About Childbirth Educators

What is a Childbirth Educator?

Childbirth educators teach expectant parents how to prepare for labor, birth, and the postpartum period. They teach techniques to help with relaxation and pain in labor, methods to use throughout the childbirth process, as well as information on late pregnancy, labor, breastfeeding, postpartum, and newborn care.

There are many different types of Childbirth Educators and class options. Below are just a few.

BirthWorks

One of the unique factors of this method of childbirth is its focus on both the emotional as well as physical aspects of the birthing woman. Birth Works takes into account that a woman’s emotions and beliefs around birth have a huge effect on birth’s outcome, and that any issues must be addressed prior to the birthing time. The method incorporates preparation of body, mind, and spirit in a way that helps the mother to gain a higher trust in herself and her innate ability to give birth. Other areas of focus include nutrition, exercise, birth plans, breastfeeding, and postpartum issues, as well as traditional topics such as components of labor, pelvic body work, labor positions, comfort measures for labor, etc..

BirthWorks International
P.O. Box 2045
Medford, NJ 08055
1-888-TO-BIRTH (888-862-4784)

The Bradley Method

Also known as Husband Coached Childbirth, the Bradley Method is based on information about how the human body works during labor, and it emphasizes the husband’s role for support of the birthing mother. Couples are taught how they can work with their bodies to reduce pain and make their labors more efficient, as well as methods to use to avoid medication, natural breathing, and guided imagery. There is a strong emphasis on pre-natal nutrition throughout the class.

American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth
Box 5224
Sherman Oaks, CA 91413-5224
1-800-4-A-BIRTH | (818) 788-6662

Lamaze

This is one of the most well-known and widely used methods. It teaches the laboring mother to birth with confidence using several different techniques, including movement and positioning, labor support, massage, relaxation, hydrotherapy, the use of hot and cold, as well as incorporating focused breathing techniques to ease through labor.

Lamaze Administrative Office
2025 M Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036-3309
1-800-368-4404 | (202) 367-1128
Fax: 202-367-2128

Birthing from Within

This form of childbirth education utilizes projects such as artwork and journalism to approach any fears, emotions or concerns surrounding labor and birth. It focuses on experiencing birth as a rite of passage, opening the body-mind connection before and during labor and birth using self-hypnosis and visualization, and on methods to overcome specific fears surrounding birth and the pain associated with it.

Birthing from Within
P.O.Box 4528
Albuquerque, NM 87106
1-505-254-4884

International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA)

This group lives by the philosophy "the freedom of choice based on knowledge of alternatives in family-centered maternity and newborn care." They educate about all options in childbirth, help prepare for labor, birth, and parenthood, encourage individualized care with minimal medical intervention, and promote the development of safe, low-cost alternatives in childbirth. They emphasize the importance of birth as an event that forms new relationships and connections within the family. Other specialists certified by ICEA include postnatal educators and perinatal fitness educators.

ICEA
1500 Sunday Drive, Suite 102
Raleigh, NC 27607
1-800-624-4934 | (919) 863-9487 

Hypnosis for Childbirth

Hypnotherapy has become an increasingly popular method of managing fear, anxiety, and pain in labor. This method of preparation for childbirth focuses on mental and physical relaxation during labor. It is based on the notion that increased tension leads to increased pain, and by practicing to decrease tension in the body, the sense of pain can be controlled or diminished. Hypnosis can also work with fears and emotions stemming from previous birth experiences. Some methods incorporate other areas of focus including breathing, visualization, nutrition, and perineal massage.

Below are some of the more popular forms of hypnosis used in childbirth.

HypnoBirthing®
5640 E. Bell Rd. #1073
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
1-602-788-6198

Hypnobabies
7108 Katella Avenue #241
Stanton, CA 90680
1-714-952-BABY (2229)

The Leclaire Method
The Mind Body Center
Attn: Michelle Leclaire O'Neill, Ph.D., R.N.
855 Via de la Paz, Suite 1
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
1-310-454-0920 

Finding Childbirth Classes

To find childbirth classes near you, visit the Education and Support section of our Directory to search for Childbirth Educators. If you would like to find more information on Childbirth Education, read through our Articles, browse through our Blog, or post a question in our Forum.

Best of luck to you in your and your baby's birth!