Commonly Asked Questions about our classes

Answer: We have many requests for this and know we need to expand to keep up with demand,  however at the moment we do not have the time it would take to provide quality mentoring.  In the near future we are planning to take some special people under our wing.   Past students who have already inquired will have first priority.

Please let us know if you have interest at:  info@healthybirthchoices.com

Answer: Unfortunately,  we are not accepting doulas or birth professionals in-training, as this commitment requires additional time, space and resources on our part.   Space in class is limited, allowing us to provide quality care and attention to each couple… which is something we take great pride in.  With waiting lists for most classes we cannot justify giving up a spot for someone not expecting a baby.

Answer: Yes.  Each class has approx. 8 spots which translates to 16 people in a group.  You are welcome to bring your husband, significant other, mother, sister, friend or whomever is supporting you at birth.

Answer: We recommend taking our full 10 week series if at all possible.  It is the most comprehensive and thereby produces the best results.  Ideally you would finish 4-6 weeks prior to your due date but we realize this may not be possible if there are no classes or spots left that suit your situation.  It is ultimately up to you to choose what class you require based on your individual schedules.  There is nothing wrong with being done 2 months before the baby arrives, as many people appreciate having that timeframe to practice techniques and continue educating themselves through our student center.  Realizing some couples have special circumstances, the 2 Day Weekend Intensive is a good alternative for those who simply cannot attend weekday classes or live out of town.

Answer: Actually we often have students coming from the far north of Calgary as well as from surrounding towns such as Turner Valley, Airdrie, High River, Cochrane, etc.   Once class ends and the babies are born, we find that many groups take do a great job meeting in different locations around the city and hosting get togethers to keep up the connections with their classmates.

Answer: Not at all.  Actually classes are well suited for both those with Midwives or those who have a Medical Doctor.  Classes are typically split 50/50.  Couples under midwifery care appreciate the comprehensive education that helps them adequately prepare for a natural birth whether at home, birth centre, or hospital.  Couples under the care of a Doctor or OBGYN, benefit especially from our classes and most often achieve equivalent outcomes as well.  Everyone in class is respected for their individual choices.

Answer: Although we are teaching natural childbirth curriculum, our emphasis is really about helping you achieve an "optimal" birth experience - the best outcome given your circumstances.  We want to help you achieve a balanced perspective and appreciation for both the medical choices as well as natural.  Most people feel very satisfied with their birth experiences when they fully understand what is happening and they can make wise choices about using certain interventions or not.  We encourage people to wait to make firm decisions about birth until they are well into the classes and have had a chance to digest all the information we have to offer.

Answer: We are aware that our classes are one of the more expensive classes in Calgary.  We believe our rate is equivalent to the obvious time investment and passion we put into it to make is something that truly works.  Here is a breakdown of how we justify our rates.

• We have a combined over 18 years of experience teaching natural childbirth classes
• We have spend countless hours (years) developing and constantly revamping our curriculum to keep it up to date and current to the needs of Calgarians.
• We have invested greatly into developing our website as an additional resource and add-on knowledge base.  The private Student Centre and weekly quizzes at a tremendous benefit that other classes simply do not have.
• We are available by phone and email 24x7 and passionately engage with our clients to ensure they always have the support they need through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
• Our 10 week series is 25 hours of instruction which equates to approx. $8.50 per person per hour.
• Our weekend intensive class is 14 hours of instruction which equates to approx. $11 per person per hour.  Weekend classes are billed at a premium.
• Business Time/Costs:   Website development, advertising, photocopying, home office expenses, possible facility rentals, snacks, etc.
• Bonus:  1:15 hr Online Pregnancy Health & Nutrition class with registration into the 10 week series or 2 Day weekend intensive.

Please read our Testimonials or read some of our couples Birth Stories for more information about the value of taking our extensive childbirth preparation classes.

Answer: Many women worry about this but few deliver before class ends.  The average length of gestation for a first time mom is actually 40 weeks plus 8 days.  That means that most people will go overdue!  However, to ease this worry, we have strategically left the last 2 classes as follows.  Class 9:  Postpartum care and Class 10:  Breastfeeding so that well in advance you will be well prepared for birth.  You are welcome to bring baby to future classes if you so choose.

Answer: Yes we do.  See our refund policy here

Answer: The 10 week series is organized so information in delivered in succession.   We heavily encourage trying to attend all classes.  However, we do understand that sometimes things arise and you can’t make it to class.  If you miss a class, we are happy to send you class notes and perhaps have you come a bit early the following week to catch up.  We will do our best to help you fill in the blanks before taking in more information at the next class.  It is very common for Mom or Dads to come on their own if one cannot attend.  You do not need to worry about feeling awkward.

Answer: We hope so!  While most doctors will support your desire to have a natural childbirth and respect your choices,  there are a few clinics in Calgary that do not seem to support the goal of a natural childbirth and even believe it to be unrealistic.   We encourage you to make this decision for yourself.  Today with all the negative stories about birth, you will find more than enough information on how bad it can be so why not spend time talking about how beautiful it can be to balance things out?  We are exceptionally proud of our curriculum and have had tremendous feedback from doctors who are amazed at the knowledge and capabilities of our couples.

We encourage you to be open-minded when looking at both the medical and natural sides of childbirth.  We spend time talking about positive communications with your medical staff and how to achieve a natural birth in a hospital environment.  We absolutely believe there comes a time when we need to utilize medical interventions such as induction methods, pain medications, and c-sections to achieve safer outcomes.  We also know all too well how awesome and beautiful birth can be when you make it your goal and we feel that's just not worth giving up on.   We recommend spending some time reading some of our couples birth stories to get an idea of how they handle themselves in a hospital environment.

Answer: Absolutely!  Both Rhonda and Sue have experienced water births at home (in addition to hospital births).  We are especially passionate about this choice and find many of our couples go on to enjoy beautiful water births.  We show waterbirth videos in class and have additional videos and books in our lending library as well.

Answer: No.  Our personal beliefs are not to support unassisted childbirth.  We openly acknowledge that things can go wrong and do not want to be in any way held responsible for participating or encouraging this.   We believe that most people choose the risk of an unassisted childbirth because they are afraid of the hospital and/or doctors.  We cannot emphasize enough that this feeling is unnecessary and likely a result of inadequate information from well-meaning individuals.    Our classes will positively set your mind at ease, allowing you to look forward to having a safe and intimate hospital birth experience, under the  care of doctors.  Read our article on Natural Hospital Birth here.

Answer: We have an open-door policy and work hard to  make sure everyone feels comfortable.   We have had same-sex couples really enjoy our classes!    We do our best to be sensitive, however every now and then we’ve been known to use the term “daddies or husbands”  out of habit, not discrimination.

Answer: We sure hope so!  The answer to this really depends on the individual and their support.  You are welcome to bring a mother, sister, friend of your choice to sit in for the coach role - this is no problem.  It is possible, a women who is experiencing grief over the loss of her partner might feel sad in class when we emphasize heavily on the partner's loving role.  That doesn't not mean the mother, sister, friend will not be adequate but it will be up to you to make the necessarily adjustments for your situation.  We have had many single mother's attend class in the past and really benefit from the close relationships and support system of others in the class.    If you are nervous about attending the full 10 week series, you may consider the 2 Day Weekend Intensive instead.  PS:  Instructor Sue MacGregor was a single pregnant mom herself and found  Rhonda Gordon to be her caring “support” person for years  -  so you'll find plenty of compassion and empathy here!

Answer: Absolutely.  In fact, you may benefit more than others by taking class because you might have a legitimate hurdle you need to work around to achieve the best possible outcome.   You will still benefit from all of the classes but take what you need from each based on your individual situation.