A: Our students are most excited to learn about the entire toolkit of comfort measures for labor. We cover pain management techniques like massage, water immersion, upright birthing positions, acupressure, music therapy, and deep breathing, just to name a few. When labor starts, you and your partner will be ready!
A Message from your Evidence Based Birth® Instructor . . .
It's Time to Register for your Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class!
Since I had already been working with expecting families as a birth doula and childbirth educator for four years when I became pregnant with my own firstborn, I thought I had a pretty good handle on what to do. I read the most recent evidence. I knew the ways hospitals and providers can fail to meet the needs of people in labor. I didn't hire a doula or attend childbirth classes figuring if I was already a provider of those services myself anyway, I'd probably be ok.
I was wrong.
Experiencing the maternity care system finally as a patient was far from the glowing experience I hoped it would be. Providers consistently used fear and coercion in an attempt to achieve consent for the course of treatment they had decided I needed, without regard for my own preferences and values or the most recent evidence based information.
Every day of that pregnancy was a fight. I was the opponent of my care team rather than the center of it.
I don't want another single family to have the kinds of traumatic experiences I did -- from the constant harassment of providers who were not a good fit for me to the missed opportunity to bond with my sweet baby during 'the golden hour' because of complications and an unsupportive labor & delivery unit culture. I thought I knew enough to make it through, but I did not have all of the tools the new Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class offers. I had traditional childbirth preparation, but it wasn't enough. Knowing the things without being able to advocate for them did me almost no good. While I try to live without regret, I can only wish this course and the EBB Instructor/Mentor program had been available when I was preparing for sweet Sofie's arrival.
I want births like mine to be a thing of the past, gone the way of twilight sleep and VCRs, and I make it my mission to prepare families as thoroughly as can be done so they can approach their births with courage and optimism. There is finally change brewing in the maternity care system, and I can't wait to share it with you.
Start Learning Evidence Based Info Today!
Mandi
“Take this course! I started out nervous but I am now very excited and looking forward to the birth of our baby! My husband and I feel very prepared for our baby’s birth day.”
“Sign up!! You’ll feel more prepared for your baby and your spouse.”
Q: What will I actually learn in this class that could be of use to me?
Q: My friends told me that taking a childbirth class is a waste of time.
Listen to what some of the first students of the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class have to say:
BONUS: Earn points throughout the class to redeem for prizes at the end!
“I really appreciated how informative it was. I knew a lot about the biology of birth and babies, but what we learned was just very impressive. It was a really good experience—fairly chill, fairly laid-back, and not nearly as stressful and awkward as I thought it might be. All the information—I never would’ve thought there was that much information out there!”
Space is limited to 6 couples per session to maximize access to your mentor and peers.
Private sessions are also available.
A: Routine practices in some hospitals are still about 15 to 20 years behind the research, and there is a lot of pressure to conform to traditions that might not be in your best interests. That's akin to relying on a rotary phone in a digital world. We will teach you and your partner not only how to access the best evidence-based information, but also how to be your own advocates—a skill you can use for the rest of your lives!
Ready to Get Started? Register today!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Remember, only SIX spots are available per session.
New and experienced parents welcome!
Listen to what this couple had to say:
Take the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class!
BONUS: Breastfeeding and newborn care videos
Evidence Based Birth® Instructors are independent contractors and distributors of the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class and are not employees of Evidence Based Birth®. You can find our terms and conditions for the class here.
Q: ... but I have another question ...
Learn about evidence based care, comfort measures, and advocacy.
“This class is a total gamechanger for us. I’d heard negative stories…I was scared and very on edge. Then once we started taking the class, and when we learned about interventions that I was apprehensive about… It brought us together in that [my partner] understood birth more, and I understood it more. And as soon as I went into labor, we were on. We were a team.”
Mandi Garvey, MPH, EMT, CD(DONA)
Evidence Based Birth® Instructor
Mentorship from Mandi, an experienced birth doula & EBB Instructor
A: Some classes absolutely are a waste of time! There are a lot of poor-quality classes out there that have given childbirth education a bad reputation. The founder of Evidence Based Birth®, Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, APRN, knows how to make classes exciting for young adults. The end result is a class that is motivating and SO much fun to participate in. We are completely flipping the script on the traditional childbirth class. You will learn more than you could ever imagine!
Q: Can’t I just educate myself online using search engines and videos?
Michigan Born & Raised
Education, Care, & Support for Childbirth, Parenting, & Beyond
A: A lot of that info you find online? It’s untrue, outdated, or inaccurate! The benefit of the Evidence Based Birth® Childbirth Class is that we curate all of the best, evidence-based information and get you and your partner engaged in the learning process. It's pretty difficult to ask Dr. Google a follow-up question, but your Evidence Based Birth® Mentor is happy to answer them!
Two in-person classes to practice your labor skills
Your Childbirth Class includes:
Get prepared, get answers, get empowered!
Four weekly Zoom discussions with your EBB Instructor and peers
Get mentored by your own Evidence Based Birth® Instructor!
Q: Shouldn’t I just let the doctors and nurses tell me what to do?
Five weeks of online videos for you and your partner to watch together