As a postpartum doula, I used to work with clients who reported that they couldn’t find classes for the things that they needed. Or more often, they signed up for classes their care providers said they “needed”, only to find that the classes were really fear and shame-based. They came home from class feeling less secure in their own inner knowledge than they were before the class–yikes!
The truth is, parenting is tough and becoming a parent is a big transition. AND you can do it! However, you don’t need an added layer of fear piled on top by classes that don’t align with you, your needs, or your values.
At ABG, I will always prioritize sharing evidence-based information, and as I have said many times, my role as a doula and instructor is never to have an agenda for my clients or students. Instead, I just want them to have the information to make choices that feel good and safe for them and their baby.
A Peek into ABG’s Infant Safety and CPR Classes
The first class I launched was Infant Safety and CPR. At the time, I was already certified to teach as a CPR instructor– which is super important for families to learn. Baby sleep is the topic that motivated me to teach this class and expand on my CPR offering. Sleep is a topic that comes up with nearly every family I partner with. In the US, so many families navigate baby sleep through a lens of fear and worry. Unfortunately, this also seems to be a theme in our medical system– pushing scary information onto families in order to control the choices parents make about the care for their babies.
I created this class to address safe infant sleep from a compassionate, open, nonjudgmental perspective. In this course, we discuss everything from independent sleep (in either a crib or bassinet) to bed-sharing.
My Infant safety class also covers safe carseat usage, infant CPR, how to deal with choking, and baby-proofing. Each class participant will leave with informational handouts, and I send a follow-up email with relevant links and information they can look over later. This process allows students to tap into new information and resources as they are ready and after they’ve had time to digest things from class. Learn more and sign up here!
All About ABG’s Newborn Care Classes
The next class I created was Newborn Care. This particular class is based on the concept of the fourth trimester. Because our babies are born relatively early in their development (especially in comparison to other mammals!), they need their first three months to transition.
In this course, we start by discussing the conflict between new parents and babies. By this I mean that parents typically have a sense of what is “right” and “wrong” when it comes to parenting. These rules are shaped by cultural influences– from family of origin, to location, to religion, to media you consume, and so on. All of this input may leave parents thinking about a lot of “shoulds.” For example, some parents assume that babies sleeping in a crib for 8-12 hours a night is the “norm.” However, there is nothing biological about this; it’s all cultural programming.
Babies, on the other hand, are born without any of these “norms.” Everything they do is biologically based. When a baby wants to sleep on you all night long, it’s because it’s a biological drive– to be attached to the parents, to be able to hear their heartbeat, to feel their parent’s body heat, and to be able to eat at will.
In this class, I invite parents to consider the differences between cultural norms and biology and consider how they might like to navigate this. This exploration can help you understand why early parenting can be so hard, and it can help you consider how you and baby can navigate this time together, despite your different lenses.
We also explore what do you need to do to set your family up for success– this goes well beyond buying all of the baby stuff. We talk about ways to soothe your baby and consider what kinds of things might make them fussy. Students will also get information about baby hygiene (including bathing), feeding options, diapering, and sleep. In this class, we typically focus on setting up good sleep habits, as well as looking at data about what is within normal limits for different stages of infancy. Read more and get signed up here!
Remember, we explore safety and sleep in our Infant Safety class. And you can bundle all 3 classes for a discounted rate!
Learning More About ABG’s Breastfeeding Basics Classes
The third class that ABG offers is Breastfeeding Basics. I chose to make this class really informative because next to sleep, it’s the topic I get the most questions and concerns about. (By the way, all of the students in my postpartum doula training also take this course because it’s packed with important feeding information!)
We discuss everything from challenges that can arise along the breastfeeding journey to the physiology around how breastfeeding works. Students learn about signs to look out for that may indicate a problem or health issue– for either baby or parent. I also share a number of resources and considerations for parents who are facing a challenge along their feeding journey. For example, we discuss engorgement and what steps a breastfeeding parent should take in this situation.
In class, we talk about weaning at different stages and consider what this looks like for both baby and parents. We will cover the common question “Is my baby getting enough?!” as well as general guidance for learning how long the baby should nurse. (That one sort of a trick question because it’s based on what works for the dyad.) Sign up for class here!
ABG is Here for You
ABG loves to see you in class! We love to hear about your growing family and offer information, support, and care along your journey. Check out our class calendar here to get signed up. Note that we continue to offer classes online as a COVID safety precaution for all. The benefit is that folks from anywhere can join our classes. We’d love to meet you!
Additionally, I am curious: Are there other classes that you’ve taken that found really helpful? Are there classes you are still looking for but have not found? Reach out and let me know, as we are always growing the ways the ABG supports families near and far.
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