Why you should take an independent (out-of-hospital) birth class
Students practice labor positions at an Illuminated Birth & Company birth class in central Massachusetts.
You know you want to take a birth class. After all, you and your partner want to be well-informed when it comes to your options and practice some comfort measures before the birth day. It might seem like the easiest thing to just sign up for the hospital’s birth class, but if you do, you might be missing out on a higher quality class in your area with a candid view point of what to expect at your hospital. Enter independent childbirth classes!
Classes taught by local childbirth educators outside of the hospital setting are often the same price, eligible to be covered by insurance, and able to give you the information you need in a more personalized setting in your community. They also are often able to give you the honest perspective of what to expect at your hospital and how you can plan to advocate for your best birth experience there, because they are taught by educators who are plugged in to the local birthing community. For instance, as an active birth doula and childbirth educator, I see what actually goes on at all hospitals in the Greater Boston and central Massachusetts areas. When my students come to my class, we talk about building their birth team and making sure that they have care providers who are supportive of the birth experience they are hoping to have. It’s a truly holistic and individualized birth preparation experience.
In addition to giving you the insider advocacy knowledge and skills that you will need to help navigate your birth, childbirth classes with independent childbirth educators are often your chance to start building your village of support in a comfortable, cozy setting. If you’re taking an in-person class, you will be meeting other parents-to-be in your area that will be going through the same stage of life. This community that you will be starting to build is research backed to be protective against postpartum depression and will make for a better experience as you start out as a parent.
Packed with information, with an insider understanding of your birth location, and village building small classes, out-of-hospital pregnancy courses that prepare you for birth are an amazing option for you and your partner. If you’re in the greater Boston area, please check out our current birth classes here.
If you’re outside of the Boston area, your local doula community is a great place to start looking for an independent birth class. Feel free to reach out if you need help finding them, or look on doulamatch.net to find someone in your area.
