“I felt that this class helped me feel informed about birth regardless of the birth outcome. I love that we talked about all types of birth experiences.”
My Birth Class
Four-week series, three hours each class, totaling 12 hours and taught in-person at the MyBirth studio in Scott’s Addition.
A doula's guide to empowered, supported, evidence based birth practices, our original curriculum was created by the doulas of MyBirth and reflects our 30+ years of combined childbirth experience. With the MyBirth childbirth education class, you will gain a thorough understanding of the mechanics of birth, comfort measures for pregnancy and labor, how to remain active and be your own advocate, lactation basics, what to expect postpartum, and adjusting to life with a new baby.
Though geared towards achieving an unmedicated birth, we will also thoroughly cover inductions and epidurals, common interventions/medications, family-centered cesareans, and how to be flexible when confronted with a new direction in your birth's trajectory.
Class One: Your birth goals, nutrition and health, how our babies grow, how our bodies open, the stages of labor
Class Two: Comfort measures for labor, helpful tips for laboring at home and in the hospital
Class Three: Common interventions/procedures in pregnancy and birth, finding flexibility in birth, labor with an epidural, and family centered cesareans, confident decision making, advocating for yourself during pregnancy and birth
Class Four: Life with your newborn, feeding your baby, the physical and mental recovery after birth
A fun, interactive class with multiple approaches to learning. We pride ourselves on engaging our students and insuring that the information is interesting, accessible, and easy to remember. Approach your birth with calm and confidence!
Educational materials provided including videos, handouts, and a digital handbook for the class
Taught by Sara Krivanec, toLabor Doula, Certifeid Lactation Counselor, MyBirth Childbirth Educator
$275.00 for the pregnant person plus the partner of their choice
MyBirth doula clients and those birthing at River City Midwifery receive a 10% discount with special code
The Big Day
Join us for this three-hour childbirth education class (in-person and virtual options every month), where we cover:
Getting ready for your birth: preparing for the birth you want.
Low-intervention birth; birth with or without an epidural.
Is this labor?
The stages of labor: what's happening and what helps.
Comfort measures and coping: hydrotherapy, massage, breathing, visualizations, and more!
Making confident decisions: interventions and flexibility with changing plans.
Virtual option taught by Keisha Graham, in-person taught by Emily Bruno
$90.00 per family.
MyBirth Lactation Prep
A Successful Start
A doula's guide to your getting a successful start with lactation and nursing. Taught by the doulas of MyBirth - who are also Certified lactation Counselors or Specialists - this course was designed to help avoid the pitfalls of early nursing, with a large focus on the first three days, three weeks, and three months of nursing.
The class will cover: mechanics of nursing and milk transfer, how to prepare for nursing or lactating for your baby, getting a good start, steps to a good latch, how to protect against interruption/interference, lactation pitfalls, realities and real talk about nursing/lactation, common problems, the benefits of nursing, how partners and families can support nursing parents.
2.5 hours long, includes supplemental learning materials
Educational materials provided.
We recommend taking this class between 30 and 36 weeks of pregnancy
$90.00 per family.
MyBirth Lactation Prep
Pumping & Milk Storage
If you are nursing and returning to work, this class has everything you need to know.
Do you need a freezer stash? How often do you need to pump? What does the law say about that? What about storing expressed milk? What the heck is 'paced bottle feeding'? If your baby reverse cycles, will they need training wheels? What about weekends or days off? How will you feel emotionally about the whole thing? Come to this action-packed class to find the answers to all of these questions and more.
Designed to be taken with or without attending our Successful Start lactation class.
90 minutes long, includes supplemental learning materials
We recommend taking this class after your baby has been born and you have established lactation.
$65.00 per family.
Newborn Care & Infant CPR
Newborn Care & Infant CPR
Designed to provide expectant parents and caregivers with essential skills and confidence for caring for a newborn, this class covers a range of topics including feeding, diapering, soothing techniques, sleep strategies, and umbilical cord care. Additionally, you'll receive training in infant CPR and choking preparedness. This class will equip you with practical knowledge and hands-on experience to support your growing family and feel equipped to handle emergency situations.
Taught by Jesse Waller - birth and postpartum doula, lactation and feeding specialist, and Red Cross certified instructor.
Three-hours in duration, held at the MyBirth Community Studio
$130.00 per two caregivers
Pelvic Floor Health in Pregnancy
Pelvic Floor Health in Pregnancy
Join MyBirth and the Doctors from Fettle and Fit Physical Therapy for a monthly virtual/online talk about keeping your pelvic floor healthy and strong. Topics covered:
What is your pelvic floor?
What role does it play in your health during pregnancy?
How do we protect our pelvic floors during birth and postpartum recovery?
What can we expect for recovery after vaginal or cesarean birth?
What kind of exercise is safe during pregnancy and postpartum?
$20.00 per family
**This class is part of the MyBirth doula package, contact your doula for enrollment info
Nutrition & Health in Pregnancy
Nutrition & Health in Pregnancy
Learn how food can nourish your growing baby, and support a healthy pregnancy. Taught by Bianca Gandaris, birth doula and nutritional counselor. In this class, you will learn about:
Key nutrients for baby’s development
How nutrition can help avoid certain pregnancy complications
How optimal nutrition can lead to safer birth outcomes for you and baby.
Includes meal planning tips and recipes to prepare at home
$20.00 per family
Cesarean Scar Self Massage
Cesarean Scar Self Massage
A private session with Jesse Waller, Licensed Massage Therapist and full spectrum doula, where you will learn hands on techniques to release scar tissue and adhesions post c-section. Intended for people at least 6 weeks out from their most recent cesarean.
1 hour, $100.00, includes scar treatment oil for home use.
If available times shown do not fit your needs, email jwaller.mybirthrva@gmail.com.
Birth Partner Yoga
Birth Partner Yoga
A yoga experience for birthing people and their partners to connect through movement and breath work. Birth doula and certified yoga teacher Colleen McDonald will lead participants through a gentle yoga practice for all experience levels followed by helpful tips & tricks for labor positions, movement, and comfort measures.
This class is 90 minutes long and is $50.00 for two attendees.
Participants will also leave with a helpful labor positions and comfort measures info sheet for easy reference.
Private Classes and Consultations
Having a hard time finding a childbirth education class that fits your schedule? Want to complete a class with an experienced doula and educator in the privacy of your home or in our Scott's Addition studio?
MyBirth Basics: Comfort Measures and Pain Relief Options (Two hours, $150.00)
MyBirth Foundations: Preparing for Birth, Comfort Measures, Common Interventions, Postpartum Transitions. (Four hours, completed in one day, $275.00)
MyBirth VBAC Options: A private consultation in the MyBirth office with Emily Bruno, Certified Doula, creator/educator Birth After Cesarean, regarding your options and choices regarding VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) in Richmond, and how to maximize your chances of having a VBAC. (1.5 hours, $90.00)
MyBirth Cesarean Scar Self-Massage: A private session with Jesse Waller, Licensed Massage Therapist and full spectrum doula, where you will learn hands on techniques to release scar tissue and adhesions post c-section. (1 hour, $100.00, includes scar treatment oil for home use)