Get ready…
You want to be prepared for your birth & postpartum time no matter what happens.
We’ve got the class for you!
Research shows that taking a comprehensive, out-of-hospital birthing class:
‣ increases your confidence,
‣ reduces fears,
‣ and paves the way for a more empowered birth.
PLEASE NOTE: Most of our group classes are now held in-person at our classroom at 1994 Gallatin Rd N, Ste. 102, Madison, TN 37115
It will be noted on the registration form if the class is being taught elsewhere.
Our Private Classes are usually taught in-person, but can also be taught via ZOOM.
What to expect In THE EAst Nashville Doulas Birth Class:
Laid-Back & Interactive Learning: We know that everyone responds best to different learning strategies, so we include a mix of interactive, group, & partner work in class. This is not a boring lecture class! Let’s have fun together while we learn (FYI, you will retain more info if you’re enjoying yourself, too).
Evidence-based & Up-to-Date Information: Our educators stay current on the latest birth research and best practices. They can steer you to great resources that will give you the answers you need. All of our educators also attend births regularly, so they can tell you what to expect in your birthing place based on first-hand knowledge.
Know Your Options: You don’t know what you don’t know until you know it, right? Our job is to present all of the options to you in a nonjudgmental way so that you can sort through what’s most important to you & your family. Since we aren’t affiliated with a particular hospital or practice (though we work closely with all of them), we can give you a comprehensive overview of all the choices.
Comfort Measure Tools for Your Toolbox: You will leave class with many different coping methods and comfort measures for labor! Even if you are leaning towards medication for your birth, these tools will help you manage through the early parts of your labor. From relaxation methods, visualization, breathing techniques, positions—we will talk about what works best for you and when/how to use them. And you will get to practice them as well!
Birth Partner Prep: Helping partners and support people know what to do when is one of our most favorite things! Your birth partner will be such an invaluable help to you on your big day, and we want to make sure that they are prepped and ready. Partners will leave our classes feeling confident and with lots of tools to support you on your big day. This is class is just as much about them as you!
Informed Decision-making: We will give you tools throughout class to help you have the birth you want. But we know that birth plans can change and big decisions might need to be made. That’s why we give you concrete, specific tools to help you sort through those options when birth doesn’t go according to plan. We will help you ask the right questions to get the answers you need so that your choices are informed and reflective of your intentions for this birth.
Community with Other Families: One of the best parts of taking a childbirth class is being with other families who are going through this same transition with you. We’ve had great friendships start in our classes, and we couldn’t be happier about that! Finding community that will help you long after the last class is one of the big plusses of taking a group class. You’ll hear more perspectives and learn from each other, too.
Safe & Comfortable: Our group classes are back in person again! We know that this option is popular, and we are so happy to bring it back while doing everything we can to keep all families safe. If you’d like an in-home or virtual option, we are happy to help you out with a private class.
What to expect in the East nashville doulas Newborn care class:
This class is for new parents, but also for other loved ones who are excited to meet and care for the new baby in their lives but perhaps have little experience with infants.
This class covers the following topics:
- Diapering & Dressing
- Bathing, Grooming, & Common Skin Care Complaints
- Basic Breast/Chestfeeding Information & Techniques
- Bottle Feeding Techniques
- CDC Guidelines for Safe Dishwashing Practices
- Swaddling & Soothing
- Basics of Safe Sleep
- Common Baby Gear & how to use it
- Local Resources for: CPR/first aid training, comprehensive lactation education, certified babywearing and car seat safety specialists, infant sleep specialists, lactation consultants, and other specialists.
Hear from parents who have taken our childbirth classes:
Meet our Childbirth Educators
Natasha Hilton
“Hello! I am Natasha Hilton and I am a Lamaze trained childbirth educator and a DONA certified birth doula. I have been working alongside birthing families since 2019 and I am excited to support even more families through childbirth education.
Helping families feel informed in their birth decisions, safe in their birth environment, and confident in their birthing bodies is my passion. I am so excited to have another opportunity to engage with and empower birthing families in Nashville through childbirth education.”
Natasha teaches our 6 week childbirth class
Tessa Bryant
“Hi, y’all! I’m Tessa Bryant (she/her), a childbirth and newborn care educator! In addition to my training through Birthing Advocacy Doula Trainings, I draw on my experience as a full-spectrum doula, college professor, and early childhood educator to create an evidence-based, enjoyable, memorable childbirth education space.
My goal for my childbirth and newborn care education students is to not only give them information, but to empower them to use their own instincts, seek out further information, and advocate for themselves. I’m particularly passionate about working with queer, trans, and plus size clients and helping them navigate the unique challenges they may face during gestation, birth, and postpartum.”
Tessa teaches our Express class, private classes & newborn care class
Amanda Dowd
“Hi! I’m Amanda Dowd and I’m a Lamaze-certified childbirth educator and a DONA-certified birth doula. I spent a lot of time working in research before I started birth work, so I’m a huge proponent of providing evidence-based information. I’m also a firm believer that there is no such a thing as a “right” or “wrong” birth preference. My number one goal is always to give my clients the tools and information to make the decision that feels right for them and their family.
Birth can be wild, beautiful, and unpredictable, and knowing all of your options means you have options. I hope that my students finish their classes feeling informed, empowered, and excited about what’s to come!”
Amanda teaches our Express class & private classes
Courtney Wittich
"Hey there! I'm Courtney, a certified postpartum doula (DONA) and newborn care educator! My goal as an educator is to empower new parents with up-to-date, evidence-based information, equipping them with the essential tools and knowledge needed to confidently care for their newborns. I strongly believe in the inherent wisdom of caregivers and aim to nurture trust in that intuition! I'm so excited for the opportunity to collaborate with expectant parents, and my hope is that students leave class with realistic expectations of themselves and their baby, feeling both prepared and excited to embark on their journey into parenthood!”
Courtney teaches our newborn care classes (private and group).
2024 Classes
Registration open now!
More info below…