investing in childbirth education

pregnancy can be overwhelming

and so can the choices when it comes to childbirth education and doula services. 

In Canada these are out of pocket expenses (unless you have a Health Spending allowance under your benefits) and for many families that's a hard cost to justify. But there are significant differences between a private- tailored to you childbirth education package
and public or even group sessions. 

Here are 9 reasons why investing in private childbirth classes gets better results:

1. Independent Birth Educators Are Specialists In What They Do

An independent birth educator is trained specifically in birth education. Some are also skilled in other areas including midwifery, birth attendants (doulas), natural therapists and more. Birth education is a major component of an independent educator’s work, compared to other providers who are not specialized in provided education. Other providers may rotate educators, so you never know who you’ll get, what their philosophies and attitudes towards birth are and let’s face it – they may not even like presenting birth education. It may be a part of their job they are required to do. Either way, independent educators are passionate about birth education and they educate because they love what they do – and it shows.

Independent birth educators know the right way to encourage both yourself and your partner to feel comfortable and engaged – its part of their specific training. 

Even if you’ve had a bad experience before, great birth education is so important, so don’t give up – find something better! Don't settle, there’s lots more you can learn from independent education that you’ve not heard in public funded classes.

2. Childbirth Educators Teach Information Not Based Around Hospital Policy, But What’s Best For YOU

Hospitals all have varying maternity policies so whoever makes the decisions can influence what you can and can’t do.  

3. You’ll See Birth DVDs Designed To Inspire Not Frighten

There are many factors that result in how a woman copes in labour. Using positive birth stories and DVD's can be a wonderful tool to inspire not used to frighten and increase fears and anxiety. A private childbirth educator can select an assort of media based on your birth choices from home birth, water, hospital or birth centre.  

4. You’ll Learn Many More Tools And Options For Natural Pain Relief

Both yourself and your partner will have more confidence on how to cope with the tougher parts to labour if you are given more options and tools for natural pain relief. That one thing that ends up being your lifesaver, helping you get through without pain relief, may be so simple. If you happen to be in a class which skims this part of the education or omits it altogether in preference of pharmaceutical pain relief, then thats the path you are most likely to take – because you don’t know any other options and you just cannot think about it and what you want in labour (apart from wanting to get the baby out – NOW!). A private educator with teach you the ins and outs of all types of pain reliefs options.

5. You Will Find Out ALL Your Options For Childbirth

Again, independent birth educators do not operate based on policy, but what is possible for you – what options and rights you have as a labouring couple. There will be no ‘we do this’ or ‘we do that’ only, ‘you could choose to do this’ or ‘you could choose to do that’ – with the pros and cons both ways. It is a much more balanced view of what’s possible, with the view that your body is extremely capable – and not just what everyone else is like.

6. Because You Do Get What You Pay For

Birth educators educate for a living, their livelihood depends on presenting great classes which couples enjoy. Great word of mouth feedback comes from their clients who leave the classes feeling great about birth – informed, empowered and educated.

So it’s in their best interest to make sure the class is worth it to you, since it’s their own business and not someone else’s. Some hospitals offer their classes for free, some don’t – either way your money is best invested in independent education. The care factor is so much more evident during independent classes. The educators genuinely want you to have a great experience and have great philosophies about birth.

7. You Know Who You Are Getting

Independent birth educators often operate individually or in a small team, so you will know who you are getting. You will be able to find out what their testimonials and feedback are like before you go, so you know you are getting a great service. They are also happy to take your calls and questions before and after the classes and trying to locate them isn’t as difficult as in a big establishment!

8. Helps Partners Get More Involved

Because more time is spent on tools you can use, and the classes are more in depth in general, fathers-to-be learn much more and feel more comfortable getting involved – which is good for dads-to-be and good for mum-to-be. It’s so important that a partner learns and understands what’s going on during labour, as a support person who panics or is unsettled in labour will have the same effect on the mum – she needs someone solid as a rock to get her through. Pain relief is often used by mothers to help escape that horrible feeling of not being supported, or when she feels frightened or anxious.

If a partner only knows that if there is pain, the only way he can help is to offer pain relief, then thats likely where the birth will go. Men tend to be ‘fixers’, they like to fix, and there is nothing wrong with that, but this puts them very much outside their comfort zone in birth, where there is nothing he can do to take it all away. Labour is not a time for saving or fixing, but encouraging and reassuring!

9. It Will Help Better Form Your Birth Preferences (aka Plan)

If you are more aware of your options and choices, then you will be able to have a more in-depth discussion with your partner and your support people about the choices in your birth plan. You will have more control over what you want, rather than feeling you have to ‘leave it to the experts.’ You don’t need to be an expert to have a great, empowered birth, but you do need to inform yourself and your support people and make choices based on what you have learnt. And the best, unbiased place to learn about your REAL options and gain more knowledge and tools for your birth is through independent childbirth education.

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