There are classes offered by hospitals and childbirth education associations and there are independent classes offered at community or religious centers. Either way, they should have made the commitment to obtain childbirth educator certification from one of the nationally recognized organizations, and should be able to show evidence of attendance at continuing education offerings, either at childbirth education conferences or related workshops. With busy schedules today, many couples are taking marathon classes, in which they meet for 4-6 hours on a Saturday, and try to cover everything you need to know. Many doctors and midwives find that couples are not well prepared by these classes, as it is difficult to concentrate on so much new information while sitting for long periods of time.
Many instructors give out class certificates and arrange reunions after all the babies are born.
Feel free to do a telephone interview with a prospective instructor and talk to couples who have enjoyed their classes before deciding on the best instructor for you. To log off from the site, click here . All rights reserved. If you have personal concerns about your health or the health of your baby, we recommend that you consult with your caregiver or physician at once.