Prepare for labor with childbirth classes

Pregnant and anxious about delivering your first baby? Or, maybe you and your family want to learn more about having a cesarean birth (C-section)? Either way, Dignity Health offers a diverse range of childbirth classes to help you during your pregnancy and prepare you for labor and delivery. 

Classes are conveniently offered in different locations throughout the week. Childbirth experts lead all of our classes and can help you manage labor pain without medicine, teach you proper breastfeeding techniques, and prepare siblings for the new addition to the family.

To begin comprehensive pregnancy and childbirth education, register for a childbirth class in Central California at one of these locations:

• Memorial Hospital
• Mercy Hospital Southwest
• Mercy Medical Center Merced
• St. Joseph’s Medical Center

 

Parenting classes at Dignity Health

We want you to feel confident about your pregnancy and labor. Our classes will teach you to recognize the symptoms of labor, prepare for different labor scenarios, and care for your newborn during a medical emergency. 

Childbirth and parenting classes at Dignity Health cover a wide range of topics.

Some of the classes we offer include:

• Big Brother - Big Sister to familiarize siblings with their upcoming role as a big brother or sister
• Breastfeeding to teach expectant mothers the fundamentals and importance of breastfeeding
• Boot Camp for New Moms and Dads, a hands-on workshop teaching the basics of caring for a newborn
• Infant and Child CPR, a class that teaches the whole family (and caregivers) how to perform CPR on small children

 

What to expect with birthing classes

Many of our childbirth classes are group sessions held at one of our hospitals. Depending on the type of session, the class may be designed just for you, you and your partner, or the whole family.

Since you may practice birthing techniques during class, we encourage you to wear comfortable clothes.

At Dignity Health, we can prepare you for labor with childbirth classes in Bakersfield, Merced, and Stockton, CA.