Childbirth & Parenting Classes in Portland

Hands-On Birth Preparation Class

Offered In-Person

THIS IS A MASKED IN-PERSON CLASS. This 4 hour hands-on labor preparation class is offered twice a month and is an excellent way to prepare for your upcoming childbirth experience. In this class we will cover the basics of birth anatomy, the hormones of birth, the stages of labor and what to expect, as well as how to support your mind, body, and heart through the journey. We will introduce and practice comfort and coping techniques as well as labor positions, and you and your support person will have a chance to practice together. When you finish this class, you and your support person will walk away understanding the stages of labor and which coping strategies and positions will be helpful when, as well as having a good understanding of what additional tools will be available to you at your birth location.

*Masks and Covid Vaccination are required to attend this in-person class.
*Space is limited to 8 couples.

Teacher: Trina Baumgartner, Birth First Doulas Prenatal Classes

Fee: Free for Birth First Doula clients; $125 for all other families.

REGISTER for this class by going to the CLASS CALENDAR and choosing the date you are interested in attending.

Stages Of Labor Crash Course: The Birthing Process

Recorded Class

This childbirth class is taught by one of our amazing Birth First Doulas and provides expecting parents with an in-depth understanding of the entire birthing process, including everything you need to know about early labor, active labor, pushing, birth, and the immediate postpartum. If you’re looking for prenatal classes, birthing classes, or a crash course on what to expect when you go into labor, this is the class for you!

Teacher: Bri Dewey

Fee: Free for Birth First Doula clients; $80 for all other families.

REGISTER for the ONLINE version of this class by FILLING OUT OUR CONTACT FORM

Labor & Birth Techniques: Balancing Progress, Comfort, & Relaxation

Recorded Class

This birthing class is taught by one of our amazing Birth First Doulas and provides expecting parents with information and insider tips on everything you need to know about birthing comfort techniques, methods for progressing labor, and ways of creating a calmer and more relaxed birth experience. If you and your partner are looking for prenatal classes and birthing classes, or want to learn practical ways to improve your labor and birth experience, then this is the class for you!

Teacher: Bri Dewey

Fee: Free for Birth First Doula clients; $80 for all other families.

REGISTER for the ONLINE version of this class by FILLING OUT OUR CONTACT FORM

Live Zoom Childbirth Education Q&A Session

Offered Live Online

This hour-long live Q&A session is offered once a month as a “lunch and learn” session. It’s designed as a follow-up to our childbirth education classes (Stages Of Labor Crash Course and Labor & Birth Techniques) so people can get their remaining questions answered or dig more deeply into a particular topic that interests them. This live session is facilitated by one of our wonderful BFD doulas and also provides an opportunity for pregnant people to be in community and conversation together.

Teacher: Brooke Noli & Trina Baumgartner, Birth First Doulas

Fee: Free for Birth First Doula clients; $20 for all other families.

REGISTER for the IN-PERSON version of this class, go to the CLASS CALENDAR and choose the date you are interested in attending.

Newborn Care 101: The First Month

Recorded Class

This 2 hour new parent class is currently offered as an online recording and can be watched at your convenience. This parenting class is taught by an experienced postpartum doula and explains how to care for your newborn baby including diapering, swaddling, soothing, infant bathing, babywearing, and much more! While there is no official handbook on babies, this parenting class is our best attempt at a cliff notes version.

Teacher: Krystal Gard, Bridgetown Baby Doulas New Parent Classes

Fee: Free for Birth First Doula clients; $40 for Bridgetown Baby clients; $80 for all other families.

TO REGISTER, FILL OUT OUR CONTACT FORM

Newborn Feeding Basics

Recorded Class

This 2 hour new parent class is currently offered as an online recording and can be watched at your convenience. This parenting class will prepare you to feed your baby with confidence! An experienced International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) will cover the basics to get you and your baby off to a great start, including: the biology of making milk, learning your baby’s feeding cues, positions and techniques for feeding at breast/chest and by bottle, introduction to breast pumps, when to get professional support, and all the most frequently asked questions we hear from new parents. Taught by Bridgetown Baby IBCLCs.

Teacher: Sarah Longwell, Bridgetown Baby Lactation New Parent Classes

Fee: Free for Birth First Doula clients; $40 for Bridgetown Baby clients; $80 for all other families.

TO REGISTER, FILL OUT OUR CONTACT FORM

Zoom Nurturing Circle For New & Growing Families

Offered Live Online

Birth First Doulas and Bridgetown Baby have collaborated to bring you a virtual version of Nurturing Circle For Growing Families which is a cross between parenting classes and a new parent support group. These parenting classes/group classes offer a soft place for new parents and pregnant people to land and be in community with others. While the primary focus is on getting answers to questions about newborn care and breast/bottle-feeding, families who are pregnant are also welcome to join in to learn, get support, and be in community with others! The new parent classes/groups are facilitated by professional postpartum doulas, lactation consultants, and sleep consultants from Bridgetown Baby. Latecomers are welcome, just log in when you can.

Free for Birth First Doula clients as well as the entire Portland community!

Facilitators: Bridgetown Baby postpartum doulas, lactation consultants, and sleep trainers along with some help from of our Birth First Doulas

When: Every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Tuesdays, 10:30am-12pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89955084644 ~ meeting ID: 899 5508 4644, passcode: 916409
Thursdays, 1pm-2:30pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81428396086 ~ meeting ID: 814 2839 6086, passcode: 570270

Private Childbirth Education Classes

Offered In-Person & Online (*not included in packages)

This is a private, customized childbirth education class, taught by Rebecca Durlin Smith, co-owner of Birth First Doulas. Its content and length are tailored to fit your birth location and unique birth wishes. Course topics to be selected include: relaxation tools, the birth partner’s role, birth preferences/plan, the stages of labor, birth advocacy, comfort touch and massage, which positions help when, labor rehearsal, pregnancy physiology, navigating birth challenges, and postpartum planning. Each class includes videos and electronic materials. If you are looking for a birth class crafted just for you, taught by a seasoned pro, you’ve come to the right place.

Teacher: Rebecca Durlin Smith, Birth First Doulas, co-owner

Fee: $75/hour, held over Zoom. $90/hour in-person, held at the Birth First Doulas Wellness Center (in-home option, add $50). Two-hour minimum. Strict in-person COVID protocols apply.

TO REGISTER, FILL OUT OUR CONTACT FORM