FORT SMITH, Ark. (KFSM) — Baptist Health-Fort Smith will be providing free childbirth education classes for all area mothers.
They intend to give mothers the confidence and support they need to enjoy their baby’s arrival.
The classes will be taught by a childbirth educator with Lamaze-focused curriculum. Lamaze is an international childbirth education program that helps women learn to respond to pain during childbirth in a way that will increase comfort and facilitate labor.
Participants can learn about emotional and physical changes during pregnancy and postpartum during the class. Instructors will be discussing the natural birth process, birthing techniques and potential medical interventions like cesarean section. Skin-to-skin contact, newborn bonding, and family bonding will be among the other topics to be discussed.
“The class is very hands-on,” Megan Williams, childbirth educator said. “The moms are able to get on the birthing balls to practice different positions and breathing techniques that can help alleviate pain during childbirth.
The classes will be held in the Nancy Orr Conference Center on the third floor of Baptist Health-Fort Smith. Both evening and day sessions are available. Evening sessions will be two hours long, one night a week for two weeks. Day sessions will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select Saturdays.
You can visit baptist-health.com to register for one of the listed dates or call Baptist Health Healthline at 1-888-BAPTIST for more information.
Below are the course dates and times available.
2-Week Evening Course
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Jan. 14 and 21
Feb. 4 and 11
March 3 and 10
April 14 and 21
May 12 and 19
June 9 and 16
July 7 and 14
Aug. 11 and 18
Sept. 8 and 15
Oct. 13 and 20
Nov. 10 and 17
Dec. 8 and 15
One-Saturday Course
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Jan. 18
March 7
May 16
July 18
Sept. 26
Nov. 14
