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FAQ’s |
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Families start here |
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Melissa Evans, CBE, CLE, CPST |
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Childbirth Educator Certified Lactation Educator Child Passenger Safety Technician |
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FAQ's
Here are some frequently asked questions:
Prospective Students:
When should I start a series?
May I come see a class before committing?
Does it cost extra to bring my partner?
May I bring my mom/sister/doula/friend to class as she will also be at the birth?
I am planning a hospital/birth center/home birth, will classes be useful?
I want an epidural, should I bother taking your class?
How are your classes different than the ones offered in the hospital?
Do you teach breathing patterns?
Do I have to bring a pillow to class?
I’m really interested, but I do not have the money for tuition; what can we do?
Current Students:
Where are the further reading articles?
Where are the outlines and review questions?
Do I have to do the homework?
Prospective Students:
When should I start a series?
Since a normal series is 12 weeks long, ideally at about 24 weeks, give or take. If you’re able to join a class earlier, then great! That gives you that much more time to practice and incorporate the information. If you just found out about classes and don’t have that much time, a condensed series may work better for you.
May I come see a class before committing?
Sure! Some classes lend themselves better to “taste tests” than others so please let me know ahead of time to get you into a good sampler class and so I can make sure there is room and refreshments for you.
Does it cost extra to bring my partner?
Absolutely not. We spend a lot of class time teaching coaches how to help in labor, they are very important and appreciated. Ideally, your partner will be able to make it to every class along with you.
May I bring my mom/sister/doula/friend to class as she will also be at the birth?
If we have room in the series, I’d be happy to have your “assistant coach” as well. Please let me know ahead of time so I can make sure there is space and snacks.
I am planning a hospital/birth center/home birth, will classes be useful?
Yes, yes, and yes. Class information includes common interventions in a hospital setting which is very important for those planning to birth in one. Mothers planning out-of-hospital births may need to transfer, so the information is still useful. And the labor coping techniques are needed no matter where you chose to give birth as well as the nutrition, exercise, optimal fetal positioning, breastfeeding, and baby care information.
I want an epidural, should I bother taking your class?
Yes! I do not demonize epidurals though I think they are highly overused and come with risks. The epidural cannot be placed at the first contraction so you will need some tools to use in the beginning and the other information we cover in class is useful no matter what. Who knows, maybe you’ll decide to give natural birth a try when you have more information!
How are your classes different than the ones offered in the hospital?
Because I am an independent teacher, I can offer evidence based information without fear of my employer getting upset – because you are my employer and I want to make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision for your family. I do not teach “roll-over-and-be-a-good-patient” classes; I teach “here’s-information-so-you-can-offer-true-informed-consent” classes and there’s a world of difference.
Do you teach breathing patterns?
Heck no, techno. You’ve been breathing very well your entire life and I see no need to change that. Well, unless you’re like most women who have switched to chest breathing, we work on getting you back to natural abdominal breathing. That’s the only lesson we do, no huffing and puffing a baby out in my class.
Do I have to bring a pillow to class?
If you like, but it’s not necessary. I have pillows to use in class when we do laying down relaxation practices, but I don’t require moms to be on the floor for every practice. I don’t want to imply that you have to labor laying down!
I’m really interested, but I do not have the money for tuition; what can we do?
Please don’t let money stop you from taking this class! Honestly and truly, we can find a way. I can take payment plans, I am happy to barter, and I can reduce fees if needed. If this is important to you, there is a way.
Back to the top
Current Students:
Where are the further reading articles?
They are right here.
Where are the outlines and review questions?
I will email those to you along with some other key documents that I’m not so willing to share with the world. If you need me to send them again, please let me know.
Do I have to do the homework?
Well, I’m not going to fail you; but there is a final exam and I’m not the one who administers it! Writing/typing the information will help it stick better which means the information will likely be there for you when you need it. It should take less than an hour every week.
Prospective Students:
When should I start a series?
May I come see a class before committing?
Does it cost extra to bring my partner?
May I bring my mom/sister/doula/friend to class as she will also be at the birth?
I am planning a hospital/birth center/home birth, will classes be useful?
I want an epidural, should I bother taking your class?
How are your classes different than the ones offered in the hospital?
Do you teach breathing patterns?
Do I have to bring a pillow to class?
I’m really interested, but I do not have the money for tuition; what can we do?
Current Students:
Where are the further reading articles?
Where are the outlines and review questions?
Do I have to do the homework?
Prospective Students:
When should I start a series?
Since a normal series is 12 weeks long, ideally at about 24 weeks, give or take. If you’re able to join a class earlier, then great! That gives you that much more time to practice and incorporate the information. If you just found out about classes and don’t have that much time, a condensed series may work better for you.
May I come see a class before committing?
Sure! Some classes lend themselves better to “taste tests” than others so please let me know ahead of time to get you into a good sampler class and so I can make sure there is room and refreshments for you.
Does it cost extra to bring my partner?
Absolutely not. We spend a lot of class time teaching coaches how to help in labor, they are very important and appreciated. Ideally, your partner will be able to make it to every class along with you.
May I bring my mom/sister/doula/friend to class as she will also be at the birth?
If we have room in the series, I’d be happy to have your “assistant coach” as well. Please let me know ahead of time so I can make sure there is space and snacks.
I am planning a hospital/birth center/home birth, will classes be useful?
Yes, yes, and yes. Class information includes common interventions in a hospital setting which is very important for those planning to birth in one. Mothers planning out-of-hospital births may need to transfer, so the information is still useful. And the labor coping techniques are needed no matter where you chose to give birth as well as the nutrition, exercise, optimal fetal positioning, breastfeeding, and baby care information.
I want an epidural, should I bother taking your class?
Yes! I do not demonize epidurals though I think they are highly overused and come with risks. The epidural cannot be placed at the first contraction so you will need some tools to use in the beginning and the other information we cover in class is useful no matter what. Who knows, maybe you’ll decide to give natural birth a try when you have more information!
How are your classes different than the ones offered in the hospital?
Because I am an independent teacher, I can offer evidence based information without fear of my employer getting upset – because you are my employer and I want to make sure you have all the information you need to make an informed decision for your family. I do not teach “roll-over-and-be-a-good-patient” classes; I teach “here’s-information-so-you-can-offer-true-informed-consent” classes and there’s a world of difference.
Do you teach breathing patterns?
Heck no, techno. You’ve been breathing very well your entire life and I see no need to change that. Well, unless you’re like most women who have switched to chest breathing, we work on getting you back to natural abdominal breathing. That’s the only lesson we do, no huffing and puffing a baby out in my class.
Do I have to bring a pillow to class?
If you like, but it’s not necessary. I have pillows to use in class when we do laying down relaxation practices, but I don’t require moms to be on the floor for every practice. I don’t want to imply that you have to labor laying down!
I’m really interested, but I do not have the money for tuition; what can we do?
Please don’t let money stop you from taking this class! Honestly and truly, we can find a way. I can take payment plans, I am happy to barter, and I can reduce fees if needed. If this is important to you, there is a way.
Back to the top
Current Students:
Where are the further reading articles?
They are right here.
Where are the outlines and review questions?
I will email those to you along with some other key documents that I’m not so willing to share with the world. If you need me to send them again, please let me know.
Do I have to do the homework?
Well, I’m not going to fail you; but there is a final exam and I’m not the one who administers it! Writing/typing the information will help it stick better which means the information will likely be there for you when you need it. It should take less than an hour every week.
