Classes and
Home Study Course Descriptions
(all classes are held in the birth center education room)
Birth Preparation Classes at the Greenhouse Birth Center
Please call (517) 349-2620 to register for classes.
Active Birth Classes
Celebrate Birthing Classes
Peaceful Beginnings Hypnobirthing Classes
Active
Birth Classes
Facilitator: Clarice Winkler, 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: Clarice
Positions for labor/changing positions
Pushing
Strategies for long, early labor; slow progress; posterior labor
Relaxation
Week Three: Clarice
Discussion of labor support/role of support person
Eating/drinking/empty bladder etc.
Comfort measures: breathing, massage, touch, vocalization
Relaxation
Week Four: Clarice
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 4th 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, ICCE: 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. 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 class.
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
If you have to take a left turn
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
Celebrate Birthing Classes:
The Celebrate Birthing program, taught by Mary Lawton, is designed for expectant parents who desire a birth that is natural, peaceful and calm; a birth that is done the way the body already knows how; a birth that is remembered as a glorious event for years to come!
Whether this is your first baby or your last, whether you have had a traumatic experience in the past, or undisturbed home births, this program offers you the keys to allowing your baby's beautiful birth to be experienced the way nature intended.
Three powerful techniques are combined in this program so that you can create how you will experience the unfolding of this miracle while dissolving blocks that would keep it from happening! All the while, the body can do what it already knows how and the baby is birthed with ease and joy!
Expectant parents that benefit from this program answer "yes!" to any of the following
questions:
Expectant Mother:
Would you enjoy a comfortable pregnancy?
Would you prefer a safe, gentle birth for your baby?
Would you like to neutralize fears or concerns about pregnancy, birth, or parenthood?
Birth Partner:
Would you like to feel at ease while the mother is giving birth?
Would you like to release concerns about being a good parent?
Would you like to be a key player in the creation of this birthing experience
The Celebrate Birthing program is designed to allow you to unlock your ability to determine how deeply relaxed you will be as you are labouring and giving birth. It is also designed to give you the ability to release physical discomforts, beliefs, and ideas that keep you from completely enjoying your pregnancy, birth, and parenthood. For further information, please see the Celebrate Birthing website or contact Mary at mary@pfpu.com or (517)-803-0128.
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. 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
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To explode the myth that pain is a necessary accompaniment to labor
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Techniques of deep relaxation to help you eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome
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How your body is naturally designed to conceive, nurture and birth your baby with ease and comfort
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To create your body’s own natural relaxant, the only safe labor enhancement
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Natural ways to bring your body into labor without artificial chemical induction
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How you and your birthing companion can create a birthing environment that is calm, serene and joyful
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Gentle birthing techniques that allow you to breathe your baby into the world without the need for hard physical pushing
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To use your natural birthing instincts to birth your baby in a way that most mirrors the way that nature intended