Natural Childbirth Classes with Denyse Ffrench

Most people do not grow up learning much about birth and the birth process. We don’t know much, and don’t think about it much, until we consider having a child of our own, or until we (or our partner) are already pregnant. Birth is a natural body process that will happen whether we prepare or not, but learning what to expect from our body, how to work with our body, what is normal and what isn’t normal, and what our choices are, can alleviate much of our fear and stress around the birth process, and can empower couples and help them enter their labor with confidence. After teaching natural childbirth classes for 17 years, and attending births during much of that time, I have been able to gather a lot of real information about what will help couples during their birth and I love sharing that information. This class is about learning useful, evidence-based information, that will help you make choices that are best for you. You will not be pushed in to having any “type” of birth. I want you to make choices for you.

Topics for 9 week course

Week 1 - Introductions, birth as a natural body process, physical exercises and relaxation.
Week 2 - Nutrition for pregnancy and beyond (guest speaker), models of childbirth.
Week 3 - First stage of labor, what is your body already doing to prepare for labor? Pre-labor signs, onset of labor to full dilation.
Week 4 - Pushing and birth of baby, birth positions, pushing techniques, birth of the placenta.
Week 5 - Comfort Measures Part I, massage practice.
Week 6 - Comfort Measures part II, labor rehearsal, birth planning.
Week 7 - Medical interventions, natural alternatives, complications and variations in labor, C-section.
Week 8 - Breastfeeding class (guest speaker).
Week 9 - Postpartum and the newborn.

Upcoming classes

When

5 Week Spring 2019 - Thursdays
April 11, 2019 - May 9, 2019
6:30pm-9:15pm
$210

Where

Sweet Peas Studio
3717 N. Ravenswood
Chicago

Week	Date	Topic
Week 1	April 11	1st stage of labor, pre-labor signs, onset of labor, signposts of early, active and transition stages.
Week 2	Aoril 18	2nd stage of labor, pushing, pushing positions, 3rds stage of labor.
Week 3	April 25	Comfort Measures part I, massage
Week 4	May 2	Comfort Measures part II, labor rehearsal, birth planning
Week 5	May 9	medical interventions, avoiding interventions, complications and variations, c-section.

When

Spring 2019 - Wednesdays
May 29, 2019 - August 7, 2019
6:30pm-9:15pm
$350

Where

Sweet Peas Studio
3717 N. Ravenswood
Chicago

Week	Date	Topic
Week 1	May 29	Class introduction, discussion of labor discomfort, medical and women-centered models of childbirth.
Week 2	June 5	Nutrition
Week 3	June 12	1st stage of labor, pre-labor signs, onset of labor, signposts of early, active and transition stages.
-	June 19	No class
-	June 26	No class
Week 4	July 3	2nd stage of labor, pushing, pushing positions, 3rds stage of labor.
Week 5	July 10	Comfort Measures part I, massage
Week 6	July 17	Comfort Measures part II, labor rehearsal, birth planning
Week 7	July 24	medical interventions, avoiding interventions, complications and variations, c-section.
Week 8	July 31	Breastfeeding
Week 9	August 7	labor rehearsal, postpartum, newborn

When

Summer 2019 - Thursday
July 11, 2019 - September 5, 2019
6:30pm-9:15pm
$350

Where

Sweet Peas Studio
3717 N. Ravenswood
Chicago

Week	Date	Topic
Week 1	July 11	Class introduction, discussion of labor discomfort, medical and women-centered models of childbirth.
Week 2	July 18	Nutrition
Week 3	July 25	1st stage of labor, pre-labor signs, onset of labor, signposts of early, active and transition stages.
Week 4	August 1	2nd stage of labor, pushing, pushing positions, 3rds stage of labor.
Week 5	August 8	Comfort Measures part I, massage
Week 6	August 15	Comfort Measures part II, labor rehearsal, birth planning
Week 7	August 22	medical interventions, avoiding interventions, complications and variations, c-section.
Week 8	August 29	Breastfeeding
Week 9	September 5	labor rehearsal, postpartum, newborn

When

Summer 2019 - Wednesday
July 11, 2019 - September 5, 2019
6:30pm-9:15pm
$350

Where

Sweet Peas Studio
3717 N. Ravenswood
Chicago

Week	Date	Topic
Week 1	August 21	Class introduction, discussion of labor discomfort, medical and women-centered models of childbirth.
Week 2	August 28	Nutrition
Week 3	September 4	1st stage of labor, pre-labor signs, onset of labor, signposts of early, active and transition stages.
Week 4	September 11	2nd stage of labor, pushing, pushing positions, 3rds stage of labor.
Week 5	September 18	Comfort Measures part I, massage
Week 6	ASeptember 25	Comfort Measures part II, labor rehearsal, birth planning
Week 7	October 2	medical interventions, avoiding interventions, complications and variations, c-section.
Week 8	October 9	Breastfeeding
Week 9	October 16	labor rehearsal, postpartum, newborn