Childbirth Classes
Practical preparation for pregnancy, labor, birth and the first days with your baby.
Preparing for birth is about more than learning when contractions start.
These private childbirth classes are designed to help you understand what to expect, organize your preferences, prepare your support system and develop practical tools for labor, birth and the early postpartum period.
The classes are especially useful if you are planning to give birth in the Dominican Republic and want clear, realistic information about what you may encounter before, during and after birth.
The program includes four private sessions, with the final session held in person so we can practice comfort measures and labor techniques together.
Session 1 — Pregnancy & Preparing Ahead
We begin by looking at the final months of pregnancy and everything that can be organized before labor starts.
Topics include:
Normal physical changes during pregnancy
Warning signs and when to contact your healthcare provider
Emotional health during pregnancy
Prenatal appointments and common prenatal tests
Preparing for the final weeks of pregnancy
Organizing practical details before birth
Preparing your home, hospital bag and support system
Questions to discuss with your obstetrician before labor begins
The goal of this session is to help you reach the final weeks of pregnancy feeling organized rather than trying to figure everything out at the last minute.
Session 2 — Labor & Birth
This session focuses on understanding how labor works and how you and your partner can navigate it.
We cover:
Planning the logistics for labor and hospital admission
Creating and discussing your birth preferences
Signs that labor may be starting
When to contact your provider or go to the hospital
The different stages of labor
What contractions may feel like as labor progresses
Movement, positions, breathing and comfort techniques
How your partner can support you during labor
Pain relief options, including non-medical measures and epidural analgesia
Common interventions you may encounter during labor
What to expect if a cesarean birth becomes necessary
Preparing for the first moments after birth
The purpose is not to memorize a perfect sequence of events, but to understand what may happen and have practical tools for responding to different situations.
Session 3 — Postpartum & Getting Breastfeeding Started
The first days after birth can be intense, especially when you are recovering while also learning how to care for a newborn. This session prepares you for that transition.
We discuss:
Physical recovery after vaginal or cesarean birth
Normal postpartum changes
Postpartum warning signs
Emotional changes after birth
Baby blues and when emotional symptoms may need additional support
Building a realistic postpartum support network
Rest, nutrition and recovery
Sexuality and intimacy after birth
The first hours of breastfeeding
How milk production begins
Early feeding cues
What to expect from breastfeeding during the first days
Basic newborn care
What normally happens during the baby's first 24–48 hours
We also discuss how your partner or support person can help protect your recovery and make the transition home easier.
Session 4 — Practical Labor Preparation (In-person session)
The final session is practical and hands-on. Instead of simply talking about labor techniques, we practice them together so you and your partner know how to use them when labor actually begins.
We work on:
Positions for different stages of labor
Movement and mobility
Breathing and relaxation techniques
Massage and counterpressure
Hip squeezes and other partner techniques
Using a birth ball
Comfort measures for contractions
Positions that may help with rest and coping
Ways your partner can provide effective physical support
This session is also an opportunity to review what we have covered and clarify any remaining questions before your baby's birth.
These classes may be especially helpful if you:
Are expecting your first baby.
Want to understand what labor and birth may actually look like.
Are giving birth in the Dominican Republic and are unfamiliar with the local maternity system.
Want your partner to know how to actively support you during labor.
Hope for a vaginal birth and want practical tools for coping with labor.
Are considering an epidural but also want other comfort strategies.
Want to understand interventions before you encounter them in the hospital.
Had a previous birth experience that left you wanting to feel more prepared this time.
Simply want to feel informed, organized and more confident before birth.
Private, personalized and flexible
Because these are private classes, we can spend more time on the topics that matter most to you.
Your previous experiences, birth preferences, hospital, obstetrician, concerns and questions can all be incorporated into the sessions.
Your partner or primary support person is encouraged to participate.
Class times are coordinated according to the couple's availability, making it easier to fit the sessions around work and other commitments. Weekday and weekend appointments are available.
Prepare for more than the birth itself
Pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum are all connected.
The goal of these classes is to help you arrive at birth with a clearer understanding of what to expect, practical tools you can actually use, and a partner who also knows how to support you.
Book your Private Childbirth Classes