Maternal Wellness Center :: Childbirth Education

Birth is not only a physical, medical event but also an emotional, psychological, and for some people a spiritual event. We offer birth classes that help empower our participants to feel informed and prepared for the wonderful experience of pregnancy, birth and the transition into parenthood.

The classes we offer...

BIRTH WORKS CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASSES, 3-week series

Maternal Wellness childbirth classes are based on the idea that birth is a profound life event and that it offers opportunities for learning and growth. This class involves both education and exploration of feelings about pregnancy, birth, and parenting. The 3-week class covers what to expect during labor, avoiding unnecessary C-sections, birth plans and medical interventions, options for pain relief and comfort measures for labor, optimal fetal positioning, relaxation techniques, partner massage for labor, and post-partum coping.

Time: 7-9 pm

Cost $250 per couple

Classes meet Wednesday evenings, starting February 8th, at the Breastfeeding Resource Center in Abington

Maternal Wellness One-Day Labor Intensives

Maternal Wellness childbirth classes are based on the idea that birth is a profound life event and that it offers opportunities for learning and growth. This class involves both education and exploration of feelings about pregnancy, birth, and parenting. The One-Day Labor Intensives are ideal for busy families who don't have time to take a longer class. This one day holistic birth class covers everything you need to know about labor! Learn how to know when you are in labor, how to avoid an unnecessary C-section, explore options for pain relief, learn about optimal fetal positioning, relaxation techniques, and partner massage for labor.

Time: 9:30A.M.- 2 P.M.

Cost: $150 Pre-registration Required. **This cost includes a partner**

Upcoming Class Schedule

Sunday, February 12 Sunday, March 18

Sunday, April 22 Sunday, May 13

Sunday, June 10 Sunday, July 8

“Taking the Maternal Wellness classes was a fantastic way to prepare
for the life changing event of my son's birth. I approached my birth
feeling exhilarated rather than apprehensive, and during my labor I used
techniques learned in class. The instructor's enthusiasm and genuine care for the parents made the classes fun, too!"
--Elizabeth, mother of one

"As a man, the birth classes made me feel intimately involved in the birth process. I learned much about the medical and emotional sides of giving birth. It assuaged many fears and prepared me to support my wife and new baby from beginning to end."
-- Keith, father of one

"I was worried that a one-day childbirth class wouldn't be enough to help me prepare for birth; however, with my schedule I had no choice. The class was more than I had hoped for! We even learned relaxation and massage techniques for labor. Kathleen was available after the class if we had more questions or needed more information.It was a wonderful way to prepare for the birth of our daughter.

--Jenn, mother of one

For more information about childbirth education classes please call 215 888 7698

Kathleen Furin is the co-founder of the Maternal Wellness Center. She holds an MSW from Temple University and is a Birth Works certified childbirth educator and Birth Works certified trainer. She has extensive experience working with pregnant women in a variety of settings and with teen parents. Kathleen has been teaching Birth Works classes since 2004. She was a regular contributor to The Mother magazinefrom 2005 to 2007. Her work has also been published in Literary Mama, The Mother’s Movement Online, Mamazine, Philadelphia Stories, Midwifery Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and other journals. Her essay, “Album,” is featured in Operation Homecoming, an anthology of writings about the war in Iraq. One of her short stories is featured in Prompted, an anthology published by Philadelphia Stories. Furin is the recipient of the 2007 Birth Works Childbirth Educator of the Year award.