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!
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
Laboring at Home Strategies
Learn how to recognize the signs of labor and feel confident about when it’s time to head to the hospital. We’ll cover practical comfort measures, timing, and birth basics to help you start labor with confidence.
Inductions, Interventions, Cesareans, and Your Options
Birth doesn’t always go exactly as planned, but you can still make informed decisions along the way. Explore common interventions, inductions, cesarean births, and your options so you can feel prepared for the unexpected.
Support Partners Prep Session!
Support partners play a vital role during labor and birth, and this session is designed just for you. Learn practical ways to provide comfort, encouragement, and advocacy while building confidence for the big day. All expecting parents are welcome to attend, but we will focus primarily on the support person’s role.
Savvy Birth 101 by Evidence Based Birth®
Learn how to navigate the maternity care system with confidence by understanding evidence-based care, informed decision-making, and respectful communication with your birth team. This class will help you become an active participant in your care so you can work collaboratively with your providers and advocate for the birth experience that’s right for you.
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.
- 7:15: 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
2026 Dates and Topics
Online Sessions:
- August 11: Laboring at Home Strategies (Before Heading to the Hospital, When to Head to the Hospital, Birth Basics) from 12-1pm Online
- August 18: Inductions, Interventions, Cesareans, and Your Options (Birth Planning for Unexpected Events) from 12-1pm Online
- September 8: Support Partners Prep Session! (This one is for support partners. All expecting moms and their support partners are welcome to attend) from 12-1pm Online
- September 29: Savvy Birth 101 by Evidence Based Birth® from 12-1pm Online
- October 6: Laboring at Home Strategies (Before Heading to the Hospital, When to Head to the Hospital, Birth Basics) from 12-1pm Online
- October 27: Inductions, Interventions, Cesareans, and Your Options (Birth Planning for Unexpected Events) from 12-1pm Online
- November 3: Support Partners Prep Session! (This one is for support partners. All expecting moms and their support partners are welcome to attend) from 12-1pm Online
- November 16: Savvy Birth 101 by Evidence Based Birth® from 12-1pm Online
In Person Sessions in Waukee, IA:
- August 11: Laboring at Home Strategies (Before Heading to the Hospital, When to Head to the Hospital, Birth Basics) from 6-7:30pm in Waukee, IA
- August 18: Inductions, Interventions, Cesareans, and Your Options (Birth Planning for Unexpected Events) from 6-7:30pm in Waukee, IA
- September 8: Support Partners Prep Session! (This one is for support partners. All expecting moms and their support partners are welcome to attend) from 6-7:30pm in Waukee, IA
- September 29: Savvy Birth 101 by Evidence Based Birth® from 6-7:30pm in Waukee, IA
- October 6: Laboring at Home Strategies (Before Heading to the Hospital, When to Head to the Hospital, Birth Basics) from 6-7:30pm in Waukee, IA
- October 27: Inductions, Interventions, Cesareans, and Your Options (Birth Planning for Unexpected Events) from 6-7:30pm in Waukee, IA
- November 3: Support Partners Prep Session! (This one is for support partners. All expecting moms and their support partners are welcome to attend) from 6-7:30pm in Waukee, IA
- November 16: Savvy Birth 101 by Evidence Based Birth® from 6-7:30pm in Waukee, IA
Interested in new parent and breastfeeding class options? Check out our other classes too!
