Moms-to-be often ask me during their consultation about the differences between a hospital childbirth class and mine. I understand it can get confusing (and pregnancy can be overwhelming enough!) so I wanted to compare the two for you.

The Hospital Class

Hospital-based classes typically focus on what to expect within the realm of hospital policies and protocol. You will learn about the procedure when arriving at that particular hospital – where to park, what entrance to use, etc. You may learn the basics concerning the stages of labor, as these stages connect to medical procedures, such as when you may or may not get an epidural. You may learn about contractions and how to time them, but not necessarily how to manage the pain or progress until you arrive at the hospital. You’ll learn about a limited number of medical interventions, without discussion about the pros and cons of, and possible alternatives to these interventions.

Hospital based classes are offered at the very end of a woman’s pregnancy, and may span a 2-4 hour time period. A hospital class is often taught by a hospital employee, such as a nurse, who may not be schooled in evidence-based information. She may also provide an abridged version of a topic because of administrative pressure to conceal all the facts, such as risk factors and anything outside of the standard hospital policies, or simply due to lack of time. Unfortunately, hospital protocols and what’s best for mom and baby are not always the same.

I do however, recommend you take a hospital tour. Knowing logistics, like where to park, which entrance to use, and so on, is worthwhile information to have in advance.

Moms On Top Childbirth Education Classes

Moms On Top childbirth classes are taught by me, an unbiased, independent, certified childbirth educator with 23+ years of experience. I genuinely love what I do. I don’t work for a hospital or medical professional, so YOUR best interest is MY best interest. I will guide and support you outside of class time. My students affectionately refer to me as a mom mentor – and I’m honored to have earned that title. I’m a mom of 3 myself, so compassion and love is at my core.

But what does that all mean? I’ll explain. It means I have the freedom to cover all options for facilitating the progress of labor and pain management, without the barrier of hidden agendas. I encourage parents to begin their education early on, as much of what is learned can improve pregnancy health, overall health, and reduce anxiety. Within 8 hours of class time, women learn how to connect with their bodies during the process of labor, partners learn how to effectively support them, and receive the support they need, to do so. There is an equal amount of emphasis and focus on natural techniques, which encompass no risk, and a thorough dive into medical interventions. Students of a Moms On Top class learn the distinction between routine procedures (which skew the scales toward higher risk), and those that are valuable, based on the unique circumstances unfolding during their individual labors. A full, comprehensive scope of topics, from pregnancy health and fitness to newborn procedures and breastfeeding, are also covered.

Those who complete a Moms On Top series of classes are positioned to have a safer, easier, personalized birth experience. They have the skills to, and feel comfortable with advocating for their educated, appropriate preferences. They are able to fully partner with their birth team throughout the remainder of their pregnancies and into their labors and births.