Childbirth Preparation: A Complete Guide for Pregnant Women from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Develop and maintain optimal mental, emotional and physical health throughout pregnancy.
Create a healthy and happy childbirth experience.
Feel empowered to advocate for your needs during pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood.

Prepare your home for a new baby.
Be equipped to care for the physical and emotional needs of your baby and self.

Develop and maintain optimal mental, emotional and physical health throughout pregnancy.
Create a healthy and happy childbirth experience.
Feel empowered to advocate for your needs during pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood.
Prepare your home for a new baby.
Be equipped to care for the physical and emotional needs of your baby and self.

Syllabus

Introduction

Learn who this course is for.
Discover what you'll learn throughout the course.
Get to know the instructor.
Ignite a sense of pride and excitement for your commitment to fully prepare for childbirth and motherhood.

Hear my personal journey into motherhood.

Introduction Relaxation Recording

1st Trimester- Mind

•Learn how to weave "energized curiosity" into your journey to motherhood.

•Discover how to locate your childbirthing tribe.

•Commit to practicing your creative expression of choice (Writing, Art, Singing, Movement, etc.)

•Learn what the term “holistic” means.

•Discover how a unified mind, body and spirit will enhance your birth.

•Practice weaving your Mind, Body, & Spirit together.

Discover how our foremothers used the following practices to create optimal birth experiences:

•Spiritual Intention & Introspection

•Honing the Intuition

•Uplifting Story Telling

•Ritual

•Learn the correlation between animals being aligned with nature and having simple births.

•Discover how walking in nature will enhance your pregnancy and birth.

•Learn how and why to invite nature into your birthing space.

1st Trimester- Mind Checklist

1st Trimester- Mind Relaxation Recording

1st Trimester- Body

Remember to discuss all new exercise routines and nutrition shifts with your medical care provider.

Learn...

•Why you should practice kegels daily

•How to fit in exercise

•Why you should do what you like, and do what you did

•How to train your endorphins to flow

Discover how swimming, walking and yoga will prepare your body for an ideal pregnancy and birth experience.

Learn how exercise will support you in loving your body as it grows and shifts to accommodate new life.

Learn how to fill your body and baby with optimal nutrients.

Discover how optimal health blossoms when you eat a variety of colorful food grown from the Earth.

Learn why eating regular small (and healthy!) meals will minimize indigestion and nausea, and foster mindful eating.

Learn how to select prenatal vitamins that will best support the needs of your shifting body, and your baby's healthy development.

Receive a reminder of the food and drink you should avoid during pregnancy.

•Learn why water is the "Elixir of Life."

•Discover your daily water intake requirements.

•Learn how to infuse your water with the energy of love and gratitude.

Discover how to tap into the sacred nature of water.

1st Trimester- Body Checklist

1st Trimester- Body Relaxation Recordings

1st Trimester- Spirit

Discover the common sources of pregnancy fears and how to remove them from your life.

Discover how fear (or the lack of fear) throws you into your metaphorical Emergency Room, or Healing Room, and what happens to your body when it's placed in these "rooms."

Learn how to get out of the cycle of fear creating tension, tension creating pain, and pain creating more fear.

Begin the process of determining your specific fears, so you can release them.

Practice the step-by-step process of discovering what you're afraid of, the emotions and physical sensations attached to those fears, and how to release them.

1st Trimester- Spirit Checklist

1st Trimester- Spirit Relaxation Recording

2nd Trimester- Mind

Discover the value in the ancient ceremony of the Mother's Blessings and how you can create your own.

Learn how to plan a fun, yet simple, baby shower on your own, or how to ask a loved one to do it for you. In addition, discover various options you can utilize to preserve the memories.

Gather ideas for infusing your baby shower, or Mother's Blessings, with more connection and love, versus a strong focus on physical belongings.

Learn how to...

Create simple and effective storage solutions for the bedroom or nursery.
Develop zones which facilitate the specific activities that take place in that area (e.g., sleeping, creativity, dressing, baby, etc.)
Arrange your furniture in the most functional and pleasing manner.

Learn how to...

Enhance the vibe of sensuality in your bedroom (when it's needed!)
Know what to leave out of your bedroom.
Introduce calming colors into your "Zen Zone."
Select images for display that will evoke the specific energy you desire in your bedroom.
Maintain all the calming goodness.

2nd Trimester- Mind Checklist

2nd Trimester- Mind Relaxation Recording

2nd Trimester- Body

Discover how to set a tone of unity when presenting your birth preferences.
Learn birth preference options for the beginning of labor.
Learn birth preference options for the thinning and opening phase of labor.

Learn birth preference options for baby's descent.
Learn birth preference options for the moment of birth.
Learn birth preference options for baby after birth.
Receive link for Birth Preferences Template download.

Birth Preferences Template

2nd Trimester- Body Checklist

2nd Trimester- Body Relaxation Recording

2nd Trimester- Spirit

•Learn why the term “Complication” is more threatening to your mind-body connection than the term “Special Circumstance”

•Discover strategies for reconciling with an unplanned pregnancy.

•Learn what Gestational Diabetes is, how you'll be tested for it, and how to minimize your chances of developing it.

•Practice moving through any special circumstances you may face with the "Love Yourself" meditation and exercise.

•Learn what Group B Strep is, how you'll be tested for it, and how to minimize your chances of developing it.

•Learn what Premature Birth is, how to move through it if it becomes part of your experience, and how to minimize your chances of your baby being born before 37 weeks gestation.

•Learn what Preeclampsia is, how you'll be tested for it, and how to minimize your chances of developing it.

•Learn what the term "Breech Baby" means, and options for turning a breech baby.

Discover what hypnosis is and is not, and how it can enhance your journey into motherhood.

Discover the blueprint of your mind and how it impacts your beliefs, behaviors and thought processes.

Many individuals are concerned about how moving into a state of hypnosis will impact their body. This lesson will put your mind (and body) at ease regarding the physical effects of this gentle art of mental reprogramming.

Discover how hypnosis is often much different than the common perceptions many have of this healing form of mental reprogramming.

Learn why it's important to remove the belief, from your subconscious mind, that childbirth is scary, painful and dangerous.

Discover the difference between a therapist bringing your into a state of hypnosis (heterohypnosis), and bringing yourself into a state of hypnosis (which you'll learn in this lecture!); and why both are beneficial.

2nd Trimester- Spirit Checklist

2nd Trimester- Spirit Relaxation Recordings

3rd Trimester- Mind

Learn...

•Why you should only pack the bare necessities in your hospital or birth bag.

•What you should pack for yourself.

•What your birth companion should pack.

•What you should pack for baby.

•The extra items to consider packing.

•Items you don't need to bring.

Discover how to select your optimal medical care provider.
Learn what a birth doula is and does, and whether you want to hire one.
Learn what a postpartum doula is and does, and whether you want to hire one.

Learn how water can benefit your birth, and considerations for a water birth.
Discover how and why to adjust the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes in your birth environment.

Discover how to select your optimal medical care provider.
Learn to select the ideal space to birth in, in your home.
Receive a list of needed supplies for a home birth.

Learn what a birth doula is and does, and whether you want to hire one.
Learn what a postpartum doula is and does, and whether you want to hire one.
Learn how water can benefit your birth, and considerations for a water birth.
Discover how and why to adjust the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes in your birth environment.

3rd Trimester- Mind Checklist

3rd Trimester- Mind Relaxation Recording

3rd Trimester- Body

Learn symptoms and emotions to potentially expect during the opening and thinning phase of labor, active labor and transition, and how to move through them in peace and comfort.

Learn common physical and emotional symptoms you may move through as baby makes their final decent and emerges- and how to soothe many of the symptoms.

Learn what the process of birthing the placenta commonly consists of.

Discover how to utilize gravity, and the position of your body during birth, to quicken the process, ensure baby is in the ideal position for emergence and enhance your comfort.

I'll cover...

Why it's important to tune into the positions that feel best for you- and why you should practice during pregnancy.
Why squatting and swirling are so effective.
Alternative positions if you're not into squatting.
How to best utilize a birth ball.

Discover the benefits of light touch massage, how to teach it to your birth companion, and how they can utilize it during birth to encourage your endorphins (natural pain relievers) to flow.

Learn how and why your birth companion, or birth doula, should utilize the pain-relieving hip squeeze technique on you throughout your labor.

Discover how to reset and harmonize chaotic energy running through channels in your body by working with specific pain-relieving pressure points.

3rd Trimester- Body Checklist

3rd Trimester- Body Relaxation Recordings

3rd Trimester- Spirit

Learn...

•How and when to utilize three effective breathing techniques during birth; the De-stressor Breath, Wave Breath and Descent Breath

•The importance of oxygen.

•How breathing can help to release you from fear.

3rd Trimester- Spirit Checklist

3rd Trimester- Spirit Relaxation Recording

4th Trimester- Mind

Learn the following, to create a safe home for your child:

•Why you should get on baby's level to know what needs baby proofing.

•Potential supplies you'll need.

•How to babyproof the kitchen.

•How to babyproof the nursery and bedroom.

•How to babyproof the bathroom.

•How to babyproof the stairs.

•How to maintain the safety.

It can be easy to forget- even the most memorable moments. You'll learn the benefits and "how to" of the following options, to ensure none of the precious moments slip your mind.

•Journaling

•Love Letters to Baby

•Baby Book or Scrapbook

•Wishing Well Jar

•Birth Video

•Memory Box

4th Trimester- Mind Checklist

4th Trimester- Mind Relaxation Recording

4th Trimester- Body

Learn how you can "nurse" your baby even if you're not able to breastfeed, the magic of your colostrum (or "liquid gold") and the many heath benefits breastfeeding provides for mom and baby.

Learn...

The basics of how to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding positions to try.
What to expect when you first begin breastfeeding.
How often you'll need to feed baby.
How to know if baby is getting enough milk.
How to care for your body while breastfeeding.

Learn how to utilize common breastfeeding positions like the cradle hole, football hold and the side-by-side latch.

Discover...

The benefits of lactation consultants, and why to call on their services before and after birth
How and why to pump
Milk storage
How to treat sore nipples
And other common breastfeeding related questions

Learn about all the postpartum physical goodies you might experience, like...

•Lochia- postpartum bleeding

•Swelling (drink water)

•Hemorrhoids

•Hair Loss

•Marathon-level soreness

•Belly Pooch (breastfeeding helps!)

•Feel like your uterus and bladder is falling out? (Kegels help)

You'll also learn how to calmly move through them!

*If you’re ever concerned, call your medical care provider

Discover the wide array of normal when it comes to your baby's bowel movements. Learn what breastfed and formula fed poop looks and smells like, the consistency of "constipated poo," what foamy green poop means, warning signs found in the diaper, and much more.

Learn to soothe common physical challenges baby may through such as diaper rashes and projectile spit up, and how to bathe baby and care for the cord stump.

Ease your mama-worries by learning the common (yet strange!) ways many babies sleep, how to regulate baby's temperature, and whether you should utilize infant massage.

4th Trimester- Body Checklist

4th Trimester- Body Relaxation Recordings

4th Trimester- Spirit

Discover the benefits of deeply bonding with your baby, and how you can go about doing it.

Learn...

•The science behind the mama-baby love connection

•How to select three daily "guiding words" to ensure you evoke quality bonding and pleasure out of every day.

•How bonding impacts brain cells.

•How bonding impacts baby's health.

•Why quality and quantity bonding is important.

•How mirroring and eye contact heighten the quality of bonding.

Learn how...

•You can still be You after you become a mother.

•Scheduling (specifically scheduling "me time") will enhance your transition into motherhood.

•A nap (alone) will do wonders for your mental, physical and emotional well-being.

•To stay connected to your true self.

•To stay connected to your partner.

4th Trimester- Spirit Checklist

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores childbirth preparation in a fresh way, combining traditional knowledge and spiritual practices

Delivers the full spectrum of childbirth preparation, from prenatal mind-body work to practical labor techniques

Course materials are multi-modal, featuring videos, audio, and written content

Offers clear guidance and emphatic support through the entire pregnancy and labor journey

Taught by Bailey Gaddis, an experienced instructor who provides insider insights and practical advice

Suitable for pregnant women who are open to complementary and holistic approaches to childbirth preparation

Reviews summary

Comprehensive childbirth guide

According to students, this childbirth preparation guide provides valuable knowledge, boosts confidence, and is well suited for first-time pregnancies. The course is well-received and highly recommended by learners.

Course boosts confidence for first-time pregnancies.

"All the information in the course has helped me boost my confidence during my first pregnancy."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Childbirth Preparation: A Complete Guide for Pregnant Women with these activities:

Review relaxation techniques

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Start the course with a fresh mind and body to enhance learning outcomes by reviewing relaxation techniques.

Browse courses on Relaxation Techniques

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Compile a list of relaxation techniques that you've used in the past or that you're interested in trying.
Spend some time practicing each technique, focusing on the sensations in your body and mind.
Choose a few techniques that you find particularly effective and incorporate them into your daily routine.

Volunteer at a local birth center or hospital

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Gain practical experience and support others by volunteering at a local birth center or hospital.

Browse courses on Community Involvement

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Find a local birth center or hospital that offers volunteer opportunities.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer positions.
Attend orientation and training sessions.
Assist with tasks such as providing support to birthing women, families, and staff.

Attend childbirth education classes

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Build a strong foundation by attending childbirth education classes and gaining knowledge from experienced professionals.

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Find a childbirth education class that meets your needs and preferences.
Attend all of the classes and participate actively in the discussions.
Practice the techniques and exercises that you learn in class.

Five other activities

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Read "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin

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Gain valuable insights and support from an experienced childbirth educator and author by reading "The Birth Partner".

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Purchase a copy of "The Birth Partner".
Read the book thoroughly, taking notes and highlighting important passages.
Discuss the book with your partner or childbirth educator.

Identify a mentor or doula for support

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Connect with experienced professionals who can provide guidance, reassurance, and support throughout your pregnancy and birth journey.

Browse courses on Mentorship

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Research and identify potential mentors or doulas in your area.
Reach out to your top choices and schedule interviews to find the best fit.
Establish regular communication and support sessions.

Practice breathing techniques

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Develop a strong foundation and improve focus by practicing various breathing techniques.

Browse courses on Breathing Exercises

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Learn about different breathing techniques, such as diaphragmatic breathing, box breathing, and alternate nostril breathing.
Practice these techniques regularly, paying attention to the way your breath feels in your body.
Incorporate breathing techniques into your daily routine, such as when you're feeling stressed or anxious.

Create a birth plan

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Gain clarity and confidence in your birth experience by creating a comprehensive birth plan.

Show steps

Research different birth options and preferences.
Talk to your healthcare provider and childbirth educator about your preferences.
Write down your birth preferences in a clear and concise manner.
Share your birth plan with your partner, family, and healthcare team.

Create a birth vision board

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Tap into the power of visualization by creating a birth vision board that reflects your hopes and desires.

Browse courses on Visualization Techniques

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Gather images, quotes, and words that represent your ideal birth experience.
Create a collage or digital vision board that incorporates these elements.
Spend time looking at your vision board and visualizing your birth.

Career center

Learners who complete Childbirth Preparation: A Complete Guide for Pregnant Women will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Childbirth Educator

The course delves into what to expect when giving birth, from the physical and emotional changes to the different stages of labor and delivery. This knowledge is essential for childbirth educators, who provide expectant parents with the information and support they need to have a safe and positive birth experience. The course also covers relaxation techniques, which can be helpful for childbirth educators to teach their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Childbirth Educator

Doula

Doulas provide physical and emotional support to women during labor and delivery. The course covers everything from comfort measures to pain management techniques, which are essential for doulas to know. The course also emphasizes the importance of creating a positive and supportive birth environment, which is something that doulas can help to create for their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Doula

Lactation Consultant

Lactation consultants help women with breastfeeding, from latching to milk production. The course covers the basics of breastfeeding, as well as more advanced topics such as pumping and relactation. This knowledge is essential for lactation consultants, who can help women overcome breastfeeding challenges and achieve their breastfeeding goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lactation Consultant

Midwife

Midwives provide prenatal care, labor and delivery care, and postpartum care. The course covers all aspects of midwifery, from the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy to the different stages of labor and delivery. This knowledge is essential for midwives, who provide care to women throughout their pregnancy and birth experience.

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Nurse

Nurses provide care to patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. The course covers the basics of nursing, as well as more advanced topics such as pain management and wound care. This knowledge is essential for nurses, who provide care to patients of all ages and with a variety of health conditions.

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Obstetrician

Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period. The course covers all aspects of obstetrics, from the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy to the different stages of labor and delivery. This knowledge is essential for obstetricians, who provide care to women throughout their pregnancy and birth experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Obstetrician

Pediatrician

Pediatricians provide care to children from birth to adolescence. The course covers the physical, emotional, and social development of children, as well as common childhood illnesses and injuries. This knowledge is essential for pediatricians, who provide care to children throughout their childhood and adolescence.

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Prenatal Yoga Instructor

Prenatal yoga instructors teach yoga classes specifically for pregnant women. The course covers the benefits of prenatal yoga, as well as how to safely modify yoga poses for pregnant women. This knowledge is essential for prenatal yoga instructors, who help pregnant women stay fit and healthy during their pregnancy.

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Birth Photographer

Birth photographers capture the moments of labor and delivery. The course covers the basics of photography, as well as how to capture the emotions and beauty of birth. This knowledge is essential for birth photographers, who help families preserve the memories of their birth experience.

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Massage Therapist

Massage therapists provide massage therapy to clients of all ages and with a variety of health conditions. The course covers the basics of massage therapy, as well as more advanced topics such as prenatal massage and infant massage. This knowledge is essential for massage therapists, who can help clients relieve pain, reduce stress, and improve their overall health and well-being.

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Writer

The course may be useful for writers who are interested in writing about pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting. The course covers a wide range of topics, from the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy to the different stages of labor and delivery. This knowledge can help writers to create accurate and informative content about these topics.

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Teacher

The course may be useful for teachers who are interested in teaching about pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting. The course covers a wide range of topics, from the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy to the different stages of labor and delivery. This knowledge can help teachers to create accurate and informative lesson plans about these topics.

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Social Worker

The course may be useful for social workers who work with pregnant women or families with young children. The course covers a wide range of topics, from the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy to the different stages of labor and delivery. This knowledge can help social workers to provide support and guidance to their clients.

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Therapist

The course may be useful for therapists who work with women who are pregnant or have recently given birth. The course covers a wide range of topics, from the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy to the different stages of labor and delivery. This knowledge can help therapists to provide support and guidance to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Therapist

Researcher

The course may be useful for researchers who are interested in studying pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting. The course covers a wide range of topics, from the physical and emotional changes of pregnancy to the different stages of labor and delivery. This knowledge can help researchers to design and conduct studies on these topics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Researcher