Childbirth Education
Birth rarely follows a script—and childbirth education shouldn't teach you that there's only one “right” way to do it.
Starlight childbirth education is designed to help you understand the process of birth, explore your options, build practical skills, and feel more prepared to make informed decisions as your own birth unfolds.
Whether you're preparing for your first birth, approaching birth with previous experience, or simply looking for education that leaves room for your preferences and circumstances, you'll find learning options designed to meet you where you are.
Prepare for birth with knowledge, confidence, and options.
Explore Your Options
Comprehensive Childbirth Education
More than a quick birth-prep class, Starlight's comprehensive childbirth education is designed to give expecting families the time and space to explore birth in depth.
Through evidence-informed education, practical preparation, discussion, and hands-on learning, you'll build a deeper understanding of birth while exploring the choices and tools available to you along the way.
Full curriculum and course details coming soon.
Choose How You Learn
Comprehensive childbirth education is available in several formats, so you can choose the learning environment that works best for you and your family.
In-Person Group Classes
Learn alongside other expecting families in an interactive, supportive group environment.
Private Childbirth Education
One-on-one education tailored to your family, questions, birth plans, and individual learning needs.
Live Online Classes
Join a scheduled, instructor-led childbirth education course from home while still having opportunities to ask questions and participate.
On-Demand Course
Learn on your own schedule with recorded lessons and resources you can revisit throughout pregnancy.
Upcoming Childbirth Education
Find an upcoming Starlight childbirth education course in Bend, Central Oregon, or online.
Looking for something more personal?
Private childbirth education offers one-on-one instruction tailored to your family, questions, previous experiences, birth plans, and learning needs. Classes can be adapted to focus more deeply on the topics that matter most to you.
Bring Childbirth Education to Your Community
Starlight Birth Services partners with healthcare and community organizations throughout Bend and Central Oregon to expand access to inclusive, evidence-informed childbirth education.
Interested in partnering with Starlight? Let's talk about what your community needs.
Tell me a little about your program and the families you serve. Whether you already have something specific in mind or are just beginning to explore possibilities, I'd love to hear what you're envisioning.
Childbirth education can be offered in collaboration with hospitals, clinics, public health programs, community organizations, family resource programs, and other organizations serving pregnant and parenting families.
Programs can be adapted to the needs of your community, including comprehensive childbirth education, individual workshops, and topic-specific classes.
Childbirth Education FAQ
Every family comes into childbirth education with different experiences, plans, questions, and levels of preparation. Here are answers to some common questions about Starlight childbirth education.
Have questions? You’re not the only one.
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There isn't one perfect time, but many families find it helpful to complete childbirth education during the second or early third trimester. This gives you time to learn, practice, ask questions, and continue exploring your preferences before birth.
If you're farther along, don't worry. Depending on availability, private education or focused workshops may be a good option when your due date is approaching.
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No. You're welcome to attend on your own or with a partner or support person, depending on the class format.
When a support person attends, they'll learn alongside you and gain practical tools for supporting you during labor and birth.
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That's completely okay—and it's actually a great reason to take childbirth education.
Starlight classes aren't designed to teach one "right" way to give birth. We'll explore how birth works, common options and interventions, comfort and coping strategies, informed decision-making, and ways to communicate your preferences so you can decide what feels right for you.
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No. Childbirth education can be valuable whether you're considering an unmedicated birth, planning an epidural, expecting a cesarean, hoping for a VBAC, or simply aren't sure yet.
The goal isn't to prepare you for one specific kind of birth. It's to help you understand your options and feel better prepared to navigate the birth you have.
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Yes. Starlight Birth Services welcomes LGBTQIA+ families, single parents, blended families, gestational carriers, adoptive and intended parents, and families with many different structures and identities.
Language and education can be adapted to the people actually participating in your pregnancy, birth, and family.
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Absolutely. Every pregnancy and birth can be different.
Returning parents may want a refresher, preparation for a different type of birth, more information about options they didn't explore previously, support after a difficult or traumatic birth experience, or simply education that better fits what they know now.
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Group classes follow a structured curriculum and give you the opportunity to learn alongside other expecting families.
Private childbirth education is one-on-one and can be tailored more closely to your pregnancy, previous experiences, questions, birth plans, learning needs, and priorities.
If you're not sure which would be the better fit, you're welcome to reach out and we can talk through your options.
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Yes. Starlight offers live online childbirth education in addition to in-person options. An on-demand course option is also planned for families who prefer to learn independently and revisit material on their own schedule.
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Starlight Birth Services is based in Bend, Oregon and serves families throughout Central Oregon. Specific locations vary by class and will be included in the class listing when you register.
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Yes. Starlight can partner with healthcare organizations, clinics, public health programs, nonprofits, family resource programs, and other community organizations serving pregnant and parenting families.
Programs can range from individual workshops to comprehensive or recurring childbirth education and can be adapted to the needs of the community you serve.