Why take childbirth classes? Women have been birthing babies for thousands of years. We lived in communities surrounded by family and friends. This village offered education, love, companionship, support and education.  In today’s world, where it once took a village to raise a child, we live alone in our own space and distant from family and friends.   Childbirth classes are now a necessity for mothers to be.  Childbirth classes are a gateway to a village of support and knowledge. Childbirth classes help you to understand the birth process and to figure out what type of birth experience you desire.  Today the majority of women birth in hospitals, however birth center and home births are attracting more and more healthy and low-risk mothers.  Water births, VBACs, and alternative birth experiences are desired by some.  My childbirth classes will help the birth team who may not know what type of experience they desire as well as help to facilitate conversations with your provider once you know what you desire in your birth.  My goal is to help you have the ‘birth you desire’. Bradley classes prepare you for this amazing experience by: Educating the mother on how to make healthy and low risk choices in pregnancy, labor and beyond Replacing fear with knowledge and instill confidence by learning comfort measures that allow mothers to trust their bodies in labor and relax Supporting the coach in their role as an advocate and supporting the mother physically, psychologically and emotionally Teaching the parents how to take responsibility for procedures, variations in labor and unexpected circumstances Encouraging and demonstrating a variety of relaxation techniques, exercises for stamina, and labor rehearsals Bradley classes are limited in size for individual attention and cover all 12 units of instruction.