Childbirth has plenty of unknowns, but by preparing for delivery, you can make a birth plan that’s best for you and gain the tools you need to find comfort throughout labor. The goal is to provide parents with all options and scenarios so they can feel confident making informed decisions throughout the experience. Take a look below at these classes—offered in and around Dallas—that incorporate childbirth methodologies, including Lamaze. (Live closer to Fort Worth? Find classes here.)
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North Dallas Doula Associates
Melissa Espey-Mueller, owner and Director of Education for North Dallas Doula Associates, has been educating parents on what to expect throughout the childbirth process as well as assisting in the delivery of their sweet little ones for over 25 years. As a certified birth doula, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, and Gynecological Teaching Associate with Texas A&M, she has curated a sensational series of comprehensive classes to accommodate all types of birth experiences.
From hospital and home births to C-sections and VBACs, parents-to-be can choose the course that best fits their intended birth plan. Her Prepared Childbirth and Uncensored Childbirth classes both provide a broad overview of the phases and stages of labor and delivery, positions for birth, and induction and pain management options, all while maintaining the overall philosophy of Lamaze—that birth is normal, natural, and healthy.
Experienced parents looking to have a natural birth after a C-section delivery also have the option to take the Prepared to Push VBAC class. No matter which educational experience you choose, all of the classes are taught by certified doulas and instructors who live and breathe the practice of bringing babies into the world. In 2024 alone, they helped to deliver almost 700 babies and have taught over 10,000 people in their classes.
For those interested in signing up, their year-round courses range from $50 to $125, are offered at four separate locations, and parents can choose to attend virtually or in-person. In-person classes are offered as one, two, or three-day options on both weekdays and weekends. Virtual classes are pre-recorded, with the opportunity to ask questions with an instructor once the class is complete. Registration is available on their website.
Location: North Dallas Doula Associates, 107 Murray Street Dallas, Texas; Classes are also offered at Baylor University Medical Center Dallas, Baylor Scott & White McKinney, and Medical City Las Colinas
Hours: Class days and times vary by course and location
Contact: 214/484-1737
Website: northdallasdoulas.com
Great Expectations Doulas
Maria Pokluda, owner of Great Expectations Doulas, is a certified doula with a background in Lamaze, an expertise that she brings to her childbirth classes. More importantly, she’s overseen more than 2,000 births while working in the DFW area. If you’re looking for a true resource in childbirth education, her expert insight can give you the tools you need to handle childbirth in whatever way suits your family best.
Expectant parents can choose from virtual and in-person instruction. Group and private lessons are available too. Classes will detail everything from choosing your provider and the various stages of labor to comfort measures and breathing techniques that you can use throughout your labor and delivery. You’ll also receive a course journal and meditation tracks that you can use in the time leading up to and during your child’s birth.
Courses are available every other month, and there’s space for 14 couples per class. Depending on your schedule, parents-to-be can choose from a one-day course that lasts approximately 5 hours or choose a six-week class that meets for 1.5 hours on one weeknight each week. You’ll also have the option to book private classes that can be scheduled at your convenience.
Pricing starts at $140 for the one-day class and goes up to $325 for six weeks of instruction. Simply go to the website to register.
Location: In-person classes held at 5680 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco, Texas
Hours: Dates vary by class, typically on select Sundays 1–5pm and Tuesdays 6:30–8pm
Contact: 214/223-0226
Website: bestdallasdoulas.com
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Frisco Midwifery & Birth Center
You’ll find two comprehensive classes on childbirth here at Frisco Midwifery & Birth Center, owned by midwife and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator Margie Wallis. Ready for Birth and Labor Coping Skills Practice are two courses that have been carefully curated by a collection of experienced midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, Lamaze experts, and mothers at the practice who have backgrounds in both hospital and private birth settings.
Their overall goal is to give parents-to-be both the physical and mental preparation they need to handle the many hurdles of labor and delivery and to help them find satisfaction and empowerment in a natural birth.
Ready for Birth is an all-encompassing course that provides parents with extensive knowledge of the physiological process of childbirth, the various signs of labor, and relaxation techniques, like breath work, positioning, movement, visualization, and affirmation, to help mothers make their way through the birthing process in the most positive way possible. This course is $250 and lasts for 8 hours over a Friday and Saturday.
The complementary course Labor Coping Skills Practice serves as a rehearsal for the big day. The teachings in this class have a greater focus on the methods for physical comfort. This course is $100 and lasts two hours on one day. Both classes only have space for four to six couples, giving you lots of time for hands-on activities, interaction and questions.
Their childbirth education sessions occur every month and the best way to sign up is to register on their website. Private classes are also available for an additional fee.
Location: Frisco Birth Center, 7258 Elm Street, Frisco, Texas
Hours: The first and second weekend every month, Friday 6–8pm and Saturday 9am–4pm
Contact: 469/643-9433
Website: friscobirthcenter.com
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Medical City Healthcare
Another extremely affordable option for childbirth classes are the many courses available at the Medical City campuses across the metroplex. They offer Prepared Childbirth, Understanding Birth, and C-Section Preparation & Recovery, which detail the various stages of labor, comfort techniques like breathing patterns, positioning, massage, focus and distraction, and pain management options, as well as a breakdown of childbirth medical procedures like induction and cesarean section.
They also offer newborn care, breastfeeding support, and even dad and grandparent courses to make sure parents and their support systems are ready for this new adventure. And if you’re giving birth at one of their campuses, there’s an option to tour the facility prior to giving birth. Moms-to-be can take advantage of their prenatal yoga classes as well.
Their childbirth education courses are available in-person and virtually, or for those with less flexible schedules, you can choose pre-recorded class options. Best of all, pricing typically doesn’t go above $35 per class. Some classes are even free! Depending on the courses you choose, you can expect anywhere from one to eight hours of instruction and class sizes vary based on the course and campus. Visit their website to find out availability in your area and to sign up.
Location: Six Medical City locations: Dallas, Frisco, Lewisville, McKinney, Plano, as well as Alliance (Fort Worth)
Hours: Class hours vary depending on the specific class and campus
Contact: medicalcityhealthcare.com/contact-us
Website: medicalcityhealthcare.com
Texas Health Hospitals
For parents searching for affordable Lamaze and childbirth classes, Texas Health offers an array of options at their many campuses across the DFW area. These include Prepared Childbirth, Natural Childbirth, and Coping Skills for Labor, with variations for parents planning on a cesarean birth and for those expecting multiples.
In all of these courses, parents-to-be will learn about the many aspects of the labor process as well as non-medicated pain and relaxation techniques like breathing exercises, yoga movements, and positioning. Both virtual and in-person learning options are available and you do not need to be delivering at the facility to attend. Time frames for each class vary from 3 to 8 hours, and there is space for 12 to 14 couples in each class.
Class instructors are registered nurses with maternal child experience and/or certified Lamaze educators. Prices range between $15 and $25. Registration can be completed on their website or by contacting the program coordinator.
Location: Five Texas Health locations: Dallas, Frisco, Plano, and in Arlington and Bedford, with virtual options available
Hours: Class hours vary depending on the specific class and campus, but most are held on weekday evenings and weekend mornings
Contact: 877/THR-WELL and for specific questions, clients can reach out to Childbirth Education Coordinator Jill Johnson, RN, MSN, and IBCLC at stephaniejohnson2@texashealth.org
Website: Sign up for individual classes at texashealth.org
Metroplex Birth
Nita Gunn, owner of Metroplex Birth, is a certified childbirth educator, doula, nurse, and mother of five, making her a prime resource for parents-to-be in the DFW region. Her 7-week Birth Boot Camp course will give you a comprehensive look at labor positions, comfort measures, and partner involvement for both medicated and unmedicated births, as well as baby care and breastfeeding.
You can choose to attend in-person classes or to sign up for her hybrid class option, which provides couples with both virtual and hands-on instruction. She also offers refresher courses for veteran parents who’ve had a bit of time pass between babies. Unlike many other childbirth programs, Gunn begins each session with a private Zoom meeting to get to know each couple and their specific birth plans.
Another bonus to taking classes with Metroplex Birth is the connections you can make with other parents who are in the same situation. After classes end and your baby is born, Gunn offers a reunion for new parents to reconnect and share their birth stories.
In-person classes are available once per season with space for nine couples in each class. Each session runs for approximately 2.5 hours on weekend afternoons and evenings. Both the in-person and hybrid boot camps are $400, and the refresher course costs $150. Registration is available online.
Location: Metroplex Birth at the office of Prime Chiropractic, 210 Park Blvd., Suite 107, Grapevine, Texas
Hours: Sundays at 3pm and 6pm
Contact: 682/514-9150
Website: metroplexbirth.com
Birth Fort Worth
Barb Davis, founder and practice manager of Birth Fort Worth (with class offerings in McKinney too), has been guiding expectant parents through the amazing experience of childbirth for over a decade. Not only is she passionate about Lamaze teachings, but she is a certified birth and postpartum doula and certified childbirth educator.
Her class, Your Best Birth Class, is an award-winning course that prepares you for the labor and delivery process. This one-day class is designed for moms looking for a natural, unmedicated birth. Teachings include an overview of induction options and labor tools, a breakdown of the stages of labor, and instruction on the best comfort measures for moms like the breathing techniques you learn in a traditional Lamaze class.
You will also get a 45-minute birth planning session and tips on how to advocate for your wants and needs during delivery. Total class time is 6 hours. This in-person course occurs on Saturdays at either Midwife+Co or Adriatica Women’s Health. The cost is $250, and class sizes are kept small, at three to five couples per class. Medicaid pricing is also available.
And for those planning on a hospital birth, her 2-hour hospital birth prep class details birth basics, when to go to the hospital, medicated, and unmedicated comfort options, self-advocacy tools, and a cesarean birth overview. This option costs $45 and is a live, virtual class. Sign up for either educational experience on her website. Classes are available monthly, making it easy to attend at your convenience.
Location: Adriatica Women’s Health, 6609 Virginia Parkway McKinney, Texas and Midwife+Co., 1401 Henderson Street, Fort Worth, Texas
Hours: Saturdays 10am–4:30pm
Contact: 682/777-3932 (text Barb)
Website: birthfortworth.com
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Top image courtesy of Great Expectations Birth
