solo class
Navigating Birth: Self-Study Edition
Get the expert guidance you need to feel informed, empowered, and confident during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum – all without ever having to leave the house, show up on camera, or even put on real pants!
If you’re about to become a parent, you might be wrestling with some pretty big questions, like…
→ WHAT is happening with my body!? Is that normal?
→ How painful is giving birth going to be, honestly?
→ Can I still have a doula if I’m planning to give birth in a hospital?
→ So, um, pooping during delivery… how can I, you know, not do that?
→ I might want an epidural. Are there pros and cons?
→ What exactly should I pack in my hospital bag?
→ What are the best options for feeding my newborn?
→ What do I need to know about safe sleeping?
Unfortunately, when you find yourself turning to trusty Dr. Google for answers, you usually end up logging off feeling the opposite of confident and reassured.
Turns out that repeatedly falling down internet rabbit holes and spending hours reading about all of the things that could go wrong is not actually very helpful! Who knew?
If you’re feeling totally overwhelmed by the sheer “not knowing what you don’t know” of it all – especially as a first-time parent – you are 100% not alone.
Here's the truth :
you deserve to have the tools to navigate pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period feeling as confident and empowered as possible.
Imagine what a relief it would be if you…
Could figure out how to get comfortable in those last few weeks of your pregnancy
Had a clear plan in place – not just for birthing your baby, but for everything that comes afterward, too
Knew what to expect from your body, from your baby, and from the hospital throughout the entire process
Could relax knowing that your hospital bag, complete with allllllll of the essentials, 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, “Wow, I had no idea birth could be like THIS!”
Had that confident, “I can do this!” feeling around caring for your newborn and yourself
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 and preparation, though? I promise it’s totally possible for you.
Did you know that only 10% of parents-to-be take any sort of childbirth class?
It’s kind of shocking to think about, right? The worst part: it means that most parents-to-be don’t even realize that they have options, let alone understand what those options are.
What’s getting in the way? It’s usually simple misconceptions, like…
→ “Won’t my provider team tell me everything I need to know?”
In a perfect world, sure. 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.
Plus, 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.
→ Or some combination of the following:
“I’d love to take a childbirth education class, but between life, work, and pregnancy turning my schedule inside out, I can’t find one that works for me.”
“I learn best on my own, and I definitely don’t want to have to attempt to pronounce words like ‘perineum’ in a room full of strangers.” 😨
“I’d take a class online, but I am ZOOMED OUT. If I never have to join another online meeting again, I’ll be happy.”
You’re not alone! Between honoring your specific learning style, out-of-control schedules, Zoom fatigue, and life in general, finding a childbirth class – and then actually showing up for the meetings and learning the material – can feel almost impossible.
That’s part of what inspired me to create a comprehensive childbirth education class that’s completely self-paced and 100% online. No live sessions. No Zoom meetings. No need to compromise your comfort by putting on hard pants.
Meet your instructor + guide for all things pregnancy, birth, and postpartum
I'm Katie Painter
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 the way you feel when looking back on your birth experience is not whether everything went 100% according to plan, but 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.
introducing
Navigating Birth: Self-Study Edition
It’s 4 evidence-based, judgment-free modules featuring everything you need to know to confidently navigate the end of your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum – all from whenever, wherever, and whatever pace works best for you.
Investment:
$197
Love note:
Even though Katie was my doula for my first birth and everything went as well as it possibly could have…
“…When baby #2's arrival became imminent, I began to get nervous about reliving the labor and delivery process. Navigating Birth allayed all of my anxiety and fears – especially the Hospital Birth Plan Builder tool! The course was easy to follow and pleasant to learn from, but the best part is that I could work through each module at my own pace (no large chunks of uninterrupted time with a toddler around). The multi-modal delivery allowed me to listen to the information, review it in writing, and even print additional helpful resources to refer to later. Having Katie in the delivery room (and always just a text or phone call away!) is my preferred method of laboring and delivering without fear, but this course is the next best thing.”
-MA
Here’s what you can expect in your Navigating Birth: The Group Experience curriculum:
Week 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!
Week 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!
Week 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!
Week 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: 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: Once you enroll in Navigating Birth, you’ll receive an email with everything you need to get started. From there, you’ll be ready to begin!
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A: Just you, your birthing partner, an internet connection + a device on which to join the sessions, your course materials, and a notebook and pen!
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A: Want to revisit one of the modules? I got you – you’ll have lifetime access to the course materials.
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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!
Navigating Birth is here to help you feel confident and prepared AF on your journey through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
It IS possible for you to get the evidence-based information you need to help you feel empowered and prepared as you move through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
No more feeling like you’re spinning in circles because you literally don’t know what you don’t know.
No more falling down those late-night internet rabbit holes Googling stuff that’s only going to leave you feeling stressed and uneasy.
No live sessions to show up for, no new words to pronounce in front of strangers, and no pants to put on.
Just you, your partner, your internet connection, and modules you can complete whenever and wherever works best for you.