Childbirth Education

Purple Lotus Doula’s Childbirth Education Classes (formerly called “BirthWorks”) have been offered in the St. Louis area by Sarah Baker since 2010. In that time, over 500 couples have participated in our classes. Our childbirth classes are so much more than just classes; they are truly an experience that has been described as “life-changing” by so many of our class participants. Rooted in an entirely unique and innovative approach to childbirth education that integrates the mind, body, and spirit, our classes will not only equip you with an abundance of skills, tools, and knowledge for pregnancy, labor/birth, postpartum, infant feeding, and early parenting, but they will also completely transform you and your partner’s confidence!

Read more to learn how our childbirth classes differ from the Bradley Method and Hypnobabies classes.

Read more to learn how our childbirth classes offer clients much more than typical hospital classes.

Read testimonials from our previous class participants.

Read more class testimonials on our Google listing and on our Facebook page.

Note for Mercy Birth Center patients: This class is an approved birth class that meets the requirements for both a full class or refresher class. 

Who will benefit from our classes?

• Parents expecting their first child
• Parents with previous birth experiences, whether vaginal or cesarean births
• Parents pursuing a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)
• Parents using any birth location (hospital, birth center, or home birth)
• Parents with any relationship dynamic:  whether you have a spouse/partner, are a single parent, are a surrogate, have more than one partner, or have any other type of relationship dynamic, you are welcome here and this class is for you!

In our classes you will learn about:

• Emotional preparation for birth: Emotional preparation is one of the most important steps you can take in preparing for your birth, postpartum, and parenting! We will explore how you and your partner feel about your pregnancy, the upcoming birth, postpartum, and parenting, along with understanding how emotions and feelings affect us and our experiences. You will also be guided in both identifying and working through your fears. You and your partner will experience your confidence beginning to grow after this very first segment of your class! And, you’ll also be given many tools for your continued mental/emotional preparation outside of class
• Nutrition: We will discuss how nutrition during pregnancy impacts the mother and baby, and discuss the importance of eating and drinking during labor/birth.
• Mindful breathing, breath awareness & relaxation: These are the most powerful tools you have at your disposal during your labor/birth! You will experience the impact of mindful breathing and learn how to use your breath in very specific ways to keep yourself calm and your body relaxed during labor—all of which reduce sensations of pain and help labor progress. Your partner will learn all the specific ways they, too, can help you facilitate mindful breathing and deepened relaxation during your labor/birth.
• Understanding the pelvis: The labor/birth process is, in a nutshell, your baby moving down in your pelvis and exiting the pelvis. You will experience in a hands-on way exactly how your pelvis work to fit your baby through it during the labor/birth process, how labor positions are vital in this process, optimal fetal positioning, and so much more.
• Exploring pain: Why do we have pain? What factors influence our body’s pain perception? What are the factors that literally increase or decrease sensations of pain in the body? What factors influence the different responses that people have to pain? Not only will you learn the answers to these questions, and much more, but you’ll also learn how to more effectively work with your body during the birth process.
• Birth environment: You will understand how a woman’s labor environment greatly affects her body’s ability to labor effectively, along with how to create the right birth environment.
• Medical interventions: You will learn what they are and when they might be necessary, the benefits/risks/alternatives, informed decision-making, birth plans, strategies for effectively communicating with medical staff and how to advocate for yourself, along with understanding informed consent and patient rights.
• Beliefs: We will explore how a person’s beliefs affect their choices and feelings regarding pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum.
• Preparing for the unexpected: When a person experiences something that they did not expect or anticipate during birth, postpartum, parenting or breastfeeding, it can be difficult to cope with and they might not know what their options are. You and your partner will explore your expectations for birth, postpartum, parenting, and feeding, identify where your expectations might differ from the possible reality, think about how you might feel and what you can do if you experience something different than what you are hoping for or expecting.
• Holistic approach to the stages of labor: You and your partner will not only come away with an in-depth understanding of the entire birth process, but more importantly you will be equipped with many tools to confidently work through each stage of labor, including your partner learning the many specific ways they can effectively support you during each stage.
• Variations of Normal: Labor is a not a textbook experience! Your labor and birth is going to be unique. You and your partner will be equipped with confidence and tools to handle whatever unique variations you may experience during your labor/birth. (Examples: long labor, fast labor, prodromol labor, back labor, stalled labor, and more.)
• Hands-on practice and labor tools for partners: Your partner will learn how to read your physical and emotional cues during labor, physical and emotional labor support techniques, tools for communicating with medical staff, as well as coming away understanding how to identify progress during labor, and more.
  
• The “fourth trimester”: Newborns are unique little humans! You will learn more about your baby’s unique design, how birth/early parenting affects newborns, and how you and your partner can facilitate creating a strong bond with your child starting from the moment they are born.
• Postpartum: We want you to feel more confident not only for your birth, but also to be prepared for the immediate postpartum period (first few hours and days after birth) and the long-term postpartum period (first few months following birth). You and your partner will come away not only knowing what you can expect during postpartum, but also will understand what you can do to aid in the physical and emotional recovery following birth.
• Feeding/breastfeeding: You and your partner will experience comprehensive breastfeeding education that includes: Getting breastfeeding off to a good start; How often to feed; How do I know if baby is getting enough?; anything you have questions on, including myths/old wives’ tales, combination feeding, concerns, etc. For more information about the curriculum, details are available on the Intro to Breastfeeding page.

Ten-week Childbirth Class Series covers even more topics, and with more depth.

Class Options/Pricing

Options for classes are offered to meet a variety of needs and schedules:

Group Ten-week Childbirth Class Series

Because our group class is designed to be a comprehensive class, with each week building upon the previous, expecting parents will get the most benefit from the ten-week class. It is optimal for people to take this class earlier in pregnancy, if possible. If you are interested in our classes for your childbirth education, it is strongly encouraged that you experience the Ten-Week Class Series. Upcoming Ten-week Class sessions are listed in the sidebar under Upcoming Classes/Events.

10 weeks long, 23 total class hours  |  Small class size  |  $425 [$50 retainer required]

• Ideal for any expectant parent (first-timers and those who’ve given birth previously)
• Ideal for those who previously experienced a negative/traumatic birth experience or an unexpected birth experience.
• Ideal for those planning a VBAC
• Participants meet each week in a relaxing, casual environment

Private Childbirth Classes

Perfect for those needing customized scheduling and those with due dates that are right around the corner, at our warm, inviting office space.

Based on your availability  |  $375-$425 [$100 retainer required]

• Ideal for those with unusual schedules or limited availability
• Ideal for those with fast-approaching due dates
• Ideal for those desiring the privacy of a one-on-one class setting
• Meets 4 or 5 times

All class participants receive a comprehensive binder. Additionally, Sarah is available to all class participants via text or email at any time outside of class to answer questions, give guidance on understanding your options, direct you to local resources, and/or to provide emotional support.

Sarah firmly believes that every couple should have access to holistic birth preparation and she is committed to working with those experiencing financial hardship. If you are genuinely interested in these services, please do not hesitate based on cost alone.

Prices are subject to change.

Ready to sign up or get more info?

To sign up for classes/sessions or discuss which option is right for you, please fill out the Contact Purple Lotus form or email sarah@purplelotusdoulas.com.