Congratulations!! You’re pregnant!
This is such an exciting time in your life. You’re thinking about names and making plans for the future, but there are some big decisions to make before your bundle of joy arrives. I’m sure a good chunk of these choices are keeping you up in the middle of the night. Like, how am I actually going to get this baby out? Can I really do it without pain medication? I want my partner to be involved, but how do I get them ready for this whole thing? Well fear not, we’ve got answers for you to all of those questions and more.
Hi, I’m Lora Fiala and I’m the owner of Birth with Knowledge. I’m a childbirth educator and doula serving the Phoenix area. I am also an Evidence Based Birth® Instructor, and am super excited to be able to bring the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class to WillowAZ.
This class is so unique from anything else out there and is perfect for busy parents-to-be that want all the information going into birth. So, let’s chat about all to of the ways an Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class can help you in your birthing time.
First, let’s start with the basics, what is Evidence Based Birth®?
Evidence Based Birth® (or EBB) is an amazing organization started by Rebecca Dekker, a nurse with a Ph.D.
Going into her first birth, Rebecca’s goal was to be a good patient. She planned to go in and do as she was told and follow the nurses and doctors’ advice and guidance on the rest. Well, she was forced to stay in bed, to not eat or drink for more than 24 hours, given medication to speed up her labor, and made to push on her back. Then after her baby was born, they were separated from each other for three hours, even though she and baby were both healthy.
While trying to get pregnant with her second child, Rebecca researched everything that was done to her in her first birth to find out if they were evidence-based practices. Surprise, Surprise! Almost everything that happened to Rebecca and her daughter was not evidence-based. Her second child was born at home, and the experience was a such a stark contrast to her first birth she decided to start sharing the evidence she had gathered.
Evidence Based Birth® started as a blog written by Rebecca, and has turned into a well-respected organization that has published 20+ peer-reviewed articles on a variety of topics surrounding birth. Right now, it typically takes anywhere between 15 to 20 years to get evidence in to practice in most hospitals, we want to shorten that. EBB’s goal is to get the evidence into the hands of parents and professionals more quickly, and to significantly shorten that time frame.
If you would like to read more about Rebecca’s story and how Evidence Based Birth® came to be, check out her new book, Babies Are Not Pizza, They’re Born, Not Delivered.
So, what is the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class?
Through her time researching and working to take EBB farther, Rebecca continued to get requests for a full-length childbirth class. But when Rebecca sets out to do something, it is not in her nature to do it halfway. She took a full year to create this class, from focus groups, to pilot classes and input from other Evidence Based Birth® Instructors. This class is packed full of content in a way that is different from just about every other class out there. It is filled with a ton of comfort measures, lots of evidence, and the tools to give you a voice in the whole experience.
Let’s take a look at what makes this class so unique.
A Hybrid Classroom:
What’s not to love about a hybrid classroom? Ok, well, I guess I should tell you what that means.
So, here’s the deal. With most childbirth classes you have to trek out every week for somewhere between 4 to 12 weeks in a row. Which means you have to plan for drive time, all the time you are there (which is likely two+ hours) and get a sitter every week if you have older kiddos. So, what if I told you the hybrid classroom-style cuts this WAY back without losing the benefits of a skilled instructor?
The EBB Childbirth Class is six weeks in length, our first and last classes are in-person. In our first class, we’ll get to know each other and lay a foundation to build on for the rest of the series. In our last class, we’ll take everything you’ve learned and put it into practice with a hands-on labor rehearsal. These two classes run about two hours in length.
Now here’s where the magic comes in. As for our middle four classes, we meet online via Zoom. Zoom is an online video conference calling platform. You can connect with video via your smartphone or computer, or if you’re out of internet range you can even call in with a phone number and participate with just talking. Our online calls run for about an hour. You can be on your couch in your PJs. You don’t have to drive anywhere. We can even do our best to schedule Zoom calls while other kiddos are asleep, or if you have a toddler on your lap the whole time that’s cool too. (Zoom even has a mute option 😉).
Our Zoom calls are mainly used to discuss and process the information you learned throughout the week. Which brings us to our next unique feature of the class…
A Flipped Classroom
Have you ever gone to a class and you had no flipping clue what was going on? The teacher went right on along like you should know what was going like it was easy. Well, it probably was easy for the teacher, I would hope so, or maybe they shouldn’t be teaching. But that doesn’t mean it should be easy for you, otherwise, why would you be taking the class?
Well, this is what happens in a lot of childbirth classes. The teacher gets up and starts talking and you’re lost, but you don’t want to look bad in front of other people by asking a question on a topic that everyone else seems to be totally understanding. Or heck, maybe you’re just tired after a long day of work and absorbing two+ hours of new information is difficult.
Well, this is one of the best things about a flipped classroom. You learn before coming to class! In the comfort of your own home and with the ability to re-watch things more than once if needed. You can watch them whenever it is convenient for you. Maybe, you binge-watch everything all at once. Maybe you watch a little every day. Maybe you and your partner watch them together, or maybe you watch them on your own and chat about them over dinner. It is totally up to you guys.
PLUS, you’re learning directly from the founder of Evidence Based Birth®, Rebecca Dekker. She is great at breaking things down to make sure you’re learning step by step, and not missing pieces. Not only is she the founder of EBB, but she was an assistant professor at a university for several years.
So, after you watch your videos for the week, and complete your other homework, then you come to class and we discuss what you learned. Our classes are far more discussion-based than your typical lecture-style classes. You are encouraged to ask questions and give your thoughts and opinions. I am there to answer any and all of your questions, and to help apply the knowledge to what is going on in our local area.
By learning on your time table and then discussing the material again you are far more likely to actually retain the information, and that’s really the whole point. Right?
So, what are you going to learn?
Comfort Measures!
How would you feel going into something that you knew was going to be tough, and being completely unprepared? A big test you didn’t study for. A giant mountain you got roped into climbing, but your feet have been in sneakers in years. A cross country road trip with no map and spotty cell service. All of this sounds crazy, right?
We study for tests, we train for races and mountain climbing adventures, we bring a map. All common sense.
But when it comes to birth, we think winging it is going to be just fine.
Well, what if you went in with a brain full of knowledge. With more than 15 different comfort measures in your arsenal (many of those having multiple ways to be used). With six different guided relaxations that you can listen to, or your partner can read to you. With three AMAZING Spotify playlists that were crafted by a music therapist. With an extensive acupressure cheat sheet to help with pain and progress labor.
What would your birth look like then? Probably much different.
Even if you are in a supportive location, surrounded by an amazing team it’s hard to learn something new in the throes of contractions. Some comfort measures you’ll find amazing and others may not work well, but wouldn’t it be nice to know this BEFORE labor begins! To have a starting point instead of just guessing. PLUS, with over 15 DIFFERENT comfort measures, something is sure to work for you…and if that one stops working, you’ll have many more to pick from.
The Evidence!
Well, it wouldn’t be an Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class without the evidence, now would it? In addition to the evidence being woven through the entire curriculum, you also have access to ALL of the EBB Signature Articles!
We’ll talk in detail about six of the articles including the evidence on eating and drinking in labor, big babies, due date, failure to progress, Group B Strep, and premature rupture of membranes (or in other words your water breaking as the first sign of labor).
You’ll get an extensive list of the pros and cons of the most common interventions and induction methods as well.
The class is very much laid out to encourage you to make your own decisions. The ones right for you and your family. You’ll have more than enough information and knowledge to have a medication-free birth. You’ll also have all the knowledge to make an informed decision should any interventions be wanted or needed.
And we’ll even give you the tools to use your voice so you and your partner will be confident decision-makers in you birthing time, not just passive bystanders.
Last but certainly far from least: YOUR PARTNER
I want you to have a partner that is as educated about the birth process as you are. It makes no difference to me if your partner is your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend, your sister, your mom, your best friend, or even your next-door neighbor. It matters that you have someone! And that your someone can be your voice when you are unable to speak. They know your wishes front and back. They know what comfort measures you like, and the ones you don’t. They know the PLAN, and all the back-up plans to go along with it.
They are IMPORTANT and so needed.
So, if you’re ready, I’m ready for you. Check out Birthwithknowledge.net to register for a class today.
See you soon,
Lora