This series of classes serves as your trusted guide from your 1st trimester all the way through your 4th trimester. From your earliest questions about healthy pregnancy, continuing on as you prepare for labor and birth all the way through postpartum wellness, breastfeeding and basic newborn care, each class in this series is designed to give you exactly the information and tools you need, just as you need them. Take all 3 classes, or choose just the ones that fit your needs and schedule.
Positively Pregnant
Fresh on the heels of the excitement of your positive pregnancy test, you find out that there is an overwhelming amount of information out there for pregnant people, much of it telling you what you can't eat, can't do, and what you should be worried and afraid about. This class is designed to be taken before 20 weeks of pregnancy when you have the opportunity to set a positive course of hopeful expectations for a healthy pregnancy and a birth that you can look forward to. Learn to distinguish between the real dos and don'ts of pregnancy, set a foundation of appreciating pregnancy and birth as normal life events, surround yourself with positive stories about birth, sharpen your decision making skills and intuition and discover the exercises and practices that you most need to be doing to prepare for birth, but that no one is probably telling you about. This class meets for 2 hours on a weekend morning. Plan to attend with a partner/support person or on your own, whichever you prefer. (Class fee includes pregnant person + their support person.)
Investment for this class is $50
This in-person class meets regularly in a Zoom format especially for those who aren't quite feeling up and out during the demanding first rimester. It's also occasionally offered at Kith + Kin in Brewerytown where you can enjoy learning in a lovely, calming space and envisioning the days when you can bring your own baby to play there!
Confident & Prepared Birth Class
This class covers all that you need to know from the very first signs of labor until the birth of your baby. You'll know how to recognize the stages & phases of labor as well as what to do during each. You'll understand routine and special-case medical interventions, your rights as an informed decision-maker and how to communicate your preferences to your care team. You'll be equipped with all of the most helpful comfort tools for labor including relaxation techniques, movement, hands-on support from partners and practical tips so brilliant you'll feel like a pro going into birth.
This class is offered in two different formats in order to meet your learning style and scheduling needs. About once a month, Confident & Prepared birth is offered as a One-Day Class for 6 hours on a weekend afternoon from 12-6pm. Six full hours together gives enough time for ample breaks and a pace that will leave you energized rather than overwhelmed.
You can also take this class as a Three-Week Virtual Series paired with an optional in-person workshop. Offered quarterly, the three virtual classes are held on a weekday evening from 6:30-8:30pm. Pregnant people taking this class over the past year have enjoyed the convenience of spacing out the class over three weeks, while having to find parking zero times! Wind down from work day, enjoy your dinner, wear your most comfortable clothes while still enjoying a group childbirth class experience. And if you feel comfortable with an in-person bonus session, the 2 hour in-person workshop will be held on a weekend afternoon following the completion of your 3 week virtual class. This in-person session will give the opportunity for demonstration and practice of positions, comfort techniques and just to enjoy meeting your fellow class attendees in real life.
The in-person One Day Class as well as the in-person workshop will be held at Fishtown Montessori at 1212 Marlborough St in Fishtown. This gorgeous, immaculate, peaceful space will give us ample room to space out and feel confident about safety and comfort. Attendance of your partner/support person is strongly encouraged and is included in the class fee.
Investment for this class is $250.
Postpartum Wellness, Breastfeeding and Newborn Care
Welcoming your new baby means that you are endeavoring three important and demanding jobs - care of your postpartum body & mind, learning how to breastfeed confidently and practical care of your newborn baby. This class will help you and your partner know what to expect and how to create the best possible support to thrive in all of these roles. Postpartum wellness topics include what to expect during your early hours and days at the hospital, how to care for your healing postpartum body and optimizing emotional support and healthy expectations for the postpartum period. You'll learn the basics of breastfeeding such as getting a good latch, how often to feed your baby and how to know that your baby is getting enough milk, how to handle common challenges and practical solutions for breastfeeding. We'll also discuss pumping, baby's first bottle, safe storage of milk and returning to work. You'll become familiar with typical newborn appearance and behavior, cover the basics of diapering, dressing and bathing your baby as well as supporting healthy sleep for your baby and yourself. Attendance of your partner/support person is strongly encouraged.
This in-person class meets at Minnow Lane in Fishtown.
Investment for this class is $125
Self-paced online & private class options
NOW AVAILABLE - pre-recorded options for all classes!
All of the same content from my award-winning group classes is now available in a recorded format, and includes access to all of the handouts and extra resources that the group class students receive. You will also be invited to participate in a monthly Zoom session to connect with other expectant parents and have your own unique questions and needs addressed.
Positively Pregnant Online - $20
Confident & Prepared Birth Online - $95
Postpartum, Breastfeeding & Newborns Online - $50
Full Series 3 Class Bundle - $145
Combination Online & Private Birth class
This combination online/private class format is perfect if you need a flexible format but would still like the opportunity to have a personalized, interactive session to address your particular needs and questions. First you will complete the Confident & Prepared Birth pre-recorded class on your own time, at your own pace. Then with the fundamentals under your belt, you will enjoy a 1.5 hour session taught privately in your home* or via Zoom to review the most important information from your online class, to address questions particular to your needs and plans for birth and to practice comfort techniques for labor.
The investment for this combination course is $250 for an in-person* session, $175 for a private Zoom session.
*in-home private classes are available within a 15 mile radius of Philadelphia.
Private in-home classes outside of this area may be considered and would include a travel-fee
Fully Private In-person Classes
Fully private classes are available starting at $300 for 3 hours and $50 for each additional hour. Please email Elizabeth to request a private class and to discuss the desired content focus & length of class.
In-home private classes are available within a 15 mile radius of Philadelphia. Private in-home classes outside of this area may be considered and would include a travel-fee
In-home private classes are available within a 15 mile radius of Philadelphia. Private in-home classes outside of this area may be considered and would include a travel-fee
Maybe you wandered here looking for a "Lamaze Class." Elizabeth is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator - BUT - when you hear "Lamaze" don't just think "breathing." Sure, once upon a time Lamaze classes were best known for teaching breathing techniques so that people who wanted an awake & aware, partner-supported birth could have some methods for coping while confined to their bed during labor. Thankfully, birth has come a long way since then, and so has Lamaze!
Today's Lamaze classes guide you as you discover the knowledge your body already has about how to give birth, equips you with information about how to be a shared decision maker with your medical care team, and gives you a wealth of practical tools and suggestions for staying as comfortable and confident as possible through the work of labor. For more about the Lamaze approach to birth and the Lamaze 6 Healthy Birth Practices check out the bottom of this page or visit Lamaze.org
Today's Lamaze classes guide you as you discover the knowledge your body already has about how to give birth, equips you with information about how to be a shared decision maker with your medical care team, and gives you a wealth of practical tools and suggestions for staying as comfortable and confident as possible through the work of labor. For more about the Lamaze approach to birth and the Lamaze 6 Healthy Birth Practices check out the bottom of this page or visit Lamaze.org
Lamaze is a trusted leader from pregnancy through parenthood, promoting a natural, healthy & safe approach to birth based on the most current medical evidence.