Classes and Home Study Course Descriptions
(all classes are held in the birth center education room)

Birth Preparation Classes and Baby Signing Classes at the Greenhouse Birth Center

Please call (517) 349-2620 to register for classes.

**Please see details below to register for Parent and Baby Signing Class**

Active Birth

Hypnobabies™Home Study Course

Combination Class

Empowered Childbirth Classes

Peaceful Beginnings Hypnobirthing Classes

Express Yourself...Baby: Parent and Baby Signing Class

Active Birth Classes
Facilitators: Clarice Winkler, CNM, Kip Kozlowski, CNM and Shelie Ross, CNM
Classes are from 7-9:15 PM.
Please try to be on time as we have lots to do, and we will try to finish on time as well.
 

Week One: Clarice

Introductions

Discussion: philosophy of birth: role that attitudes and beliefs play; anatomy and physiology of labor and birth.

What is an undisturbed birth?

Week Two: Kip

Positions for labor/changing positions

Pushing

Strategies for long, early labor; slow progress; posterior labor

Relaxation

Week Three: Kip

Discussion of labor support/role of support person

Eating/drinking/empty bladder etc.

Comfort measures: breathing, massage, touch, vocalization

Relaxation

Week Four:  Shelie

First days and weeks after birth—Mother and baby care

Planning for your postpartum period

The circumcision decision

Initial breastfeeding

The following class is included in the series, but is scheduled separately.

Diapers/Slings: offered on the 4^th Saturday of the month, 10AM-12PM

Call GBC to register. May take anytime before or after your baby’s birth.

Fees: Birth Center Clients—included in Birth Center care

(see below for Community Client fees)

Empowered Childbirth Classes with Heather Paris: This six-week series addresses natural childbirth for those not planning to birth at the Greenhouse Birth Center. Significant others that will be with the birthing mother are strongly encouraged to participate. The series includes guest speakers as part of the curriculum. Classes are offered on Tuesday nights from 7-9:15pm. Please call GBC to register. If you have further questions, please see the Mother's Circle website or contact Heather at motherscircle@gmail.com.

Community Clients---$150.00 per couple

**The Diaper and Slings class is included in this series, but is scheduled separately. Please call the GBC to schedule this classes.

Week One: Heather

Introductions

Discussion: philosophy of birth: role that attitudes and beliefs play; anatomy and physiology of labor and birth.

Week Two: Heather

Positions for labor/changing positions

Pushing

Strategies for long, early labor; slow progress; posterior labor

Relaxation

Week Three: Heather

Discussion of labor support/role of support person

Eating & drinking

Comfort measures

Relaxation

Week Four:  Heather

Birth Plans

First days and weeks after birth—Mother and baby care

Planning for your postpartum period

The circumcision decision

Week Five:  Heather

Breastfeeding

Vaccinations

Calming and Soothing your infant

Week Six:  Heather

Reunion

First-hand told birth stories by alumni

Peaceful Beginnings Hypnobirthing Classes: In this series, taught by Misty White, mothers and birth companions learn techniques for safe and satisfying birthing through guided imagery,
visualization, and special breathing. The expectant mother as well as her partner or support person are expected to attend. Classes are held on Monday night at 6:30pm beginning in February 2008. Please call Misty at 810-714-9272 to register.  For further information, please see the Peaceful Beginnings website or contact Misty at misty@pbhypnobirthing.com. Topics included in the series are:

• Everything you need to know to achieve safer, easier and more comfortable birth

• To explode the myth that pain is a necessary accompaniment to labor

• Techniques of deep relaxation to help you eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome

• How your body is naturally designed to conceive, nurture and birth your baby with ease and comfort

• To create your body’s own natural relaxant, the only safe labor enhancement

• Natural ways to bring your body into labor without artificial chemical induction

• How you and your birthing companion can create a birthing environment that is calm, serene and joyful

• Gentle birthing techniques that allow you to breathe your baby into the world without the need for hard physical pushing

• To use your natural birthing instincts to birth your baby in a way that most mirrors the way that nature intended
   

Hypnobabies™ Home Study Course: Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis

While the Greenhouse Birth Center doesn't conduct Hypnobabies™ classes,  we do offer the Hypnobabies™ Home Study Course kits for sale at the Birth Center for those that are interested.

The Hypnobabies™ Home Study Course is for women who want to ENJOY their baby's natural birth by using hypnosis to eliminate pain and fear, and cannot attend a Hypnobabies™ Class, or simply want to study on their own. Hypnobabies™ Home Study Course is an advanced hypnosis for childbirth course, using CDs (or audio tapes) and the Hypnobabies™ Workbook to prepare for birthing with little or no discomfort.

Fees: Birth Center Clients--$60.00 (Note: Birth Center clients choosing to only do Hypnobabies™ must still attend class 4 of birth center regular classes)
Community Clients--$120.00

Combination Class

This option will be useful for women wanting both to use hypnosis for birth and information/guidance for birth planning, post-partum self-and-baby care, breastfeeding and parenting. If you choose this option, which includes the full Hypnobabies™ Home Study Course, you will do the Hypnobabies™ Course on your own and attend the Active Birth Class 4 at the birth center.

Fees: Birth Center Clients--$60.00
Community Clients--$220

You may also do both the full Active Birth Class AND the Hypnobabies™ Course, but the strategies for labor are very different in the two models.
Fees: Birth Center Clients: $60.00
Community Clients: $270.00

Express Yourself...Baby: Parent and Baby Signing Class

This class will help any infant or toddler and parent learn Baby Sign Language based on American Sign Language. If you are interested in reducing the frustration of communicating with your infant/toddler, then this class is for you. The class is open to anyone interested in learning basic signing. Please call to register since spaces are limited. Please call Marybeth Wilson at (269) 763-9029. Cost is $25.00. This class is held every 2nd Saturday of the month from 10:00am-12:00pm.