Childbirth Education

Southeast Health’s Childbirth Education Services provide a wide selection of classes to help families prepare for childbirth and caring for babies. Registered nurses who specialize in maternal infant care teach all classes, including instruction on healthy lifestyles during pregnancy; education on pregnancy, labor and birth; postpartum issues and newborn care; pain management strategies during labor and birth; and preparation for possible variations in pregnancy and birth.

This class will help you and your partner begin the transition from pregnancy to parenting and help you prepare to bring a newborn home. This class offers more detailed information about baby safety than our childbirth classes, including a question and answer session with a local pediatrician.

Class size limited to 12 couples.

Topics include:

  • Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
  • Safety as it related to daily care, such as bathing and feeding
  • Baby-proofing your home
  • Choking prevention

Time: 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Length: One evening

Please visit our Event Calendar for class offerings.

This class will help you and your partner understand the breastfeeding process and increase your confidence in breastfeeding. We strongly encourage you to bring your spouse, your birthing partner, your mother or other supportive friend. This class offers more detailed information about breastfeeding than our childbirth classes.

Class size is limited to 12 couples.

Topics include:

  • Benefits of nursing for you and baby
  • Separating facts from myth
  • Getting started
  • Managing difficulties
  • Supporting the breastfeeding woman
  • Introduction to returning to work
  • Resources at the Medical Center and the community

Time: 6 – 8:30 p.m.
Length: One evening

To register for our Breastfeeding Class click here.

This class helps families prepare for labor, birth and early parenting. A tour of the Family Birth Center and a class reunion celebration after everyone has had their babies are included in the program. Try to complete the class about a month before your due date – or a month earlier than that if you are experiencing problems or are “high-risk” with the pregnancy.

Class size is limited to 12 couples.

Topics covered include:

  • The process of labor and birth
  • Comfort measures (including relaxation and breathing techniques)
  • Birth options, medication and anesthesia
  • Newborn characteristics
  • Postpartum care and family adjustment

Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Length: Four weeks; one class per week

*Weekend classes TBA*

Please visit our Event Calendar for class offerings.

Private Lamaze classes are available for mothers who want a more intimate setting. The core of Lamaze classes is six Healthy Birth Practices. These Healthy Birth Practices are built on years of research to help simplify the birth process. The style of Lamaze classes helps ease fears and manage pain. The goal is to increase women’s belief in their ability to give birth. Women learn simple coping tactics for labor, including focused breathing, and more. Lamaze classes provide knowledge about natural pain relief options and epidural analgesia.

Occasional group classes are available.

Topics covered include:

  • The process of labor and birth
  • Comfort measures (including relaxation and breathing techniques)
  • Birth options, medication and anesthesia
  • Newborn characteristics
  • Postpartum care and family adjustment

Click here to check class availability and register.

Safe Sitter® is a national babysitting training program designed to teach young adolescents (ages 11 to 14 years) to be safe babysitters. Founded by a pediatrician, Patricia A. Keener, MD, Safe Sitter® provides high-quality instruction. The program was recognized for excellence by the American Academy of Pediatrics which awarded Dr. Kenner the Ross Education Award for the development of Safe Sitter®.

Class size is limited to 18 students.

Topics covered include:

  • Babysitting as a business
  • Child care essentials
  • Choking rescue
  • Preventing problem behavior
  • Injury management
  • Safety for the sitter

Time: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Length: One day
Optional: Adult-sized t-shirts are available for $12, but must be pre-ordered.

Please visit our Event Calendar for class offerings.

This class is offered for big brothers and sisters between the ages of 3 and 12 years. It is best for them to take the class during the last four to six weeks of your pregnancy. The educator presents an age-appropriate description of pregnancy and birth, explores feelings about becoming a big brother or sister, and shows a room in the Family Birth Center. Parents attend this class with their children. Suggestions and resources for answering questions about new babies and dealing with sibling rivalry will be discussed.

Class size limited to 8 children.

Time: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Length: One class

Please visit our Event Calendar for class offerings.

We encourage you to register early because class size is limited. You should plan to complete all other childbirth classes by the end of your eighth month of pregnancy or a month before your due date – a month earlier than that if you are experiencing problems or are “high-risk” with the pregnancy.

Payment is required with your registration. Checks should be made out to Southeast Health. Registration fees should be mailed to the following address:

Southeast Health
Women’s Center, Childbirth Education
1108 Ross Clark Circle
Dothan, AL 36301

All participants should receive a reminder letter or telephone call. No refunds will be given after class begins. Refunds must be specifically requested at the time of cancellation.

To register for classes you may call the Women’s Center at 334-793-8956 or 1-877-877-8724. To view our Events Calendar, click here.