Any Suggestions on Birthing Classes for Waterbirthing at Home?

there's an AMAZING organization based in Evanston (not too far from you) called birthlink. they offer a WIDE variety of services including classes. check out their site http://birthlink.com/index.html Good luck!

I applaud you on taking control of your birth. I've had both a home birth and a hosp. birth and home birth rocks!
I took both bradley class and hypnobirthing with my first pregnancy. I didn't use the hypno techniques until my second birth at home, and then I found them invaluable. Bradley is great, it is husband-coached premis, but the dad sometimes needs to be just the scared father-to-be and not the coach.
A doula is priceless, definitely look into that!
best of luck!

Check out Bloom Yoga Studio. Many women there have done that route. I, though wanted a natural birth, ended up with a c section b/c my DS was frank breech...

Bloom has some great resources for someone in your siutation. They're at Rockwell and Lawrence.

Great place for all things mama.

Have you tried a Nurse Midwife..there are some great ones in River Forest not very far from the West Side of Chicago...I believe they see patients at West Suburban and the neighboring hospitals. I had natural births with both but opted to have them in a hospital environment. I reasearched home births but my husband was too "freaked out" to opt for that option. Do a search...Good luck and congrats.
M. M

Congratulations D.!
Enjoy this very blessed time of your life!
Baby Feat offers in home, private classes to meet your individual pregnancy needs and childbirth goals. You can even add newborn classes and CPR classes if you so desire!
Each class includes aromatherapy and massage while incorporating optimal positioning for your pregnancy and labor.
The classes are customized to your needs...for example your Natural Birth Class would be totally built based on your lifestyle, goals, pregnancy, and birth choices (decision for a home and water birth).
The instructor, K., is a labor and delivery RN with 15 yrs experience, both high and low risk...and supports moms in both hospital and home birth settings. She continues to practice as an RN in the North Shore.
There is a DOULA in the BABY FEAT NETWORK who is absolutely wonderul, Leah Koop.
She does Birth and Postpartum Doula care, and is a Certified Massage therapist for Mamas and Babes.
Baby Feat begins with a FREE -IN-HOME CONSULTATION... no obligation..
K. will do a holistic assessment of your pregnancy and goals for birth...and then you will receive a personal education plan.
I hope you check it out!
www.babyfeat.net
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Hi D.,
Congrats on your pregnancy and upcoming birth! We had an incredible Bradley instructor with the birth of my second son. Her name is Juli Walter and she is also an experienced doula and La Leche League leader. She typically holds her Bradley classes at Swedish Covenant on the north side (no hospital affiliation, though). She is very open-minded and supportive. Her web site is www.juliwalter.com.

Tanya McHale teaches a hypnobirthing class in the city and in Oak Park. Her website is tanyamchale.com . She is an L&D nurse by training, but then became a doula -- which makes a "monitrisse". anyway, she's a real sweetheart, and the class trained me to get through my labor w/o any pain meds, despite being on a pitocin drip the whole time.

She does assist with waterbirths, and has information available about them.

T.

Congratulations!
My husband and I took a Bradley Method class which I highly recommend. The knowledge we learned to prepare us for natural childbirth is priceless. We did have our baby in a hospital but after going through birth I hope to have a home birth next time around. We were able to walk into the hospital in control and confident about our birth. I have to say a lot of that came from taking this class and having a Midwife who truly had our best interest in mind. It is great that you are taking control of your birth that is the best thing you can do for your baby. Pushing is hard and very painful. I'm not saying this to scare you but for myself I didn't know how to push. I knew how to handle my contractions but pushing was something else. It was described to me as the RING OF FIRE and it's that and then some. Remember to take your time in between pushing and push through the pain. I'm telling you all of this so that maybe you won't have to push for 2 hours like I did. Even though my daughter was compound( hand by face) and 8 lbs. I wish all the best to you and your baby.
Enjoy your pregnancy and your baby as a newborn the time really goes by too fast.
C.

I didn't have my baby at home but I did have a water birth. I didn't take a class though. It came pretty naturally really, laboring in water. I showered a lot in labor, with both my births, and got in the tub at about 9 cm. It was so much more pleasant in the warm tub than in a bed. I took a birthing class with my husband at West Suburban taught by Pam Hayes and it was great. She was very for natural childbirth and worked as a doula herself. 1-800-RESINFO is the # I think. Good luck.

Mary Sommers- Birthways. She's the best! I had our son out at West Suburban. They offer alternative birthing- mid-wives and birthing tubs. Also, I'd suggest getting a Doula. I wouldn't have another baby without one. :) Happy Birthing!
blessings,
J.

My husband and I took a class at Birthways Inc. in Chicago (ravenswood) http://www.birthwaysinc.com/childbirthClasses.php with a woman named Mary Sommers--she was extraordinary and became our doula. I cannot recommend her class highly enough. We learned so much about the benefits of natural childbirth and the alternatives should an epidural/c-section be needed but both were presented non-judgmentally and in a balanced way. The emphasis is surely on natural birth (whether it be at home or in a hospital water or air (!)) but Mary was so informative and such an engaging teacher that she empowered her students to know enough to make educated choices in the moment. I think she's attended something like 1,000 births. I also appreciated how respectful and inclusive she was to the birth partners in the room--encouraging them to be an integral and educated partner in the experience. An added bonus to connecting with Birthway's Inc. is that they are a dula-matching service. I know a few of the women on their staff and they are excellent. If you have any questions, feel free to post your email address and I'll be happy to write you back.

E.

We took Bradley classes which will certianly prepare you for the experience of birthing naturally and talk about the pros of a water birth... I'd hoped to do that but couldn't sit during contractions and my midwife pointed out that i'd have to sit in the tub... oh well. I'm sure that the instructors could find you a midwife/doula to assist you guys in your home. There was one midwifery group that did home births but was associated with a hospital as well--just in case! I thought that was a nice combo so you can intend on birthing at home, but should the unexpected happen, you're totally covered. Sadly, I can't remember the name of the practice which I realize is totally unhelpful. I do remember them being associated with Weiss Memorial on the north side, so I imagine they could help you out.

If you go to the Bradley website you can find an instructor and contact her. Lots of classes (9 weeks of 3 hour classes), but you have to be prepared!!! Good luck!