Childbirth Prep Class in San Francisco

Take your time digesting information and asking questions with our Childbirth Prep Series classes. Three sessions, 2.5 hours each to go into depth with all the information on how to best prepare for labor and birth. You will learn more information than just your hospital Childbirth Education class! (Couples Class, Mother/Birthing Parent & Partner)

Class Investment: $420

Class Duration: 2.5 hours for 3 meetings (one 2.5-hour class per day for either 3 weeks or 3 days)

Membership Credits: 9

*Recommended to take during 28-38 weeks gestation (third trimester)

Childbirth Education Class in San Francisco: Choose between our intensive or series for your supportive and in-depth childbirth preparation class. designed to help you feel confident, prepared, and empowered as you approach labor and delivery. Unlike a single-day intensive, this childbirth education series gives you the time and space to fully absorb the material between sessions, digest what you've learned, and come back with follow-up questions before moving deeper into the next topic. You'll gain a clear understanding of what to expect, explore how birth can unfold in different ways, and learn how to navigate the experience with greater ease and confidence. Together, we'll walk through the stages of labor, practice comfort measures and labor positions, and help both you and your birth partner feel ready to actively participate in the birth experience. You'll also learn breathing and relaxation techniques, common interventions, and your options for pain management, so you can make informed decisions that align with your birth preferences.

Who this is for: Mother/Birthing Person & Partner/Support Person [Couples class]

**Recommended to be taken 28-38 weeks gestation

What's Included:

Stages of labor and what to expect
What labor and birth can look like in different settings
Comfort measures and coping techniques (movement, positioning, breathwork)
Understanding common medical interventions
Partner preparation and support techniques
Knowing your options and making informed decisions

Michelle Gunderson (Series Class)
Michelle is a Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Lactation Educator and Placenta Specialist serving families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area through her practice, Cradle of Love Doula. She is passionate about supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period in a way that feels compassionate, grounded, and supportive. She believes every family deserves to feel informed and cared for as they prepare to welcome a new baby, and she strives to create a calm and comfortable environment where parents can ask questions openly and feel supported without judgment. Her classes combine evidence-based information with practical tools and real-life perspective from years of working closely with growing families. Michelle’s teaching style is warm, approachable, and conversational, with a focus on helping parents feel more prepared and less overwhelmed as they navigate birth and early parenthood.

Claudia Penate (Intensive Class)
Claudia is a certified birth and postpartum doula, childbirth and lactation educator with five years of dedicated experience supporting over 200 families through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. With a nursing background and years of experience in reproductive medicine and infertility care, she brings a strong medical foundation and deep understanding of the full fertility-to-postpartum journey. Her unique blend of clinical insight and nurturing support allows her to guide families with both confidence and empathy. Claudia is passionate about empowering parents with evidence-based education, emotional grounding, and personalized care. Her mission is to ensure every family feels informed, supported, and uplifted as they welcome their new baby into the world.