Childbirth Prep - 3 Week Series
with Michelle Gunderson
Three Sundays
Next Dates:
October 11, 18 and 25 @ 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM
November 22, 29 and December 6,13 and 20 @ 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM
OFJCC - Jeff Center for Families, G106
Upcoming Dates:
10/11, 10/18, 10/25
$400 per couple
Childbirth Prep - 3 wks
sponsored by:
Please email the Front Desk for any questions blossom@blossombirthandfamily.org
Class Description
This comprehensive, evidence-based childbirth education series is designed to prepare expecting families for labor, birth and the transition into parenthood. Through interactive discussions, demonstrations and hands-on practice, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how labor works, learn techniques to support comfort and labor progress, explore pain management options and common medical interventions and develop the confidence to make informed decisions throughout your birth.
We keep class sizes small to foster a more private, intimate space where birthing families feel comfortable to ask questions, share experiences and build community over the three weeks.
This series takes a balanced, inclusive approach to childbirth education, recognizing that every birth experience is unique. Whether you're planning an unmedicated birth, considering an epidural, preparing for a scheduled induction or cesarean, or simply want to understand your options, you will leave feeling informed and ready to approach your birth with confidence.
Designed for birthing people and their support partners, this series emphasizes practical preparation, evidence-based information, shared decision making, and hands-on skills you can use throughout labor, birth and the transition into parenthood.
Topics covered include:
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• Understanding the stages and physiology of labor
• Physical, emotional and hormonal changes during birth
• Signs of labor and when to go to the hospital or birth center
• Comfort measures, movement, positioning and breathing techniques
• Partner support and hands-on labor techniques
• Pain management options including epidurals
• Common medical procedures and interventions
• Induction of labor and informed decision making
• Creating flexible birth preferences
• Packing your birth bag and preparing for labor
• Immediate newborn procedures and newborn care
• Postpartum planning and recovery
Meet the Instructor
Michelle is a certified Birth Doula, Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator and Placenta Specialist, serving San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.
She has always been fascinated with birth and babies and considered a career as a labor and delivery nurse in her 20’s; instead, by accident, she found herself working as a systems administrator. She enjoyed that work for 15 years, but knew it was not the job she was intended to be doing.
In 2005, she became pregnant with her first child. She remembers her family was anxious as they tried to support her during her birth; she was scared and had no one to ground her. After that, she learned about doulas and began to research all she could about who they were and what they did, and it struck a chord with her. Not long after that, her best friend asked her to support her during her baby's birth. The experience was amazing; she was hooked, and started down the path of becoming a doula.
In 2013-2014, she enrolled and trained with Cornerstone Doula Training and received her birth and postpartum certifications. Then 2017 she received her Childbirth Educator Certification.
She can't think of a better job than helping babies being born and to experience how incredible the birth of a child can be. A parent never forgets the birth of their children and she feels honored to support, encourage and be there for the beginning of a new life.