Childbirth classes help you understand the process of labor and birth, plus give you helpful techniques to cope during your labor. Having this knowledge will make you feel more informed about your body and better able to make decisions about what type of labor and delivery you want.
During the pandemic, most childbirth classes are being offered online. If you’re considering placing your baby for adoption, taking a childbirth class in the privacy of your home may be comforting to you.
Benefits of Online Childbirth Classes
Since the pandemic hit, everyone’s lives have changed. Staying home is now normal (and important!), especially for women who are pregnant. Here are some benefits of taking an online class:
Allows for privacy
When you’re at an in-person childbirth class, many of your classmates will be happy expectant mothers and their husbands. Their story may look very different to yours if you’re a birth mother considering placing your child in adoption. Online classes will give you privacy and anonymity as you learn beneficial childbirth techniques.
There’s need to explain your situation
If you’re attending an in-person class, you may be asked to share about yourself and your story with the other participants. Not all birth classes do this, but if they do, you may feel awkward sharing what you’re going through.
You won’t be exposed to COVID-19
A recent announcement by the CDC acknowledged that being pregnant puts a woman at higher risk of a severe illness from a COVID virus compared to women who aren’t pregnant. There is also a greater risk of pregnancy difficulties in the first months if you have the coronavirus.
Popular Online Childbirth Classes
Here are some popular online childbirth classes you may want to try so you can prepare for childbirth while you’re quarantining at home:
Lamaze
This childbirth class technique has been around for decades. It helps you learn breathing strategies to help manage the pain during labor and delivery. They also give tips on different pain medications during delivery. It’s a 12-hour online class.
If you’re a member of Lamaze, it costs $25, and the non-members’ cost is $35. Check lamaze.org for more information.
Bradley Birth Method
These childbirth classes center around a medication-free delivery. If this is something you’re interested in, this method of childbirth could be for you. They talk about nutrition, exercise, and deep breathing techniques.
If you want someone with you during the birth, they also offer instructions on how to be a good birth coach. The prices are different depending upon where you live. They are on Facebook and online at bradleybirth.com.
Alexander Birth Method
This childbirth method focuses on being in tune with your body. Alexander Birth Method instructors teach you how to sit or squat for labor to help your birth contractions. It’s a popular method used by many well-known actresses and dancers. You can listen to them on podcasts or join their Facebook group. The teachers use Zoom or Skye for the classes. Check out alexandertechnique.com.
Hospital Childbirth Classes
Most hospitals offer childbirth classes to prepare you for labor and delivery. They will explain the hospital procedures, choices of the different pain medications, and options for a medication-free delivery. They will also explain breathing techniques and touch on the other methods used by some of the most popular childbirth classes. Sometimes hospitals will offer childbirth classes for free. Contact the hospital you will deliver at to ask for information on free childbirth classes.
Making Your Adoption Hospital Plan
Most women who choose adoption are concerned about what the hospital experience will look like. It’s helpful to create an adoption hospital plan, which allows you to decide what you want and don’t want to happen at the hospital. Having this plan will help the adoptive family, the hospital staff, and your adoption coordinator at Lifetime know your preferences for the hospital.
You can create your hospital adoption plan well in advance of your due date. This plan is for you, and you can make all the choices. Some of your decisions include:
- After giving birth, much time, if any, do you want to spend with your baby?
- Do you want to hold your baby?
- Do you want the adoptive family together with you during delivery, or should they stay in the waiting room? Do you want a birth partner with you during the delivery?
- Do you want to allow the adoptive family to be alone with your baby without you there?
- Do you want to be admitted to the hospital confidentially?
- Do you prefer to recover in another area besides the maternity area?
An adoption hospital plan is beneficial to you since it will help you feel more comfortable knowing what things will look like at the hospital. You won’t have to make any last-minute decisions during your labor. Plus, having a plan will give you more peace of mind as you go through the entire process.
As Vice President of Lifetime Adoption, Heather Featherston holds an MBA and is passionate about working with those facing adoption, pregnancy, and parenting issues. Heather has conducted training for birth parent advocates, spoken to professional groups, and has appeared on television and radio to discuss the multiple aspects of adoption. She has provided one-on-one support to women and hopeful adoptive parents working through adoption decisions.
Since 2002, she has been helping pregnant women and others in crisis to learn more about adoption. Heather also trains and speaks nationwide to pregnancy clinics to effectively meet the needs of women who want to explore adoption for their child. Today, she continues to address the concerns women have about adoption and supports the needs of women who choose adoption for their child.
As a published author of the book Called to Adoption, Featherston loves to see God’s hand at work every day as she helps children and families come together through adoption.
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