Prenatal and Parenting Classes
If your heart's desire is to welcome, with utmost confidence, your baby's arrival.... being prepared and as ready as you can be.... I invite you to explore wise woman prenatal & parenting classes with me.
Doulas of Vancouver Info Events
Each month our doula collective presents a free info event on a topic relevant to birth and babies. Please join us for an informative session and meet the doulas in our group. These events are open to our clients and other expectant and new parents. Registration is required. Next event is about The Early Days of Breastfeeding on June 28. Followed on July 20th by Comfort Measures for Labour and Birth.
www.doulasofvancouver.ca/infonights
www.doulasofvancouver.ca/infonights
Consultations
Private consultations (home sessions) are geared to those with busy schedules or limited time. You will enjoy personal attention with the flexibility to create your own schedule and content.
Group classes with a structured format are shared with expectant and new parents. *Organize a group of your own (minimum 2 couples) for a private class on any topics!
"We really want to thank you! My husband and I were discussing how lucky we are to have such a content and easy baby for the most part. Up until he was about 5-6 weeks old we thought we were in for it and we struggled. Then we connected with you, and honestly ever since your visit here things have become easier and better day by day. You really reassured me that my instinct was the best to follow, and that I shouldn't be ashamed or worried about creating bad habits with co sleeping and baby wearing.
I did some research along with the tips you gave me, and I truly believe what we have been practicing is best for our baby. I have a whole new understanding and commitment to our baby now and it's working beautifully! So thank you for bringing all of this to light for me and for your continued support with our little guy! You have been a tremendous help!" Kayla & Ryan
Sweet Sleep Strategies/Solutions
Two hour session to understand normal newborn/infant sleep; learn about nap time and nighttime sleep
strategies and solutions; nursing and nighttime; safe choices for sleep space ie. family bed, solitary bed, co-sleeping
and how to nurture positive, pleasant sleep habits for your infant based in knowing their capacity and stage of
development.
Fee: $100
strategies and solutions; nursing and nighttime; safe choices for sleep space ie. family bed, solitary bed, co-sleeping
and how to nurture positive, pleasant sleep habits for your infant based in knowing their capacity and stage of
development.
Fee: $100
Practical Baby Care Preparation
Receive valuable wisdom from a doula who's cared for hundreds of babies.
In this two hour home session inexperienced parents (both expectant and new) practice and learn
essential baby care skills.
Never held a newborn? Never changed a diaper?
How to hold a baby to burp... when.. for how long?
How DO you bathe a baby? What bathtub is best? How OFTEN should you bathe a baby, use soap?
Fee: $100
In this two hour home session inexperienced parents (both expectant and new) practice and learn
essential baby care skills.
Never held a newborn? Never changed a diaper?
How to hold a baby to burp... when.. for how long?
How DO you bathe a baby? What bathtub is best? How OFTEN should you bathe a baby, use soap?
Fee: $100
“We cannot put in words how much Debra's baby prep session has helped our family! In a few hours that we have spent with her, we had all our questions answered and much more! Her wisdom, calm demeanor and ability to listen to the needs of parents and babies has helped me and my husband regain hope and confidence that we can take a good care of our baby boy. As first time parents without extra support here, we are really grateful to Debra for ensuring that we can gain enough knowledge to provide comfort for our newborn.” Diana and Cedric
'Making Sense of Your Baby' Class
Expectant parent... turning your focus toward ‘life with baby’? New Parent... your baby has arrived and you need answers?
This 4 hour group class focuses on the basics of preparing for ‘life with baby’.
Parents gain an understanding of their baby’s fundamental needs and how to fulfill them.
Topics covered:
· What to expect from your infant
· What is normal infant sleep? Strategies to maximize your sleep!
· What’s your baby trying to tell you? Learn to understand an infant’s cues and pre-cry
sounds
· 5 ways to calm a crying baby. Learn soothing techniques that work!
· Why baby wearing? Demos and practice with different carriers
Content is based in current research and neuroscience pertaining to an infant’s primal needs in the first year of life.
Parents gain an understanding of their baby’s fundamental needs and how to fulfill them.
Topics covered:
· What to expect from your infant
· What is normal infant sleep? Strategies to maximize your sleep!
· What’s your baby trying to tell you? Learn to understand an infant’s cues and pre-cry
sounds
· 5 ways to calm a crying baby. Learn soothing techniques that work!
· Why baby wearing? Demos and practice with different carriers
Content is based in current research and neuroscience pertaining to an infant’s primal needs in the first year of life.
Group Fee: $95/couple Early bird rate: $85 till 2 weeks before the class Single rate: $50 Private session fee: $140 (3hr.)
Group classes: Fall and winter dates TBD
Group classes: Fall and winter dates TBD
'Debra's newborn class was definitely insightful for a pair of total newbie parents and well worth it! Learning about the 5 S's was helpful for calming our new baby. Almost four months later we still use most of those techniques to help her settle!
The universal crying sounds and identifying hunger cues information were also incredibly helpful for navigating the new baby haze.
The combined knowledge and expertise of Debra & Bonnie really helped us feel more confident about life with our new arrival.' Simone
Breastfeeding Class
In this class expectant mothers learn the essentials of the womanly art of breastfeeding.
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Topics covered:
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Home Birth Seminar
Planning a home birth, considering one, or just curious about it?
This 3 hour seminar explores all aspects of preparing for a home birth.
Topics covered:
2018 Dates: Aug. 19, Oct. 28
This 3 hour seminar explores all aspects of preparing for a home birth.
Topics covered:
- Is home birth safe?
- Who is eligible?
- Reasons people choose to have their baby at home.
- How to prepare for a home birth/water birth.
- What to tell friends and family.
- What supplies one needs to purchase.
- Specific pros and cons.
- How to maximize the benefits and minimize any risks.
2018 Dates: Aug. 19, Oct. 28
"My husband and I attended the Home Birth Seminar hosted by Debra at the Childbearing Society. We were sure we wanted to have a home birth but felt the information on home birth classes was limited. I was so happy to come across the home birth seminar with Debra and felt the seminar gave us great information on home birth, was an open and friendly environment and only made us feel more confident in our decision of having a home birth. Thank you Debra" Susan
Natural Birth Seminar
This class presents a fresh unique perspective, providing expectant couples with insight into physiologic normal birth.
This 5 hour class (for home or hospital birth setting) focuses on exploring what it means to birth naturally (vaginal birth, drug and intervention free). Participants gain understanding of what normal is in order to optimize the elements needed for a safe, natural, more comfortable and satisfying experience. They engage in group activities, brainstorming, examinations into their ideas about birth, in order to gain clarity regarding their values and what's most important for them.
Topics covered:
Register: http://www.childbearing.org/natural-birth-seminar/
2018 Dates: Sept. 22
This 5 hour class (for home or hospital birth setting) focuses on exploring what it means to birth naturally (vaginal birth, drug and intervention free). Participants gain understanding of what normal is in order to optimize the elements needed for a safe, natural, more comfortable and satisfying experience. They engage in group activities, brainstorming, examinations into their ideas about birth, in order to gain clarity regarding their values and what's most important for them.
Topics covered:
- what is normal, healthy physiologic birth and the benefits
- the science of birthing hormones and their role in keeping birth safe
- reframing pain; address and release fears
- how to optimize natural birth: undisturbed environment, care provider, support persons
- exploration into our cultural norm - the over medicalization of birth, current evidence based research that supports physiologic process vs routine intervention
- template to create your 'Birth Vision' to aid discussion with care providers, hospital staff
- access to resource materials including books, articles and current research
Register: http://www.childbearing.org/natural-birth-seminar/
2018 Dates: Sept. 22
“The Natural Birth seminar has opened lots of windows for my partner and I to discuss afterwards, and to plan for our team work during birth. The class made us think and “forced” us (in a good way) to confront our opinions (with my partner) and to confront (with myself) my own intuitions/fears/norms/expectations.” Nina de Saint Vincent
Childbirth Preparation Class
Coming from my doula perspective with much first hand experience I bring a unique slant to this childbirth class.
I present tried and true helpful tips and share positive birth stories.
*Option to customize a class that is tailored to your specific needs. Learn exactly what you want, nothing you don't want! Save money and time! For example, combine labour comfort measures with newborn care or breastfeeding education.
I present tried and true helpful tips and share positive birth stories.
*Option to customize a class that is tailored to your specific needs. Learn exactly what you want, nothing you don't want! Save money and time! For example, combine labour comfort measures with newborn care or breastfeeding education.
For First Time Parents - 3 hour private prenatal class (for planned home or hospital birth setting)
Topics covered:
Fee: $150
Topics covered:
- understanding labor and birth from a holistic approach to facilitate normal, healthy physiologic labor
- practical comfort measures, relaxation techniques, positions and massage; use of TENS; practice with partners' participation
- routine medical procedures/interventions, pain medications and their risks/benefits; informed consent/refusal
- 'Is this it?' How to really know when it's the real thing; understanding what is normal for early phase of labor
- access to resource materials, including DVDs, books, handouts, articles
Fee: $150
Intensive Refresher - for the family expecting another addition
- a condensed version with attention to current information that differs from when you last had a baby
- discussion with siblings, to prepare to attend the birth, or being with baby shortly after the birth
"I want to tell you again thank you for such a comprehensive and thoughtful prenatal class. Meeting with you was a game changer for us. I laboured at home until I was 6cm, then had an unmedicated vaginal delivery. My husband was an incredible support. He used the take charge technique to the maximum. It was incredible. I have nothing but positive feelings about my entire labour experience and am certain the preparation we did made a huge impact on our daughter's entrance. It wasn’t easy but then again I never thought it would be. I just felt prepared and with the right combination of people supporting us we have a healthy beautiful daughter. " Tricia