If you’re looking for a childbirth class in Des Moines, Iowa, we think you’ll find Birth 2 Be is unlike any other class in the area!
Instead of spending an entire evening in a classroom, choose the sessions that matter most to you and build the class experience that fits your family’s needs. Whether you’re a first-time parent or simply looking for a refresher, each class is practical, interactive, and designed to help you walk into birth feeling informed instead of overwhelmed. Here’s what you can expect:
- Evidence-Based Birth Information
- No lectures or powerpoints
- Comfortable learning environment (with snacks!)
- Hands-on skills practice
- A chance to meet other expecting parents
- Opportunities to ask questions to local birth doulas
Our classes are taught by experienced local doulas who regularly support families in Des Moines area hospitals. Because we’re attending births every week, we can give you a realistic picture of what labor and birth often look like in our community. We talk about everything from labor positions and comfort measures to inductions, epidurals, cesareans, fetal monitoring, hospital routines, and what those first few weeks with a newborn are really like.
More importantly, we help you understand why your options matter. Our goal isn’t to tell you what kind of birth to have. It’s to help you understand your choices, ask great questions, communicate with your healthcare team, and feel confident making decisions that are right for your family. All birth choices are welcome–epidural, unmedicated, inductions, etc.
Birth 2 Be is offered in person in Des Moines, Iowa, with online options available for families across the state. We’d love to have you join us for one session or several as you prepare to welcome your baby.
This ongoing event is for anyone who is expecting a baby and their support partner.
Fee: We have waived the fee for current Iowa Baby Ladies clients; $20 for families not with The Iowa Baby Ladies. *In the event that the in-person events are “sold out” due to space, or you cannot attend the evening session for any reason, please register for the online portion that will be led by one of our doulas via zoom. Do not attend both in person and zoom sessions for the same topic as it is a repeat of the same information.
Education & being a part of a prenatal community is so important, and it’s one of the best ways to increase your chances for a healthier, more positive birth experience for yourself, your baby, and your support partner! (Research agrees!)
If you can only choose one way to learn about childbirth, we highly recommend participating in the Birth 2 Be Community Childbirth Education experience over the online Express Birth Class. However, if you’re able to do both, you will find that there will be some overlapping info and some unique info with each option.
In-Person Event Timeline
- 5:45: Arrive, receive materials, get comfy!
- 6:00: Community introductions and evening overview
- 6:15: Start discussing topic of the night. All topics are presented in an evidence-based approached and without using any scare tactics/fear.
- 6:40: Let’s get moving and do something interactive! Activity depends on the evening’s topics.
- 7:00: Possible local guest speaker; depends on topic
- 7:30: Time for Questions and Goodbyes
Online Event Timeline*
- 11:55: Sign On and check your settings
- 12:00 Introductions. Please be prepared to have your camera on! You’re welcome to eat lunch and be comfy throughout the class.
- 12:10-12:50 Topic Presentation
- 12:50-1:00: Questions
*Note: Adjust times by 30 minutes for 12:30pm class start times.
2026 Dates and Topics
Online:
- May 20: Birth Planning/Expectations with Lisa from 12-1pm
- June 3: Comfort Measures and Pain Relief with Lisa from 12-1pm
- June 16: Inductions with Lisa from 12-1pm
- July 1: Cesareans with Lisa from 12-1pm
- July 15: Savvy Birth 101 with Katie from 12-1pm
- As this series gets underway, we will continue to refresh this list with new dates!
Tuesday Evenings in Waukee, IA:
- May 19: Birth Planning/Expectations with Michelle from 6-8pm
- June 3: Comfort Measures and Pain Relief with Michelle from 6-8pm
- June 17: Inductions with Michelle from 6-8pm
- July 1: Cesareans with Michelle from 6-8pm
- July 15: Savvy Birth 101 with Katie from 6-8pm
- As this series gets underway, we will continue to refresh this list with new dates!
Interested in new parent and breastfeeding class options? Check out our other classes too!
