As my seven year old informed me the other day, you don’t need to take a nap, mom, you want one.

So, the long and the short of it is that an effective doula can do so much to make your birth better. However, the more you are armed with knowledge about how birth works, what to expect, how your partner can best help you, what options you have at your birthing location, etc—the more prepared you are for this, the better.

My prenatals go over so much information, but there is only so much time vs SO MUCH information to know about birth. My birth classes have been perfected over the years and refined by feedback directly from clients. I cover what you need to know and explain it in a way that’s going to be different from how other doulas and other childbirth educators are going to explain it. If you’ve met me, I have my own style of doing things. I like to bring humor into the classroom and help you better understand things to get you ready for your birth.

Do you need to take a class? It honestly depends on your birth goals and how confident you’re feeling about everything. Need isn’t the right word. But I think the classes will help.

This is your birth.

Most classes have similar components- the educational part about what to expect/what needs to happen to bring a baby here and then different ways to relax. I can’t tell you what’s going to be the right class for you. You know yourself better than I do. Trust your gut.

The only caution I offer is that if you limit yourself to taking childbirth education classes at your local hospital, you may not be getting everything you need. What I tell people is that classes taught by hospital staff often teach you how to be a good patient, not necessarily how to be a good advocate for yourself in getting the birth you want.

For more details, see my blog Finding the Right Birth Class for You & How HypnoBirthing Is My Jam

My in person classes are all in Severna Park at Magnolia Wellness. I offer to teach individual classes in your home or we could book a space at a local library. I love Anne Arundel County Public Libraries and showing them support.

In case you didn’t know, they offer an amazing reading program, including story times for Babies in Bloom, toddlers, preschool, and beyond! It’s a great place to meet other parents and build that village we all need in parenthood!

I love the centering program and am often asked to speak at their doula centered nights. AAMC is lucky to have such an amazing group of Midwives practicing there!

However, centering is not the same as taking an in-depth, focused course. Especially the HypnoBirthing series covers completely different material over the 12.5 hours of in-person meeting time.

Additionally, the Birth 101 and the Labor Prep courses cover different material.

It’s your birth. I highly recommend you take a birth course in addition to attending centering.