Our Classes
DC Birth Doulas offers fun and functional perinatal education classes. Our live virtual classes are taught by Lamaze trained childbirth educators, who bring their wealth of hands-on experience in perinatal health into our interactive and lively sessions. Our classes focus on evidence-based information while creating space to discuss practical experience, tips and preferences. All three classes are included in our Birth Bundle and our Birth and Beginnings Bundle. You can also sign up separately.
We recommend completing your birth, postpartum and newborn, and your infant feeding class by your 35th gestational week.
Childbirth Prep Class
Our 6-hour comprehensive childbirth class is designed to prepare you and your support person for childbirth. The class covers the following topics:
Stages of physiological birth
Common medical tools and hospital procedures
Comfort measures
Labor positions
Pain medication options
Shared informed decision making
Variations such as inductions and cesarean birth
Classes include videos of stages of birth, and group work, with plenty of time to ask questions and actively explore comfort measures such as grounding touch, mindfulness, and breathing techniques. The pregnant person plus a support person are welcome to sign up!
Postpartum Recovery and Newborn Care Class
Our 4-hour Postpartum and Newborn Care Class is designed to help you prepare for your transition into parenthood as smoothly as possible. We will share information on the following topics:
The first hours after birth for your family
Postpartum physical, hormonal, social, and emotional changes
Infant soothing, attachment and care
Newborn sleep and safety
Managing family wellbeing
Postpartum mental health
Classes include videos demonstrating postpartum and newborn care basics, group work, and lots of time for discussion on how to manage expectations, avoid common pitfalls, cope, treat, recover and heal. The focus of this class is to help you prepare for your fourth trimester. The pregnant person plus a support person are welcome to sign up!
Infant Feeding Class
Our 2.5-hour Infant Feeding class focuses on the practical realities of feeding your infant. Many of our clients want to feed their babies breastmilk exclusively. The reality is that most feed their babies through some combination of bodyfeeding, pumping, and bottle feeding. Topics include:
Human lactation
Pumping and storing milk
Selecting, preparing, and using formula
Bottle and nipple selection and care
Tips for combination feeding
Preparing for outings and returning to work
Managing personal and family expectations
Classe include video demonstrations, and ample time discussing principles of successful infant feeding and how to apply them to your family’s needs. The pregnant person and support person are welcome to sign up! No matter how you plan or end up feeding your baby, this class is for you.