Childbirth Classes
Family Centered Maternity Care is pleased to announce affordable fast-track childbirth education classes. Our clients and their partners benefit from the convenience of an entire childbirth education series taught in a single weekend, specifically focusing on preparing for natural childbirth. Our small classes (only two to four couples) facilitate individualized instruction tailored to the needs of the participants. Although our classes are geared towards those seeking a birth center or homebirth, they are open to all, space permitting.

Because FCMC is a free-standing birth center, heavy emphasis will be placed on learning about the physiology of normal childbirth, relaxation and breathing, positions for labor and birth, comfort techniques, and other ways expectant mothers can prepare themselves prenatally for a healthy, positive birth experience, such as nutrition, prenatal exercises, creating a birth plan, and developing confidence through knowledge about the process. Clients will have an opportunity to view videos of a water birth and a land birth, and be introduced to information on breast-feeding, care of the newborn, and postpartum changes for the mom. Complications which would lead to transport and common hospital procedures in the event of a hospital, medicated, and/or cesarean birth will also be discussed.

The class series will cost only $150 for the whole weekend for FCMC clients and $175 for non-FCMC clients, and run from 6:30-9:30 on Friday night, 12:00-5:00 on Saturday afternoon, and 1:30-5:30 on Sunday afternoon. Class outline, handouts, and more are included in the class fee. Private classes held in the home of the client are also available, if preferred.

Upcoming class series weekends will be 5-6-7 September, 3-4-5 October, 7-8-9 November, and 5-6-7 December 2008. Register online.
Couples should plan to complete their classes prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy.
For additional information you can call 214-675-1920, or contact Delilah Ray at Cherish Birth.

Baby Sign© Classes
FCMC hosts a Baby Signs Institute™ approved Parent Workshop, presented by Dawn West. The Baby Signs® Parent Workshop is specially designed for expectant parents and parents of children from birth to 24 months old. It is based on the breakthrough research of Drs. Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn documenting the positive effects of teaching infants to communicate with signs before they can talk. Parents will be provided with the knowledge and strategies they need to begin teaching their children to use signs.

Covered topics include the history of the Baby Signs® Program, why we should use signs, when to start teaching signs, how to teach signs, and building your signing vocabulary. The class also includes fun games, songs, and prizes!

For more information about the Baby Signs® Program, or to register for a class, please visit www.babysignswithdawn.com. Or email for more information on how to sign up for a class.