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

Winter 2019 - Thursdays
January 31, 2019 - April 4, 2019
(no class February 22nd)
6:30pm-9:15pm

Where

Sweet Peas Studio
3717 N. Ravenswood
Chicago

Up next

Spring 2019 - Mondays
March 11, 2019 - May 6, 2019

Spring 2019 - 5 week labor and comfort measures class.
(Content covered is the same as weeks 3-7 in the longer class).
April 11, 2019 - May 9, 2019