My husband and I are expecting our first baby this November/December. We are both grad students so are on a tight budget, but have saved up to pay for a doula and the birth costs. Both our doula & midwife have strongly suggested taking a natural birthing class--especially hypnobirthing--but we can't afford the price tag alongside all the other impending costs. Does anyone have suggestions for heavily discounted (free?! wishful thinking??) hynobirthing or other birthing class options in the Evanston/North Chicago area?
Congratulations! I unfortunately do not know of any classes, but you could maybe check with some yoga studios that do pre/post natal yoga. They may be more linked into what is available. I know Grateful Yoga on Davis street offers a number of things for moms and the Hip Circle also does some mommy/me exercise classes. Good luck.
Hi D.. Chicago Volunteer Doulas offers a Natural Childbirth Education class on a sliding scale based on income and in some cases free. However the class is not in Evanston but rather at Swedish Covenant Hospital on Foster and California. Congrats and good luck!
I would check out the birthlink.org (or com?) website and I know they have a homebirth meetup (www.meetup.com) they might be a great resource for you. I know they meet monthly around Evanston.
The Chicago Volunteer Doulas hosts a sliding scale class at Swedish. I know a lot of other childbirth education teachers who are also willing to do sliding scales. Check out...
http://www.chicagovolunteerdoulas.com/
http://amycatania.com/services/
If you need any other recommendations, I'd be happy to provide them. I'm a doula in Chicago too. If you ask around on the big Chicago Doula Listserv, usually a fair number of people respond offering their classes for a low or reduced rate.
Hope that helps!
