The Birth Center offers a variety of educational courses, seminars and support groups to all of our clients. Most courses are taught or moderated by TBC staff.
To register, check the calendar posted in the waiting room at TBC and on this website. Choose the class you'd like to register for, making sure it ends approximately 3-4 weeks before your due date. When you are at TBC, fill out a registration form completely and return it with payment (check, cash or credit card) to the receptionist at the front desk. Be sure to use the correct registration form, as there are specific forms for each class. You will be notified by mail that your registration has been received, along with any instructions pertaining to your class.
Free Childbirth Seminar
The Birth Center sponsors free childbirth seminars to present factual information and options which every woman who is pregnant or planning a pregnancy should be aware of regardless of where she plans to have her baby. The cesarean and episiotomy rates in this country are very high. Learn why and what preventative measures can be taken. Fill out this form or call 610-525-6086 to be notified when the next seminar will be held.
Childbirth Education Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register for classes at The Birth Center?
You can check the schedule of classes, posted in the waiting room at TBC and on this website. Choose the class you’d like, making sure it ends approximately 3-4 weeks before your due date. When you are at TBC, fill out a registration form completely and return it with payment (check, cash or credit card) to the receptionist at the front desk. Be sure to use the correct registration form, as there are specific forms for each class.
That’s it! You will be notified by mail that your registration has been received, along with any instructions pertaining to your class.
What if the class I want is full?
If there are no classes available in time for your due date, you have two options. First, you can add your name to the waiting list, which is located in the wall pocket where the registration forms are kept. If a space opens up in a class which is full, clients are contacted on a first-come first-served basis, depending on due dates.
However, openings in certain classes (such as Preparation for Childbirth) are rare. Therefore, it’s a good idea to exercise your second option, which is to find a class outside of TBC. There is a list of teachers, classes, and education resources located in the wall pocket in the waiting room. You are encouraged to contact these teachers and find a class as soon as possible.
If this is your first birth, and you take a class outside of TBC, you are also required to take TBC’s Supplemental class, which covers the protocols, reasons for transfer, and postpartum procedures that are specific to TBC. Please be sure to register for the Supplemental class at your earliest convenience.
Can I register for a class and pay at a later date?
No. Payment in full is required at the time of registration. Any registration forms which are received without payment will either be returned or held, and you will not be added to the class list until payment is received. Delaying payment may result in missing out on the class you want.
I have a friend who is pregnant but not a Birth Center client. Can she and her partner take classes with us?
No. Unfortunately at this time we do not have the capability to open our classes to individuals who are not Birth Center clients.
What happens if my partner and I have to miss a class in our series?
If you know in advance that you’ll miss a class, just let the teacher know as soon as possible. If it’s a last minute situation, such as illness or car trouble, call her to explain. It is often possible to sit in on another class to make up what you missed. Or, you can read the handouts which are given each week and maybe even view that weeks’ video when you come for a prenatal visit (subject to advance notice and staff availability).
Can I register for Focus on Breastfeeding if I’m not taking Preparation for Childbirth?
Yes! Although the breastfeeding class is included as part of our class for first-time moms and their partners, even if you’re not in that class, there are still good reasons to take it as a single class. If you are taking a childbirth class outside of TBC, it may not include a breastfeeding component, or may not go into detail about breastfeeding. So you might want to take Focus on Breastfeeding to increase your knowledge and confidence about nursing your baby. Or, if this is your second (or third) birth, and breastfeeding was challenging last time, you may want to take our breastfeeding class to review the benefits and techniques to feel more prepared this time around.
Should I bring my partner to the Breastfeeding class?
Absolutely. Although fathers and other partners will not be the ones doing the breastfeeding, we feel it’s vital for them to understand its importance and the ways in which it is most successfully accomplished. Just as you need good support during labor, you will need informed support for breastfeeding, especially in the early days. Partners who understand the demands of nursing a new baby are most likely to provide an environment that makes it easier and more enjoyable. Further, partners can become an advocate for breastfeeding with anyone who doesn’t understand the need to breastfeed your baby, like “well-meaning” relatives, friends, doctors, and other skeptics. Good nutrition is a family affair.
