Evidence Based Birth® has been an incredible resource for me and my clients in the entirety of my time as a doula. There are many things I love about Evidence Based Birth®: their unwavering commitment to justice for all birthing people, their unbiased reviews of the latest literature in obstetric and neonatal care, and ability to make complex topics digestible so that families can make truly informed choices.
To be a part of the mission of Evidence Based Birth® as an instructor is truly an honor. I believe this is one of the most thorough childbirth education classes out there. Families who take this class leave feeling informed, empowered, and knowing how to advocate for themselves. When they truly understand the evidence and options available to them, they are able to make the best decisions for their unique situation.
You may have a strong vision for your birth. Evidence Based Birth® gives you the tools to create the birth experience of your dreams, but it also prepares you for the various scenarios that may appear in birth and immediately postpartum. Birth rarely goes the way we expect it to and knowing that you have choice at every turn in the road can make difficult situations still be positive birth experiences. Our intention is for every family to have the ability and tools available to them to have a safe and deeply satisfying birth experience, no matter what that looks like.
About the Class
Who is this class for?
This class is for anyone who wants to have an informed, empowered birth experience. Whether this is your first baby or your third, or you’re planning a hospital birth, home birth, VBAC, unmedicated birth, or an epidural birth, this class is for you.
What is EBB® ‘s approach to interventions in labor, birth, and postpartum?
We teach that interventions are part of your toolkit for having a safe and satisfying birth experience. By understanding the evidence, risks, and benefits to intervention or tool, you can make the best, most intuitive choice for you and your family.
What is the cost for the class?
The investment for the class is $375 per couple. It includes a printed copy of the Evidence Based Birth® ® Workbook and 3 months access to the Evidence Based Birth® Parents Website
When should I take this class?
I recommend taking this class near the end of your second trimester or beginning of your third so everything will be fresh on your mind for birth!
What will this class cover?
Partner advocacy, evidence based care, overcoming fears and anxieties, comfort measures, stages and phases of labor, navigating the healthcare system, providers, doulas, and models of care, building your support team, navigating interventions and medical inductions, family-centered cesareans, communicating with hospital staff, knowing your rights in childbirth, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic pain management, postpartum care, newborn procedures, baby care, lactation and feeding your baby… and much more!
What is the format of this class?
The Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class uses a flipped classroom format. This means that much of the learning happens on your own time, through the Evidence Based Birth® Parents Site, where Dr. Dekker and her team have skillfully crafted the best childbirth education content. Each week, after you have learned about that week’s material, we will discuss it as a group, do learning activities, and get any of your questions answered. This model allows for more in-depth learning, since you are introduced to a topic before our in-person meeting. It’s also more flexible for those with busy schedules, since the weekly modules are completed on your own time.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
A lot of that info you find online about pregnancy and birth? It’s inaccurate! The benefit of the Evidence Based Birth® class is that we curate all of the best, evidence-based information for you. What’s more, you can ask your me questions any time– meaning you’ll have someone to mentor you through the process!
-
Routine practices in some hospitals are still about 15 to 20 years behind the research, and there is a lot of pressure to conform to traditions that might not be in your best interests. We will teach you and your partner(s) how to be your own advocate—how to respectfully speak up for yourself, your partner, and your child. This is a skill you can use for the rest of your life!
-
Unfortunately, there are a lot of poor-quality classes out there, which have given childbirth education a bad reputation. The founder of Evidence Based Birth®, Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, is a former college prof who knows how to make classes exciting for teens and adults. The end result is a class that is motivating and SO much fun to participate in. You will learn more than you could ever imagine! -
For starters, we talk about the real issues affecting childbirth today. We do not shy away from addressing the issues caused by patriarchy, institutional racism, or lack of inclusivity in our systems today. We are not perfect, but we attempt to uncover the issues in a relaxing way and, when approached with an open mind, we find and discuss real life solutions to affect change for your birth.
-
Our students are most excited to learn about the entire toolkit of comfort measures for labor. We cover pain management techniques like massage, water immersion, upright birthing positions, acupressure, music therapy, and deep breathing, just to name a few. Then you get hands-on practice in our Comfort Measures Rehearsal. When labor starts, you and your support team will be ready!
-
I am there to provide you with guidance after you watch the course videos each week. I will lead your class in discussion and answer all questions they can. If I do not know the answer, since this is a series class, I will let you and strive to find an answer for you by utilizing my resources and the connected EBB community. As your EBB Instructor, I am your touch stone through out the class and beyond!
Class Schedule
The class is available as a 6 week series (standard) or an accelerated 4 week series. Both classes involve ~10 hours of meeting time and 12 hours of learning through the EBB® Parent’s Site.
The Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class uses a flipped classroom format. This means that much of the learning happens on your own time, through the Evidence Based Birth® Parents Site, where Dr. Dekker and her team have skillfully crafted the best childbirth education content. Each week, after you have learned about that week’s material, we will discuss it as a group, do learning activities, and get any of your questions answered. This model allows for more in-depth learning, since you are introduced to a topic before our in-person meeting. It’s also more flexible for those with busy schedules, since the weekly modules are completed on your own time.