Childbirth Preparation Classes for the Twin Cities ... and beyond

Appleseeds Childbirth Education stresses the importance of respecting the mother's lifestyle, as well as her instincts and choices about how to give birth. Woman-centered childbirth recognizes the primary role of the mother, and allows labor to progress according to the mother's natural rhythms. A variety of practices are examined based upon scentific research, and include positions for labor and birth, use of pain relief, comfort measures, and choice of caregivers and support. Appleseeds classes will respect the partner's role in pregnancy and birth, and acknowledge that the partner's or father's experience of pregnancy and birth is important and life-changing in its own right, as a new family is born.

Your instructor is Diana McCleery, an ALACE-trained, ICEA-certified Childbirth Educator. "Family-centered maternity care is ICEA's primary goal and the basis of ICEA philosophy. Family-centered care consists of an attitude rather than a protocol. It recognizes a vital life event rather than a medical procedure. It appreciates the importance of that event to the woman and to the persons who are important to her. It respects the woman's individuality and her sense of autonomy. It realizes that the decisions she may make are based on many influences of which the expertise of the professional is only one. It requires that all relevant information be made available to the woman to help her achieve her own goals, and that she be guided but not directed by professionals she has chosen to share the responsibility for her care." --from the ICEA website

Appleseeds classes provide evidence based information about the birth process and provide the tools to empower women and their partners to make informed choices throughout pregnancy and birth. Classes are usually held separately from hospitals, in order to focus solely on the needs of the expectant family. We'll discuss a wide range of topics in our classes.

• I'd like to test the feasibility of doing my series over the internet for out-of-town folks. Right now the plan is to have videoconference class times for personal face-to-face time, both with me and between students, with handouts and videos available here at students' convenience. So tell you what; if you live outside the Twin Cities, and would like to take this beta version of childbirth classes at little or no cost, please get in touch with me.
        This could be a fruitful way of sharing information with people who want to take my classes but are at a distance, or who just don't have classes local to them. I've seen internet and DVD instruction, but all the ones I've seen so far are self-study. That is totally fine. What I am envisoning would offer you a group of fellow students and teacher with whom you actually interact with as people. If you agree, and want to be part of this new idea, let's chat!
• I have a complete class series scheduled with Saint Paul Public Schools Community Education this spring, at Ramsey Jr. High, starting in late February. It is offered at a discount, and contains the same content I offer privately. They for some reason split it into two classes, overlapping the Winter and Spring semesters. Hope to see you there!
• The next class series starts soon, at my home in Minneapolis's Longfellow neighborhood, or at another site of the students' collective choosing. Contact me or check back here for more details as they arise. I will likely arrange class days and times in consultation with interested students, so drop me a line or e-mail. :)