THE BIRTH HOUR

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS
CHILDBIRTH COURSE

Your guide for navigating today’s pregnancy and birth system with evidence based information to empower you during pregnancy, childbirth and the 4th trimester.

IMAGINE THAT MOMENT YOU
MEET YOUR BABY.
HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL?

Are you worried about navigating today’s birth system or have you had a bad birth experience where your power was taken away from you? You’ve probably read a few books and maybe watched The Business of Being Born.

But, despite doing your research, you’re still feeling overwhelmed and unprepared and that’s OK. We have totally been there too. There is still time to prepare and we are confident that we can help you achieve an empowering birth.

YOU WANT AN EMPOWERING BIRTH EXPERIENCE
BUT RIGHT NOW YOU’RE:

Overwhelmed by all the big decisions you have to make and conflicting information you’re getting from well-meaning friends and family.
Lost and afraid of taking the wrong childbirth course when there are so many different options out there.
Have unsupportive family members regarding your birth decisions.
Constantly questioning … everything. In fact, right now, you have more questions than answers and you’re starting to freak out a bit.
Have a partner who is questioning your birth decisions and you want to be sure to learn about your options together!
Feeling pressured to have an unmedicated birth when the idea actually scares the crap out of you!

Simply put: Something needs to change. Because feeling overwhelmed and anxious isn’t going to result in a positive birth experience.

THE GREAT NEWS: THIS IS OUR EXPERTISE AND PASSION.

IMAGINE WHAT YOUR BIRTH WOULD LOOK LIKE IF…

You didn’t have to choose between an unmedicated birth and a hospital birth.
You’re informed in every single decision you and your partner make.
You feel empowered to speak up when it comes to how you labor and birth your baby.

Because THAT is exactly what this course will do: It gives you options so you can choose where and how to give birth based on all of the most up-to-date evidence based information available coupled with learning to trust your instincts and make decisions based on what is right for YOU.

12 Incredible Evidence-Based Modules

Module 1: Pre-Labor

Intro to decision-making & advocacy in birth.
What is evidence-based care, intro into increasing your odds of getting family centered care.
Last Weeks of Pregnancy.
Cervical exams: what they are, what they do/don’t tell us, when they are useful and when they are not.
How to tell the difference between labor and false alarms.

Module 2: Planned Cesarean

Gentle or Family Centered Cesarean. What is it?
Questions to ask your doctor to make sure you’re on the same page (includes free download).
Video of Gentle Cesarean.

Module 3: Early Labor

Overview of labor, divided into stages and phases. Normal variations of length of each stage.
Early Labor Coping Strategies.
Spontaneous labor: When to call your provider

Module 4: Induction

Why might your labor be induced?
How is labor induced?
What are some risks of induction, and how can you improve your odds of your induction ending in a vaginal birth?
Risks of induction/cascade of intervention.

Module 5: Active Labor

How can you cope with active labor?
When should you leave for your birth location (or ask the midwife to come)?
What should you pack, whom should you invite to be there, and how will you make your wishes known in labor?
Typical interventions upon arrival at birth location.
Coping strategies.

Module 6: Transition

How will you cope with the most intense phase of labor?
What pain medication options do you have?
Why might you need a cesarean during labor, and how can you reduce your risk of needing one?

Module 7: Pushing

How can you reduce your risk of tearing?
What breathing techniques and positioning are helpful in pushing?
What happens if your baby needs help getting out?
How can you best advocate for your preferences during labor?

Module 8: Baby's First Day

What interventions might be offered to your baby in the first hours of life?
- Immediate newborn procedures.
- Hep B & Circumcision.
What is happening with your body before and after the birth of the placenta?
How can you get off to the best start with nursing your baby?

Module 9: Postpartum Recovery

What are the signs that a parent may be experiencing mood & anxiety disorders?
What are the essentials to have on hand for recovery after birth?
How can you plan ahead and make those first few weeks after birth easier on yourself?
Giving yourself time to heal and knowing when to call for help.

Module 10: Establishing Lactation

How to establish a robust milk supply.
Positioning and latching theory.
What tips and tricks can you try to make nursing as comfortable as possible?
What signs can you look for to know when things are going well or when you need to call for help?

Module 11: Bottle Feeding

What if nursing doesn’t work, or you don’t want to do it at all?
Choosing a formula and Safe formula preparation.
What is the best way to bottle feed?
How do you choose which bottles to use?
How and how much to feed.
What is paced bottle feeding?

Module 12: Newborn Care Basics

Why might your baby cry, and how can you calm them?
How do you decide where your baby will sleep?
How do you get your baby to sleep?!?
Newborn hygiene: diapering, bathing, dressing, nail trimming, snot sucking, etc.

There’s More! Bigger-than-a-Bonus!

Beyond the First Latch Course

6 Module Course designed to take the guesswork, worry, and stress out of maintaining your nursing relationship with your baby when you return to paid work. We will help you:

Identify specific strategies for pumping, storing, thawing, and feeding human milk.
Troubleshoot ways to boost milk production.
Guide you in making plans with your employer, your baby’s caregiver, and your family.
Get organized with sample schedules and checklists.

Course Workbook

You’ll also get a thirty page Course Planner and Note-Taking Guide that you can print out to keep you and your partner on track throughout the course. All of the key takeaways from each lesson are included with space to jot down any questions you have along the way and make note of any essential info you want to remember down the road!

Bonus Downloads

More than a dozen bonus downloads to help save you time along the way and get organized before going into labor—with everything from a hospital bag checklist to printouts for your fridge of who/when to call when in labor! After baby arrives, you’ll have even more invaluable bonuses as you prepare to soak up the 4th trimester with your new baby.

Bi-Weekly Zoom Calls

Join our regular zoom calls to get your questions answered as well as find community in support from the first weeks of pregnancy through 1+ years postpartum.

Who is the Know Your Options
Childbirth Course for?

First Time Parents

You're so excited about creating an adorable nursery and taking weekly bump pics BUT the most important thing you can do is actually PREPARE your mind and body for giving birth. We want your first birth experience to leave you feeling like superheros, ready to take on parenthood!

Looking for a Better 2nd Birth?

So many couples come to us after they've experienced a traumatic birth experience or simply didn't feel supported and in control during their birth. This course exists to ensure that doesn't happen again. We'll give you the tools and language to advocate for the birth you want.

Researchers (but you're also busy)!

If you are the type of parents-to-be that love doing research and making decisions based on the most up-to-date and evidence-based information, then this course is for you! We've compiled all of the research into an easy to follow step-by-step system to QUICKLY prepare you for birth and baby!

Know Your Options is different.
We know your decisions and questions don’t stop at childbirth.

Most childbirth courses cover your pregnancy and childbirth preparation, and than what? You still need to find more information on everything that follows (you have a new little baby, after all!)

Deep Breath!

Having a certified lactation counselor, childbirth educator, and doula on hand (not to mention two mamas who know what you’re going through) means we can cover pregnancy, childbirth, AND the super important things that follow: postpartum care, newborn care, nursing, bottle feeding, and the list goes on.

Know Your Options is truly comprehensive – your step-by-step guide to this adventure, all in one place.

FAQs!

Will I get access to everything right away?

Yep, once you enroll you will have access to all 12 modules, the bonus downloads and the private FB community and Zoom calls for asking questions. You’ll also get access to the 6 modules of the Beyond the First Latch bonus course!

(If you don’t receive a login email right away, please check your spam folder or email team@thebirthhour.com for help!)

How long will I have access to the course?

FOREVER! We are one of the few online childbirth courses that offers lifetime access. Why? Because we want you to be able to look back on the lactation and newborn care info when you’re home with your baby. Plus, down the road for future pregnancies you can go through the entire course again as a refresher!

I'm 36 weeks already! Is it too late for me to take the course?

Nope, you can totally take this course in just one weekend Netflix-binge style. Plus, our certified lactation counselor, childbirth educator and doula is on hand to personally answer any of your questions in the private FB group. Total course video running time is about 9 hours.

Is it for my partner too?

Of course! When we taught this class in person it was always for the birthing person AND their partner to attend. The entire course is designed to help inform not only the one giving birth but partners as well so they can offer the best support. Our job is to make the partners look like rockstars rather than feeling helpless during labor.

We also find that many couples prefer the online format because they can discuss each lesson and not feel shy about asking questions both in the FB group and via bi-weekly Zoom calls.

Is this course just for unmedicated births?

Nope. And did you notice how we use the term unmedicated instead of natural? We believe all birth is natural and our goal is simply for you to feel informed and empowered with any of the birth choices you make. We want you to KNOW YOUR OPTIONS! Even if you are 99% sure you want an epidural, you still need to be informed about your pain medication options (we have a whole module on this!) and the benefits/risks of all interventions.

This is my second baby, will I benefit from the course?

If you’ve listened to The Birth Hour, you’ve likely heard many stories from those who had a bad first birth experience. Then, for their next baby they took the time to really prepare and went on to have a really redeeming birth. These stories have actually been one of the main motivations for creating this course. We want to help you navigate your options regardless of what your first birth was like so that you can have the birth YOU want this time around.

Plus, since the course comes with lifetime access many of our students review the material again and again for subsequent babies!

I'm planning a hospital birth, is this course right for me?

ABSOLUTELY! This course is likely going to make the biggest impact for those of you choosing a hospital birth. Our pregnancy and birth care system in the U.S. (and many other countries) is not designed around evidence-based and family-centered care. This course will inform you of your options and your rights so you can best navigate this system.

I'm planning a community (out-of-hospital) birth. Is this course right for me?

Yep. You’ll learn about what’s going on with your body in late pregnancy, the stages of labor and what to expect, as well as coping tools that will help you through the most intense phases of your labor. Finally, the Know Your Options course is unique in that we go through all of the different eventualities of birth. One of our recent students was planning a birth center birth and ended up needing to be induced for high blood pressure. She was SO grateful she had taken this course because she knew what to expect every step of the way even when plans changed.

I want a VBAC, is this course for me?

Awesome! We love helping VBAC families achieve a vaginal birth after cesarean. We go over everything from tips on finding a VBAC-friendly care provider to making decisions that will best set you up for a successful VBAC. And, Module #2 is all about having a family centered or gentle cesarean so if you choose not to have a VBAC you will know how to advocate for the best possible scenario for a cesarean birth.

I don't live in the U.S. Can I still take the course?

Definitely. That’s the beauty of online courses, right? Although the content is created based on the birth system in the United States, we know that many countries have similar systems so this course can be of benefit for anyone who wants to be informed with the most recent evidence-based information on birth, lactation, and newborn care. We’ve had many students from Canada, Central America, Europe, Australia, and even the Middle East

Who teaches the online course?

Stephanie Spitzer-Hanks, a certified lactation counselor, childbirth educator and doula will be your primary instructor with Bryn Huntpalmer, mom of three and founder of The Birth Hour joining in with her take on each module. Both women will be connecting with you in the FB group community and bi-weekly zoom calls and answering all of your most pressing questions!

What if I don't like the course? Will I be able to get a refund?

We know you have a million decisions to make when you’re pregnant, so if within 30 days you are unhappy for whatever reason just email us and you will receive a full refund. We stand behind the Know Your Options Childbirth Course 100%.

Can I use my FSA or HRA to pay for the course?

We generally can’t accept your HSA card directly, although if it is a major brand credit card, you are welcome to try it during checkout. However, you should be able to get reimbursed for the majority (or all of) the course. We also frequently provide detailed receipts and course completion certificates as needed. Call your HSA/FSA provider to see what they cover, and what steps are needed.

Will my insurance cover the course?

It is worth calling to ask! Most insurance plans cover childbirth education at least partially. When you call, they may ask for a CPT code. The insurance CPT code for childbirth classes in general is: S9436. You may also need a Diagnosis code: Z32.2, which is for childbirth education. We don’t ever deal with insurance directly so please call your insurance and find out what you personally are eligible for and they would need to reimburse you after purchasing the course. We can provide detailed receipts and certificates of completion as needed which are sometimes required as well.

How long is the course?

All of the videos in the main Know Your Options Course add up to a little under 9 hours. There is, of course, additional reading and downloads that you can explore as much as you desire.

Do the videos have closed captioning?

Yes! Closed captioning was added to the course in 2021!

I have a different question! Who should I ask?

Just shoot us an email (team@thebirthhour.com) and we will respond to you as quickly as possible.

How do I get started & how much does it cost?

How much is the Know Your Options Childbirth Course? You could try to figure it out on your own and spend a TON of time looking things up, or try to find a couple of in-person courses to get all of the information (we know we took several courses to feel confident when we were preparing for childbirth).

The entire Know Your Options Childbirth Course is only $397. Meaning you can get started and get full access right now, and learn everything from pregnancy to going back to work while nursing your baby.

And yes, you will get full access to the program right away. All modules. All downloads. All bonuses. So you don’t have to wait to go through the course, or get it dripped to you over time (we see you 3rd trimester mamas!).

30 DAY guarantee! YAY!

HOW ABOUT A GUARANTEE?

Know Your Options comes with a 30-day 100% money back guarantee. We are so excited to share this childbirth course with you, and we are confident everything is included to help you navigate your birth empowered and informed.

Comforting, Right?

Enroll in Know Your Options and get started today

Lifetime Access

_$397 one-time

Know Your Options Childbirth Course

ENROLL

Love Letters

How about a little bit of love for
Know Your Options?

I am so thankful for this course. Not only is it evidence-based but it focuses on real-life practicality that is super relevant no matter what type of birth you choose. My husband and I felt thoroughly prepared going into labor, delivery, and newborn care. We STILL directly reference quotes and practical examples from this course since the birth of our child. The impact has been profound in building our confidence as first time parents.

Libby Hugus

This course was invaluable to my husband and me as we prepared for our daughter’s birth. We both appreciated the evidence-based approach and that the course held our interest. Our daughter is 6 weeks old now and whenever an issue comes up, my husband says “Remember, they talked about this in the course!” We went into birth and new parenthood with confidence thanks to this course!

Alexandra Luning

This course prepared me AND my husband for every scenario, including what to expect if we ended up with a cesarean birth and how to advocate for ourselves in any situation. I think the most valuable part of the Know Your Options approach is that it’s evidence-based which means you’ll be making decisions and preparing for birth based on the best and latest research. I’d absolutely take this course again!

Phyllis Brasenell

During pregnancy, my husband and I had been endlessly praising Stephanie’s teaching style and evidence-based approach, but we didn’t realize exactly how much we appreciated having taken this course until we were in the hospital. We planned to give birth with our midwives at a birth center, then found ourselves tossing our plans out the window when I began showing many signs of preeclampsia, and I was admitted for induction. Instead of panicking, we were able to navigate our new plan confidently, knowing we’d been armed with the knowledge to make informed decisions. Stephanie and Bryn rock! They cover absolutely everything, and truly have your best interest at heart (no matter what your plans are!).

Alyssa Oliha

When my wife and I found out we were BOTH pregnant and due just one week apart, we knew we’d need to be armed with great information and stop googling everything! Not only did this course prepare us for childbirth, it also gave us the necessary tools to survive postpartum when we were both healing our own bodies and learning to take care of our “twins”. Breastfeeding was a struggle at first and we often referred back to what we had learned and are still going strong 8 months later! We also really appreciated that the language throughout the course was inclusive for ALL types of couples, which can be hard to find as a lesbian couple preparing for baby!

Viviana Baluja

It’s risk-free with our 30-day guarantee