birth experience that you desire, and will always be here for you well after you've completed our course.
Where our Boston-area families have birthed
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-Brigham and Women's Hospital
-Beth Israel Deaconess Boston -Massachusetts General Hospital -Tufts Medical Center -Mount Auburn Hospital -The Cambridge Birth Center |
-South Shore Hospital
-Newton-Wellselsy Hospital -St. Elizabeth's Medical Center -Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Plymouth -Sturdy Memorial Hospital -Emerson Hospital |
