Seeking recommendations for Natural Childbirth Classes in DC

[Anonymous]

First time mom here due in mid-Oct.

Any suggestions for natural childbirth classes in DC? I may not be able to have an epidural due to a medical condition, so I want to be ready to go at it without painkiller if need be.

Also, if I am due mid-Oct. When would you suggest taking the class?

Does it make sense to do this in addition to the L&D class that we will take at the hospital I may be delivering at?

[Anonymous]

Definitely take a Bradley class. They are really geared toward natural childbirth, and give you the tools to be successful at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely take a Bradley class. They are really geared toward natural childbirth, and give you the tools to be successful at it.

Any recommendations of where or with who?

[Anonymous]

susan gunn teaches a bradley class on capital hill and in adams morgan. she's wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Our doula, Suzanne McGowan, teaches Bradley classes on Capitol Hill. We didn't take the class with her (we took the weekend version of Birthworks with Susan Messina because my husband's travel schedule made a multi-week class impossible), but thought she was fantastic as a doula. And I did have a natural birth, although having a very short labor certainly helped!

http://www.naturalbirthdc.com/

[Anonymous]

I am going to start taking Susan Gunn's Bradly class in Adams Morgan (so I can't say how good it is yet). I have heard from several sources who had successful natural child birth that Bradley is the way to go, though from what I have heard it is a bit ideological. You sign up for classes so you are taking them during your third trimester. Here is a website about the Bradley Method in general: http://www.bradleybirth.com/. And here is the website for Susan Gunn: http://www.bradleybirth.com/ndweb.asp?ID=G322. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

There are a number of different classes that focus on natural childbirth and they all have different pros and cons. I don't think that any of the classes are one size fits all -- everyone pregnancy is different and every individual copes with pain in their own way. It's a good idea to look at the philosophy behind the different natural childbirth methods and to try to determine which of them is most consistent with your own personal style. I took a birthing from within class and really felt it worked for me, but I could imagine that it wouldn't work for everyone. Other posters may tell you just to read books and you don't need to waste money on a class. The birth options alliance website is a good guide to the different options available and where they are taught in the DC area. You can find them at www.birthoptionsalliance.org.

There are also some great books you can get to supplement the classes, including The Birth Partner (good for your partner to read) and Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth.