Birth & Family Education

Congratulations! You’ve just found out you're pregnant and now you have a million questions. You can count on Providence Everett Medical Center's Birth and Family Education program to provide you with the most comprehensive and up-to-date birth and family education at the most affordable price for you and your family. Our program offers a full spectrum of classes covering pregnancy through parenting teens and is taught by certified childbirth educators at convenient times. Learn what to expect during pregnancy and labor, parenting skills for newborn, young child, or teen, and you'll meet other people experiencing some of the same joys and challenges that go along with being a mom or dad.

There are three ways to register for classes:

• Call 425-304-6000 to register over the phone.
• Request a registration form from your physician or nurse midwife.
• Print and fill out a registration form and mail it in with your check.

Birth and Family Education Classes for 2008

Pregnancy and Childbirth Education
Family Classes
Infant Care 
After Your Baby is Born

Pregnancy and Childbirth Education

Mid-Pregnancy
One 2-hour session, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
This class is designed for women in the middle of a pregnancy (12-20 weeks). Topics include physical and emotional changes during pregnancy, lifestyle changes, special medical conditions, warning signs, introduction to comfort measures, and relaxation and breathing techniques.

Dates (2008): June 23, Aug 9, Oct 6, Dec 10
Cost:  $30

Childbirth Preparation
Four 2-hour weekly sessions (Monday - Thursday, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.) or
Two 4-hour sessions (Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.)
In this class you and your partner will learn what you need to know about labor and birth. Topics include comfort and coping techniques, medication options, what to expect during labor, potential labor complications, and recovery from childbirth.  Upon completion of this class, you will be better able to make choices that are right for your labor and birth.

Dates: Please call 425-304-6000 for dates or print out a 2008 schedule
Cost: $95

Refresher
Two 2-hour sessions, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
This course is specially designed for women who have had a child within five years. In this class you will review labor and birth processes, changes in family dynamics, medication options, variations and complications in labor, comfort and coping strategies, breathing and relaxation techniques.

Dates (2008): May 13 & 20, July 10 & 17, Sept 10 & 17, Nov 4 & 11
Cost:  $50

Practical Skills for Labor
One 2-hour session, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
This class is designed for those who have already attended childbirth classes and want additional information and practice with coping techniques for labor. Highlights include body awareness techniques, how to use patterned breathing effectively, labor positions, labor support if mom has an epidural, back labor techniques, and tips for the second stage of labor.

Dates (2008):  May 6, June 11, July 3, Aug 4, Sept 9, Oct 15, Nov 20, Dec 15
Cost:  $30

Your Planned Cesarean Birth
One 2-hour session, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
This class will prepare you and your partner for a planned cesarean birthing experience. Topics will include preparing for your birth, admission procedures, the birth experience, and recovery after a cesarean birth.

Dates (2008): July 24, Nov 10
Cost:  $30

Free, 30-Minute Tour
Guided tour of our Family Birth Center at the Pavilion for Women and Children.

Dates:  Call 425-304-6000 to schedule a tour.
Cost:  Free

Family Classes

New Dads
One 2-hour session, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
This class looks at pregnancy, labor, birth, and parenting from a dad's perspective. Facilitated by a veteran dad.

Dates (2008): May 14, Aug 13, Nov 12 
Cost:  $30

Sibling Preparation
One 1-hour session, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
In this class children (3-9 years) will learn about being a big brother or sister, how to hold a baby, anatomy of birth, and where mom will be staying while she is in the hospital.

Dates:  Third Saturday of every month
Cost:  $20

Free Car Seat Check
Prior to discharge, your nurse will offer you an appointment for a free car seat check with a specially trained technician. Learn how to properly install your car seat and how to keep your baby safe when riding in a car. Can't wait until after you give birth? Call for an appointment.     

Dates:  Call 425-304-6000 for one 30 minute appointment.
Cost:    Free

Infant Care

Feeding Your Baby
One 2-hour session, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
This class will cover the basic aspects of feeding your newborn, including topics such as successful breastfeeding, formula feeding, and care of feeding equipment.

Dates (2008): May 21, June 26, July 9, July 23, Aug 12, Sept 22, Oct 9, Nov 19, Dec 16
Cost: $30

Newborn Care
One 2-hour session, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
This class will prepare you for the realities of life with your newborn. Learn about newborn appearance, basic care, normal sleep and feeding patterns, how to comfort fussy babies, developing a relationship with your newborn, and keeping your baby safe and healthy.

Dates (2008):  May 8, June 16, June 30, July 22, Aug 7, Sept 8, Oct 14, Nov 13, Dec 8
Cost:  $30

Infant Safety and CPR
One 2-hour session, Mondays 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., or Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
In this class you will learn how to make your home a safe environment for your baby. Topics include providing CPR for a baby under one year of age, and what to do if your baby is choking.

Dates (2008):  May 5, May 24, June 2, June 28, July 7, July 26, Aug 4, Aug 23, Sept 8, Sept 27, Oct 6, Oct 25, Nov 3, Nov 22, Dec 1, Dec 27
Cost:  $30

Child Passenger Safety
One 2-hour session, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Learn how to keep children safe in a vehicle, how to operate a variety of seat belt systems and crash dynamics. This class covers all types of child restraints necessary through the progression of childhood.

Dates (2008):  May 7, Aug 6, Nov 15
Cost:  $30

Newborn Hearing Screening
Providence Children’s Center offers free newborn hearing screening for infants less than 1 month of age. Research from 1990 has advocated universal hearing screening for all infants to identify the 2-3 infants per 1,000 births who have significant hearing loss.

Dates:  Call 425-258-7311 to schedule an appointment
Cost:    Free

After Your Baby Is Born

Living with Baby (Group Class)
One 1-hour session weekly on Mondays or Thursdays.
This class is designed for new moms and their babies, providing support so that new moms can gain knowledge and confidence and build friendships. Topics will include sleep issues, parenting, baby sign language, infant massage, child development, and nurturing both baby and yourself.

Dates (2008):  Every Monday or Thursday (day and times vary based on baby's age)
Cost:  $20/month

Parenting Education Series
STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) is designed to help you become a better parent. STEP participants work together in small discussion groups allowing parents to become actively involved in discussing common concerns and learning specific child-training ideas and skills.

Systematic Training for Effective Parenting:

To enroll in STEP, call 425-304-6000 to register over the phone, or print and fill out a STEP registration form and mail it in with your check.