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LindseyJW
member
what did you look for in a birth class teacher?
LindseyJW
member
what do you look for in a teacher and how do you prioritize the list?
i'm a new HypnoBirthing practioner and i've been thinking about how to advertise, how to attract moms to HB, and once they want to take a HB class, how to get them in my class versus someone else's class.
so for you, what was most important? was it method then cost? cost then satisfied grads? what is your list?
was it important to you that the teacher/class have a website? a yahoo group?
thanks!
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Re: what did you look for in a birth class teacher?
to me, a pain-free birth (i.e.: epi!) was impt so I wasn't looking for a birth teacher. But if I was, I'd like to know how many of the students actually went on to have a pain-free birth; how long the class is (time commitment), how much? I'd like to talk to previous students and get their impressions/experiences, too.
good luck!
you are so brave to start a whole new career
thanks sofka! it's not scary at all, it feels SO right.
that's a great idea!
I would first want a word-of-mouth referral or recommendation from someone who took the class.
Then I would consider cost and time committment.
I would also think to myself "what happens if I don't like it or don't mesh with the teacher?" Maybe a chance to sit in on a class before deciding, or something like that.
I would want a teacher/coach who is 100% non-judgemental. As in, they're not going to consider any of my questions as stupid or obvious, or judge me if I take the class but end up having a totally different labor/birth that goes the other way (like if I planned to not get an epi, but then got one, I'd want to know all my options and know I wasn't letting anyone down... stuff like that).
- a website is a definite must.
- a balanced approach (touching on different birthing methods and interventions - even if the clients "plan" is natural, and the focus of the class is hypno)
- cost was important, but, some information online about how clients may be able to get services covered on their insurance plan
- role based classes might be a good idea... i.e., one class could focus on how the Dad will be feeling and expectations of the Dad during different stages of the birthing process. another class could discuss the roles of different practicioners, and how to most effectively communicate with them while under the duress of birth, and while maintaining a state of hypnosis.
-familiarity with a variety of area hospitals'/practicioners' policies and practices
-relationships with other birthing practicioners in the area
1. Recommendation from other people I know (that's how I found my instructor).
2. Method and content of class.
3. Logistics like location of the class, time, and cost.
4. Websites was useful, because I could find out more information about the class and instructor before contacting them. I preferred that over cold calling to get info.
Hi. I mainly lurk here but I actually had something to add on this one.
Since I wanted a med-free birth, finding an instructor who had actually had at least one med-free birth herself was important to me. I hear one of the midwives at Physicians & Midwives is now teaching a class herself. She doesn't have any kids yet. This automatically disqualifies her in my eyes. Don't tell me how to do something you've never done yourself. She was also skeptical when I told her I was trying to go med-free. She said with first births you have to be open to how it unfolds. With any birth you have to be open to how it unfolds but if you want a med-free birth, you have to be pretty outwardly rigid about that to your medical providers. IMHO
I used HypnoBirthing for my daughter's birth last April. Yes, I made it without the drugs. My labor was very fast- from the time of my first contaction to holding my baby in my arms- less than 9.5 hours. Did HypnoBirthing help me with the pain of labor- not in my opinion but did I feel confident and calm going into it? Definitely. Do I think it helped me have a quick labor? Yes. To be fair though, I did not practice all of the techniques the way I should have. I did listened to the affirmations and the rainbow relaxation regularly.
I took the classes Sharon Stevenson offered through Yoga Birth and Beyond. I found her on the internet after a midwife suggested HypnoBirthing. The cost wasn't really a factor though if it had been $500+ I might have reconsidered. I like Sharon. She was very kind and did an extra fear release session with me that really helped. I will say the classes were boring to me (the space was small and often too warm and the floor cushions were uncomfortable) and while we practiced techniques, she did not present them. She assumed we'd tried them from reading the book...yeah, I needed more spoon feeding than that.
GL!
thanks, everyone, for your honest input. i appreciate it and it will be helpful in my service to other moms!
I would also add a "what if" section....sometimes, a c-section is a necessity and I would prepare Moms for that. You know what you went thru after your 1st and I'd use that experience to prepare other Moms for the feelings/emotions they might have if, despite everything, they end up with a c-s