Prepare for the birth of your baby in the context of Jewish community.  This class, taught by Rabbi Shira Shazeer, integrates traditional childbirth education with Jewish approaches to pregnancy, birth and early parenting.  
  • As in any excellent childbirth education class, you'll learn about the normal labor and birth process, pain relief and management options, relaxation skills, understanding your options and communicating with your caregiver, and your partner.   
  • At the same time, you'll explore Jewish traditions, texts, attitudes, and innovative approaches to pregnancy and birth.  You'll explore the themes of childbirth education from a Jewish perspective and discover your personal way to connect with the miracle of birth in a supportive pluralistic environment.  
  • By the time your baby arrives, you'll have the chance to create a birth plan, and a plan for your baby's bris or welcoming / naming ceremony that reflects your vision of the family you are building.  You'll also form a mini-community of emerging families to support each other through birth, brit, babies and beyond.
  • Plus, throughout the class you'll have a chance to start getting to know the local Jewish Community and what it has to offer as you transition to life as a young family.  Learn about different synagogues and minyanim, and other community institutions.

Upcoming Classes

Spring 2013 in Brookline - Tuesdays 7:00-9:15pm
Class starts January 22 with a Jewish and Birth Resources Fair at Mayyim Hayyim (map) 
All other sessions meet at Congregation Kehillath Israel (map)
Dates: 1/29, 2/5, 2/12,  2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19
Contact Rabbi Shira Shazeer with questions or to register, or call 617-855-5526.
Class size limited - Register soon to reserve your spot
Co-sponsored by: Congregation Kehillath Israel, Minyan Shalem, Temple Sinai, Temple Ohabei Shalom, Temple Beth Zion, Temple Emeth, Workmen's Circle, Mishkan Tefilah,  Mayim Hayyim Community Mikveh and Family Education Center.

Don't see a class that works for you?  
Let us know when and where you'd like to take A Time to Birth, and if we can find others who are interested we'll make it happen!

Themes of A Time to Birth

This breakdown of the seven weeks of A Time to Birth should give you an idea of many of the themes that are covered.  Health-care, parenting, and Jewish elements are integrated throughout each class session.  There will also be the opportunity to continue discussions online between classes, strengthening the connections between classmates, and allowing participants to ask questions without the time constraints of class.
Opening Session 

Jewish Community and Birth Resource Fair
The opening session - Introductions - Learn what's out there in the Jewish community for new parents and young children - Meet experts and support professionals on different aspects of pregnancy, birth and new baby care
Class 1

Pregnancy and Early Labor
Setting out on the Journey -Where are we coming from? - Where do we hope to go?  - How do we fortify ourselves?  
Class 2

Active Labor
Understanding what happens - Exploring aproaches to managing and supporting labor - Breaking the Pain-Fear-Tension cycle 
Class 3

Bringing baby out
The pushing stage - Approaches to managing pain - Spirituality in labor and birth - Movement and birth positions.
Class 4

Pre-Parenting
Parents responsibilities - Worries about the what ifs - Is birth dangerous? - Writing and sharing a birth plan
Class 5

The First Week
Right after baby is born - Nursing - Resting - Understanding Brit Milah traditions and choices
Class 6 

The First Week pt. 2
Welcoming traditions for girls - Personalizing ritual - Your Bris Plan - Starting to adjust - Finding your parenting style
Class 7 

Life with Baby: 
Naming - Adjusting to the new normal - Other new baby traditions - The big labor rehearsal

Cost

The Spring 2013 session of A Time To Birth will be offered for $180 per couple, no more than a basic hospital prepared childbirth or natural childbirth education class.  Most health insurance providers will reimburse you some or all of this fee.  If cost is an issue beyond what your health insurance will cover, please contact us.  Cost should not be a barrier to participating in this class.