Good Birthing Classes in the Tualatin/Portland Area?

I haven't given birth yet, but so far I've taken several at OHSU. We still have one left - childbirth from A to Z - and so I can't comment on that one. I can say that the relaxation techniques for life & labor was a total waste of time, and their infant care class wasn't too helpful either, but the infant safety/CPR was EXCELLENT! We've hired a doula to be present at our birth, and I've read tons of books including the Birthing from Within book & some Bradley Method books & the Ina May book, so I feel prepared enough if the Childbirth A-Z one is a dud. Don't know if that helps at all... Just make sure to read books in addition to taking classes.

Most hospitals provide basic birth classes, but I would skip those and take something more substantial that really prepares you for laboring and birth the way YOU want to do it (not the hospital's way). Especially if you want to be able to make informed choices about your options and advocate for yourself, and ESPECIALLY if you have any desire to to have all or part of it be a natural experience.

There are basically three popular approaches. I did tons of research and talked to tons of people before choosing, including some midwives who'd seen it all, so I'll give you my take:

Bradley, Hypnobirthing, and Birthing from Within. Different people like all of these, and their different approaches speak to different people, of course. They will all teach you some of the same things, but have some differences in how they suggest you manage the pain of labor and birthing. Bradley is mostly about breathing. Hypnobirthing is mostly about learning to be in a very relaxed state, and Birthing from Within is about finding your creativity and giving you lots of tools to choose from. (these are really simplified descriptions, but no room to write the books here :).

I know people who have loved all of these methods. Bradley works extremely well for some people. So does Hypnobirthing. Both produce some beautiful births. But I talked to plenty of women who have really struggled with birth after both of those programs as well. Many women feel that if they "do it right" they can have a pain-free (or nearly pain-free) labor - which ends up being true for some women, but not for others. When their labors are, in fact, painful, they are surprised, disappointed, and experience feelings of inadequacy, guilt, etc. Especially if they end up needing some kind of intervention. I like Birthing from Within because it gives you lots of tools to work with so you can choose what works for YOU (rather than being pigeonholed into something that works great for some women, but not necessarily all women), and it really empowers you to find your strength within and do it how you want (like if you want a natural birth, it will really give you what you need to do that), but also prepares you to have a beautiful birth experience even if things out of your control change it from what you imagined.

That's my take. Good luck making your decision!

My husband and I took the classes at Meridian Park Hospital, and I loved our teacher, Denise. I left the classes feeling very prepared, excited and confident. I now have 2 children, neither of their births followed my "birthing plan" but I had such amazing, wonderful and perfect experiences both times. I'm sure it depends somewhat on the teacher you have, and who can predict that, but I would highly recommend the classes at Meridian Park.

Since this is your first baby, you should know about this event: http://www.passitonsales.com It's a huge consignment sale for babies, kids, and even maternity clothes (in case you still need some of that!). It only happens twice a year and the next one is coming up Sept 26-28!

BUT I'm telling you because there is a Presale for New/First Time Moms and Dads the night before it opens to the public! Only a limited number of passes are given out and you can still register for one! New Moms get to shop Sept 25, 5-8pm

TONS of high quality and name brand baby clothes, toys, furniture, gear, and equipment. Strollers, slings, boppys, blankets, full bedding sets, even breast pumps. Everything you need and then some!!! Seriously, look at the pictures online. You will not be disappointed. :)

Where are you having the baby? Hospital, birthing center, home?

Now don't cringe...I have Kaiser insurance so we decided to take our classes through them. I'm actually really impressed at the strides Kaiser is taking to educate mothers and fathers to be to advocate for themselves and not to think they have to do it the "hospital's way."

Since I'm about to have my first child next month, I felt a little better about the idea of having a hospital birth but was nervous that I was going to have to get drugs or worried the doctors would push their ideas on me but our instructor for our Preparation For Birth class at Kaiser Sunnyside has been a Doula forever and works with a lot of Kaiser patients as well as handles home births. Her name is Joan Bryant and she's pretty awesome. She's all about empowering the mother to tell the doctors and midwives that work at the hospital "no thank you" if they're trying to speed labor up or do something the mother doesn't want.

Anyway, the class was really informative and I feel completely empowered to have this baby naturally and on my own terms (barring any complications of course). I'm impressed with Kaiser, though you've probably heard lots of stories. I think they've come a long way from even a few years ago.

Also, read "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" It has awesome birth stories in the first chapter and it's made me think I might be more inclined to have my next child (God willing) in a birthing center or at home.

Checkout zenana spa in se portland. They offer classes on nursing and childbirth including hypnobirthing. They helped me learn how to nurse my first child and I just love them. The entire spa is targeted to mom;s they even have on-site daycare so you can bring your kids while you go to class or get a spa treatment.