group class
Navigating Birth:
The Community Experience
A live group course specifically designed to guide you and your partner through everything you need to know between the end of pregnancy to those first few weeks of caring for a newborn
As you prepare to welcome your baby into this wild world, it’s totally normal to be grappling with some big questions, like:
→ I might want an epidural… can I still have a doula?
→ How painful is giving birth going to be, honestly?
→ So, um, pooping during delivery… is that really a thing, and can I avoid it?
→ WHAT is happening with my body, and is that normal?
→ I know someone who was in labor for 40+ hours… is there any way to make that, you know, not happen for me?
→ What exactly should I pack in my hospital bag?
If you’re feeling like there’s just SO much to learn, consider, and plan for – especially as a first-time parent – you are correct, and you’re not alone.
But my provider team will tell me everything I need to know, right?
Right!?
In a perfect world, yes. But it doesn’t always work out that way! In all likelihood, your doctors, nurses, and midwives are experts who want the very best for you. But they’re also human, they’re over-scheduled, and they’re caring for dozens of other patients, too.
And even with an all-star provider team behind you, it can still be really challenging and confusing to know what questions to ask and understand which options are available to you.
Too often, pregnant people don’t even realize they have options. Like, did you know that only 10% of parents-to-be take any sort of childbirth class? 😱
Meet your guide for all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum
I'm Katie Painter
Your Certified Birth + Postpartum Doula
a Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Birth + Postpartum Doula, and Certified Prenatal + Postpartum Yoga teacher based in Richmond, Virginia. Over the past five years, I’ve helped hundreds of families grow!
Did you know that one of the most important factors that determine your satisfaction with your birth experience is how much you felt like an active participant and whether or not you felt heard?
That’s why it’s so important to make sure you’re well-informed and well-prepared for pregnancy, labor, birth, and life with a newborn.
I don’t want you to find yourself in the position of not knowing you had options until you share your birth story in a parenting circle and realize maybe it didn’t have to be that way.
As a birthworker and a mother who has been there before, my wish for all birthing people is that they feel heard, supported, and respected throughout their pregnancies, labors, births, and beyond.
Here's the truth :
you deserve to know what to expect, and you deserve to have a say in the kind of birth experience you have!
Imagine what a relief it would be if you…
Had evidence-based answers to all of your burning, awkward, “is this TMI?” questions
Could figure out how to get – and stay – comfortable in those last few weeks of your pregnancy
Knew what to expect from your body, from your baby, and from the hospital throughout the entire process
Had a clear vision and plan in place – not just for birthing your baby, but for everything that comes afterward, too
Could relax knowing that your hospital bag, complete with allllllll of the essentials (including a checkbook, of all things!), was perfectly packed and ready to go at a moment’s notice
Felt excited, prepared, and totally ready to meet this fresh, perfect little human that you literally freaking created
Weren’t worried or embarrassed about the um, functions happening before, during, and after labor, because you knew exactly what your body was doing and why
Held your baby for the first time and felt that overwhelming rush of love and joy… while also feeling completely and fully empowered… like, “Holy shit, I did this!” or “Wow, I had no idea it could be like this.”
If, up until now, your ideas surrounding birth came from impersonal-sounding doctor’s office pamphlets, screaming labor scenes in TV and movies, or “helpful” commentary from family and co-workers, you might think that all sounds like an impossible fantasy.
When you have the right education, preparation, and support, though? I promise it’s totally possible for you.
introducing
Navigating Birth: The Group Experience
It’s a group course – live and in person – that will take you through everything you need to know to prepare for the end of pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and everything in between so you can feel empowered and supported in all of your decisions as a new parent.
Plus, you’ll be surrounded and supported by a close-knit community of fellow parents-to-be.
We’ll meet at Whole Heart Space, where you’ll be welcome to bring any questions to me or to the group (seriously, nothing is off-limits, and no question is TMI).
Choose the option that works best for you:
Classic:
Two 2-hour sessions Sunday afternoons
PLUS a 60 min Partner Yoga Class Sunday evening
Two 2-hour sessions Tuesday evening
Express:
Two 4-hour sessions over 2 days
upcoming sessions (space is limited)
Classic
Sundays Sep 24 + Oct 1
3pm-5pm
(Partner Yoga 5:30-6:30pm)
Tuesdays Sep 26 + Oct 3
6pm-8pm
$375
Classic
Sundays Oct 22, 29th + Nov 5
3pm-5pm
(Partner Yoga 5:30-6:30pm)
Tuesday Nov 7
6pm-8pm
$375
classic
January 2024
TBD
$375
Love note:
When I first approached Katie, I had no idea what I wanted for our birth experience.
“She shared information, lent me her resources, and helped me educate myself about our options. Katie helped me to feel 100% in control throughout the entire process. When I look back, my memories are warm, sweet, and overflowing with positive motion – not confused, scared, or helpless. I could not recommend Katie more highly.”
-MA
Here’s what you can expect in your Navigating Birth: The Group Experience curriculum:
Part 1: Pregnancy and Birth Basics
Everything that Happens Before Labor Day
While there are people out there who might be comfortable just going with the flow when it’s time to give birth, you know that’s not you. You like to be informed and prepared, and you want the details on what to expect before it’s time to show up at the hospital or birth center.
Well, you’re in the right place! In our first session, we’ll delve into all of the pregnancy and birth basics you need to be aware of before your due date arrives, like:
Knowing your rights in birth, including what informed consent really looks and sounds like
Creating the best support team for you
Choosing a birth location
What’s happening for your body and your baby at the end of pregnancy
How to know when you’re in labor (and what to do)
…and more!
Part 2: Labor and Delivery
Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby’s Birth Day
It would be so simple if you could just show up at your hospital or birthing center and have your provider team make sure the whole process is smooth sailing, right? But depending on the circumstances, it’s possible that your provider has never even asked you what kind of birth you want. Could be that you’re meeting this team for the very first time, or maybe you’ve just happened to arrive on an extra, extra busy day. That’s why it’s so important to know what questions to ask, be prepared for any detours that might pop up, and understand how to advocate for yourself.
In Week 2, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make sure you are prepared and empowered for the entire labor experience, including:
Normal physiological birth (what happens in “the wild” without any interruptions or interventions)
How hormones affect birth
What happens when our birth setting or birth team disturbs the normal process (and how to avoid it)
The role fear plays in contributing to a longer labor
How to create a birth environment that works for you (even in a hospital setting)
All of the ways to cope with labor, including medical and non-medical options
Epidurals: the pros, the cons, and what the process looks like
Inductions 101, including common reasons for inductions and how to decide if one is right for you
Everything you need to know about cesarean sections
…and more!
Part 3: Recovery
How to Take Care of Yourself After Birth
This probably won’t be news to you, but this journey doesn’t stop once your baby makes their debut! One thing I hear over and over again is that new parents are surprised at just how exhausting and challenging the postpartum period can be, even if they painstakingly prepared for the birth part.
That’s why, in Week 3, I’ll take you through what to expect immediately after birth and in the first six weeks of recovery, including:
What to expect immediately after birth
“Standard” interventions you may or may not want, plus how to communicate your choices to your team
Taking care of your bottom after birth
Warning signs that indicate it’s time to call your doctor
The difference between “baby blues” and postpartum depression/anxiety or Postpartum Mood Disorders
Why preparing for the postpartum period is just as important as preparing for birth, plus how to actually, you know, do it
Drafting your postpartum plan
…and more!
Part 4: Your Newborn
Caring For Your New Addition
You did it – your baby is here! Now that you’re all easing into this brand-new world, it’s 100% normal to have a lot of questions (most new parents do!). Think: Is this normal? Should I call the doctor? What do I need to know about feeding, and how can I make sure I’m doing what’s best for the baby and for me? We’ll cover all that and more, including:
Your newborn’s first 24 hours
Normal newborn appearances and behaviors
Common newborn procedures (plus the risks and benefits of each)
Feeding your newborn – whether that’s breastfeeding, formula feeding, breastmilk bottle feeding, or any combination or variation of the above – including:
Breastfeeding tips
How to support a breastfeeding partner
Safe formula feeding
Safe sleep
When to call your pediatrician
…and more!
Love note
And then there's postpartum!
“Pregnancy is a trip, but holy shit, having a baby is something else. Like, pregnancy is kind of magical. Having a baby is when you wake up from the dream. I love my baby; she’s perfect. But we’re not in dreamland anymore! Katie was there for all that, too. When I Googled too much, I could always go to her and say, ‘could you please tell me what’s true?’ She always knew exactly what I was talking about and was able to explain where it came from, why people say that, what to look for, here’s my personal experience, here’s what I’ve seen, and here are some options for you.”
-CK
Certified Full Spectrum Birthworker & Educator
Certified Full Spectrum Birthworker & Educator
Frequently Asked Questions
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A: If you’re pregnant – or even if you’re planning to be soon – you’re welcome to enroll. If you’d prefer to go through Navigating Birth at a time in your pregnancy when everything will be most fresh and relevant (aka you’ll be able to put it to use SOON), then it sounds like signing up in your 3rd trimester could be ideal!
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A: Yes! In fact, I highly, highly recommend attending with your support person, whether that’s your spouse, birth partner, bestie, etc. If they’re educated and prepared, they’ll be in a much better position to help support you. (Pssst: If you’re looking for a course specifically to help prep your support person, I offer that, too!)
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A: Yes! I actually developed this course specifically for pregnant people who are planning to give birth in a hospital. Will you still get a ton out of it if you’re planning to use a birthing center? Absolutely. But there’s definitely some “omg, thank goodness someone told me that” content that’ll be especially relevant to folks giving birth in a hospital setting.
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A: It’s a great start, but not all birth classes are created equal. Too often, hospital birth classes teach you more about how to be a good patient rather than what your options are… and you have lots of options even in a hospital setting! Many of my clients actually came to me after taking a hospital class because they realized they’d need way more information than they were given in class to make better decisions.
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A: It will! Navigating Birth is all about helping you decide what kind of birth experience you want. This is your birth. Whether you plan for a medicated or unmedicated (the technical term for “natural” birth – because having an epidural or c-section doesn’t make your birth any less “natural”), I’m here to help you be aware of what your options are, get clear on your goals, understand what needs to work out for those goals to happen, and be as prepared as possible for any detours you might need to take.
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A: Chances are high that you will. The thing I hear most often from 2nd-time parents who work with me is: “I never knew it could be like this!” Whether this is your first baby or your fifth baby, my goal is for Navigating Birth to guide you to the knowledge you need to feel your most prepared and empowered.
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A: Absolutely, yes. We have dedicated time for community Q&A each session. That means you’ll not only get to hear my expert answers, but you’ll get to hear from your fellow parents-to-be, too. What is said in class stays in class, and no questions are off-limits.
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A: Once you enroll in Navigating Birth, you’ll receive a confirmation email with our schedule and everything you need to get started. From there, just add our sessions to your calendar and show up for each one!
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A: Just you, your birthing partner, a notebook, and a pen!
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A: There will not be recordings of live, in-person sessions. If your class is virtual then recordings will be available.
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A: The course material is yours to keep and review at any time.
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A: Definitely! I offer a self-paced version of Navigating Birth, which you can sign up for here. Enrollment for the self-paced version is always open, and you can go through the content at your own pace.
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A: Feel free to send me an email so I can get you the info you need to decide whether Navigating Birth is the right course for you!
Love note
My second baby was due in May of 2020.
“Well, we all remember what happened in March of that year! Because of the pandemic, my doctor’s office was canceling non-essential appointments for people who weren’t high-risk. I wasn’t sure how my labor was going to go; I knew I wouldn’t be able to have a doula, and I wasn’t even sure if my husband would be allowed in the room. Everything was so chaotic, but, like, I still needed to have this baby! So, of course, I called Katie. I started doing yoga with her, and I signed up for her online classes. Katie’s classes are SO GOOD and they were VERY helpful in bringing me back to the mindset that I was in control and everything was going to be ok.”
-RW
Yes, you can make your dream birth a reality, and Navigating Birth is here to show you how.
A world where you feel prepared and empowered in your decisions as a parent – at the end of your pregnancy, during labor, and even after your baby arrives – does not have to be an impossible fantasy.
Ready to get started?