Joy MacTavish is a ICEA Certified Childbirth Educator and a Certified Happiest Baby Educator offering personalized childbirth and infant education.

Just as with my doula care, my role as an educator is to fully support your ability to feel confident about your knowledge and preparation surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, interventions and medications, the immediate postpartum period, breastfeeding, recovery and early parenting.

Pregnancy, Childbirth, Postpartum and Newborn Education

Whether you want a few hours of "the basics" on any specific topics or a full series of classes covering all aspects of childbirth, postpartum, breastfeeding and infant care, I will work with you to create an education plan. Classes are most often held in the students' home, but have also been held in the hospital for antepartum patients on bedrest and other creative locations for expectant parents who need flexibility in order to fully prepare for birth.

 Private, Customized Education Services includes:

• Email or phone discussion to determine your education needs
  
• Personalized private lesson plan related to pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period and/or newborn care
• In-person educations session for the pregnant parent and support persons
• Follow-up by email or phone to answer additional questions   

Cost for the above is $50 per hour of instruction, with a three hour minimum. Additional students can be accommodated and discounts are available for classes of 4 or more students/couples or if added to a doula package. 

 For more information regarding private childbirth classes please contact me.

Happiest Baby on the Block

These lessons use the extraordinary program developed by Dr. Harvey Karp. Your individualized session can be taken before or after the birth of your child(ren) and includes everything you need to master the 5 S's!

My goal for these lessons is to support your ability to learn and succeed in understanding and implementing the philosophy behind and proven baby calming techniques of:

    The Missing "4th Trimester"
    The Calming Reflex
    The 5 "S's"
    The Cuddle Cure

The Happiest Baby approach finally explains what colic is, and more importantly teaches parents how to calm down almost any crying baby in minutes...or seconds by turning on the "calming reflex."
 
The five goals for this program are to:

   1. improve parental bonding
   2. improve father/partner participation
   3. improve nursing success rates
   4. help prevent postpartum depression
   5. help prevent shaken baby syndrome

THB medical cost benefit potential can be substantial:

   1. diminished calls/visits to MD's with crying, sleepless babies
   2. fewer ER visits and follow up doctor visits
   3. fewer diagnostic tests
   4. fewer prescriptions of drugs
   5. reduced incidence of breastfeeding challenges
   6. reduced incidence of postpartum depression
   7. reduced incidence of Shaken Baby Syndrome
   8. Improved parents sleep and work ability
   9. probable reduced incidence of SIDS

The Happiest Baby program has been endorsed by a wide range of individuals and organizations including leaders of American Academy of Pediatrics, founder of Lamaze, Surgeon General, La Leche League International, and more!

For more information regarding the Happiest Baby on the Block program please see their website or contact me.

Certified Happiest Baby Education includes:

• Personal Happiest Baby on the Block lesson
• Parent Kit containing the HBOTB DVD and "Super-Soother" White Noise CD
• Follow-up by email or phone     

Cost for the above is only $65.
Discount available for groups of 3 or more or if added to a doula package.