Pregnancy Exercise Class - Swedish Medical Center Seattle

Baby Your Body Pregnancy Exercise Education

This 2-week class was developed by a physical therapist from Swedish/Ballard's Rehabilitation Department.  It is designed to  help you stay comfortable and experience less pain during pregnancy.  We encourage you to begin this class early in pregnancy for the most benefit but it can be taken at any time.  This class is for women only.

Included in the class:

Baby Your Back - Teaches proper body mechanics, movement strategies as well as positioning and exercises aimed at keeping your back comfortable and injury free during pregnancy and infant care.

Pelvic Floor: The Key to Women's Health
Stresses the importance of pelvic-floor health.  Topics include the basic structure of the pelvic-floor muscle structure, the function of the pelvic floor during pregnancy and labor, and exercises to prevent incontinence after pregnancy.

Exercise and Review -

Fee: $45/person

Prenatal Exercise Class
You are invited to join us at our weekly prenatal exercise class, led by one of our experienced physical therapists. Strengthen your body in preparation for labor and delivery.  Learn exercises to do during pregnancy and postpartum.  Enjoy exercising with music in a safe and supportive group atmosphere. Drop-in class each Monday from 5:00pm -6:30pm.  Class content repeats every four weeks.

Class meets at the Swedish/First Hill Outpatient Rehabilitation Services, 1101 Madison, Suite 200, Seattle.  Call 206-386-2035 for directions and more information.

Pre-registration is not necessary

Fee: $10 per class (Included in Welcome Baby Package)

Childbirth Preparation
While no one can tell you what your birth experience will be like, this class can help you feel prepared, confident and ready for the birth of your baby.  All formats cover the labor process, labor coping skills, pain medication, interventions of pregnancy and labor, cesarean birth, postpartum adjustment and more. Plan to finish this class 4-6 weeks prior to your due date.  Taking our Coping With Confidence class after your childbirth preparation class will give you additional practice and review time with labor coping skills. Please register separately for a pre-birth tour of our childbirth center at First Hill or Ballard. The 4 and 6-week childbirth series include a childbirth reunion and have more time for discussion and labor coping skills.

This class is offered in several formats to suit your schedule and interest.
Childbirth Preparation  1-day Seminar- One 8 hour class offered some Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Childbirth Preparation 2-day Seminar-8 hour class meets two evenings for 4 hours each or over a weekend 4 hours each Saturday and Sunday.
4-Week Series -10-hours total. Class meets for 2.5 hours one night a week for four weeks. Includes a childbirth reunion.
6-Week Series-This series combines a 4-week childbirth class with a newborn care class and a breastfeeding class to give participants the opportunity to stay with the same instructor and group of class participants for the best learning experience. Class meets one night a week for 2.5 hours for 6 weeks. Includes a childbirth reunion.
(All Childbirth classes are included in the Welcome Baby Package)

Fee:  8-hour classes $95/couple
Fee:  4-week 10 hour series $105/couple
Fee:  6-week series 15 hour series $180/couple 
4 and 6-week childbirth series include a new baby reunion to be scheduled during the series.

Refresher Childbirth Preparation Class
For those with previous childbirth experience we offer this 4-hour refresher childbirth class. Expectant parents have time to revisit their past birth experience, review labor and birth, practice labor coping skills and discuss with other parents how they are preparing their children for a new sibling.  Also included at the end of class is a special segment for those considering a vaginal birth after previous cesarean.

                       "I am so glad that we took this time to prepare for THIS baby!"    -Refresher class participant

(For expectant parents with children 3 years to 10 years old we recommend our Sibling Preparation class.  This class is specially designed to help siblings prepare for the new baby. It includes the birth story (told at an age appropriate level with a large doll ), an age appropriate video, discussion about what it will be like with a new baby in the family and a walking tour of the childbirth center. This class is 1.5 hours long.  See Sibling Preparation for more information and to register. )

Included in Welcome Baby Package
Fee:  $50/couple