There are many types of childbirth education available. Different educators are certified to teach different programs and schools of thought, such as Bradley, Lamaze, BirthWorks, Birthing From Within, Hypnobirthing, ICEA, etc. although most of them are not offered in our area (you may be able to travel to Seattle, Portland or Spokane for a weekend course however if you really feel attached to a specific type of education). It pays to learn about each available philosophy before settling on an instructor. Other instructors pick and choose from many different programs and teach their own brand of class. The benefits of hiring an independent (out of hospital) childbirth educator are that the class sizes are generally much smaller and that they work for you, not the hospital. Hospital classes teach to what their hospital policies are, instructors are sometimes limited on what information they can provide and what their curriculum contains, and class sizes are much bigger, but are classes are usually less expensive. Interview a potential instructor over the phone and ask:

• What is the class size?
  
• What are the teaching methods used in class?
  
• Are comfort measures for labor taught in the class, and which non-pharmacological comfort measures do you teach? How much of the class will go over comfort measures in relation to the other information you will cover?
• Are you certified, and by what organization?
• How many hours of classes will I attend? What topics are covered?
  
• What is your philosophy about birth?
  
• Do you have the freedom to share evidence-based information in your class, or did the curriculum need to be screened or approved?
  
• Do you cover all aspects of birth including medical interventions or unexpected outcomes?
  
• Can you supply me with references of former students?

INDEPENDENT CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION SERIES:

Shannon Bennett
Natural Care Services
Offers private in-home or group childbirth and refresher classes focusing on natural pain relief options for childbirth.  Free two-hour comfort measures for natural childbirth class.
(509) 205-7473

Kristina French, CD(DONA)
Birthing From Within mentor
Offers 12-hour (6 2-hour or 4 3-hour) group or individual childbirth classes.
4frenchs *at* charter *dot* net
www.threeriversbirth.com
(509) 628-8790

Erin A. Tcheuffa
Offers Christian childbirth education classes and childbirth education refresher sessions.
etcheuffa *at* gmail *dot* com
(509) 312-9696

Magdalena Naiknimbalkar, BSN, RN, MS, IBCLC, CCBE, Hct.
Hypnobirthing Practitioner
509-375-4070
richlandnaik *at* yahoo *dot* com

HOSPITAL OR CLINIC-BASED CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION SERIES:

Community Health Center - La Clinica
Offers Prenatal Classes in English and Spanish
Clases Prenatales en Ingles y Espanol
(509) 543-1970

Kadlec Medical Center
Weekend classes Friday and Saturday mornings or a three week evening class
(509) 942-2600

Kennewick General Hospital
Weekend classes Friday and Saturday mornings or a six week evening class
(509) 586-6111

Lourdes Hospital
Offers Prenatal Classes in English and Spanish
Clases Prenatales en Ingles y Espanol
Cesarean birth and refresher classes by appointment
(509) 546-2390 (Dana)
(509) 946-BABY (Lisa)