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Third Trimester

What to Look for in a Childbirth Course

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Elaine Zwelling
By Elaine Zwelling R.N., Ph.D., L.C.C.E., F.A.C.C.E.
Meet our authors
Elaine Zwelling, R.N., Ph.D., has been involved in maternal-newborn health care for 40 years. She has a bachelor's degree in nursing from Capital University and a master's degree in nursing and a Ph.D. in Family Relations and Human Development from Ohio State University. Dr. Zwelling brings to the Pampers Parenting Network her experience of helping expectant parents enjoy their pregnancy, plan and create a positive birth experience, and learn about parenting their newborn baby. She is certified by Lamaze International as a childbirth educator, is a Fellow in the American College of Childbirth Educators, and has taught childbirth classes for 25 years. Dr. Zwelling was the director and faculty for the Lamaze International Childbirth Educator Certification Program of Florida; in that role she prepared many nurses to become childbirth educators.

Dr. Zwelling was a Professor of Maternal-Newborn Nursing for 23 years at both Capital University and Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. At these institutions she taught undergraduate and graduate students and conducted research. For eight years she was a Senior Consultant with Phillips &; Fenwick, a women's health consulting firm in Santa Cruz, California, specializing in helping hospitals implement family-centered maternity care. Currently Dr. Zwelling is a Perinatal Nurse Consultant with the Hill-Rom Company. In this position, she provides comprehensive support and consultation to hospital maternity units to create quality care environments equipped with the appropriate equipment for labor and birth and provides clinical education for nursing staff.

Dr. Zwelling is the co-author of a maternal-newborn nursing textbook, Maternal-Newborn Nursing: Theory and Practice, and has published many professional journal articles related to maternal-newborn health care, family-centered maternity care, and childbirth education. Dr. Zwelling is a recognized speaker at professional conferences and teaches continuing education seminars for childbirth educators and perinatal nurses throughout the country.

Dr. Zwelling resides in Sarasota, Florida, and has a grown son, lovely daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.
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One of the best things you can do before giving birth is attend a childbirth course. These classes will give you and your partner a lot of information and support to help you during labor and birth. You'll get to meet other pregnant couples and share advice and concerns with them. And taking part in a childbirth course will increase your confidence as you face the big event.

 Differences Among Courses

 What a Good Course Offers



Differences Among Courses

 

Not all childbirth courses are created equal. Some are primarily lectures and merely inform you about what you can expect when you go to the hospital for delivery. Others are more interactive. Interactive courses are kept small, usually with no more than 10 couples; this allows for one-on-one instruction in practicing comfort measures and creates a more intimate atmosphere in which to share advice and concerns. Some courses discuss the choices available to you in terms of pain relief, optional procedures (such as episiotomy), and where to deliver (at home, in a hospital, or in a birthing center). Be an inquisitive consumer as you look for a course; don't choose one just because it's held at your hospital or close by.

 

What a Good Course Offers

 

Here are things you should look for when shopping around:

 

    • at least 12 hours of instruction, with classes spread out over several days or weeks;

       

 
    • an emphasis on practicing pain management skills (relaxation, positioning, massage, breathing) for you, and labor support for your partner;

       

 
    • small classes, with no more than 10 to 12 couples; 

       

 
    • a curriculum that supports birth as normal and natural and empowers couples to make informed choices;

       

 
    • class content that includes labor, birth, early postpartum (the time right after the baby is born), the newborn, breastfeeding, and adjusting to parenthood. Other topics should include medical procedures (such as fetal monitoring and episiotomy), medication, anesthesia, communication skills, and healthy lifestyles;

       

 
    • time for questions and discussion;

       

 
    • an instructor who's a nationally certified childbirth educator. Lamaze International and International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) both certify.
 

The cost of a childbirth course varies. Some hospitals do not charge at all and incorporate the course into their basic obstetrical package for in-patients. If there is a charge, it may run anywhere from $35 to $75, depending upon the length of each class and the number of classes.

To learn more about childbirth courses and to find one in your area, visit the Web sites of Lamaze International and the ICEA.
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For more information on the pain management techniques you might learn in a childbirth course, see our article on Comfort Measures. You might also learn special skills and exercises; to read more about these, see Life Skills.

 

 

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