This relaxed and interactive (VIRTUAL) class offers a comprehensive understanding of labor and birth over three weekly class sessions. This class incorporates live lecture and Q&A, (online) games, video segments, and demonstrations to leave you feeling more informed and confident. The fourth week includes Bringing Home Baby and this course is essentially Newborn Care 101! This interactive class incorporates lecture slides, videos, hands-on demonstrations, and Q&A time to cover all the key topics for parenting a newborn. The instructors will be demonstrating comfort techniques and labor positions, you may find it helpful to have some items with you during class time, such as a pillow, blanket, or floor mat. There will also be demonstrations with Bringing Home Baby you may find it helpful to have a baby doll or stuffed animal with you for class time to practice alongside the instructors as well as a small towel, a wash cloth, a diaper, and a baby blanket for swaddling. Books will be mailed in advance.
Labor & Birth topics:
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Planning for your birth
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Having a healthy pregnancy and pregnancy warning signs
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Pre-labor signs, how to recognize labor, and when to go to the hospital
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Stages and phases of labor and birth
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Pain management: relaxation and breathing techniques and comfort measures
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Positions for labor and birth
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Medical tools for labor and birth
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Pain medication options
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Cesarean Birth
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Recovery care after the birth of your baby
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Postpartum adjustment: physical and emotional health and warning signs
Brining Home Baby topics:
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Normal newborn appearance
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Screenings and procedures what to expect during the hospital stay
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Feeding a newborn: feeding cues and tips for breast and bottle feeding, burping, etc.
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Demonstrations of bathing, diapering, and swaddling
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Communication cues
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Soothing a fussy newborn
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Choosing a pediatrician and when to call them
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Overview of safety topics: safe sleep and car safety
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Postpartum adjustment: self-care and emotional health (PMAD)
Meets 1 night a week for 4 weeks