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Making Classes More Interactive

I am interested in hearing from other educators...…..how do you make your childbirth classes interactive? 

 

My team offers a variety of classes-Understanding Birth, parenting, CPR, Sibling, Breastfeeding.  Each class/educator has different techniques to make the class interactive but I'm always interested in learning from others.  

For parenting class we practice swaddling, diaper changes, holding the baby using baby dolls.  Survey evals often ask for more hands on learning, what else can we do?

 

Thanks for your help!  Looking forward to sharing ideas!!

Debbie Young, MSL, LCCE, ICCE, ICBD, CLC and Kristi Webster have reacted to this post.
Debbie Young, MSL, LCCE, ICCE, ICBD, CLCKristi Webster

I just presented a seminar for a group of 19 educators in Alabama on this subject.  We did stations where the class broke up in small groups and were given an assignment to present information on a topic (this could be assigned the week before).  We talked about presenting lesser know topics with an example of something that is known, like top 10 features you want if buying a new house.  The student lists them and then has to take away 3, then 5. It is like making a birth plan when you look for your ideal but sometimes don't end up with everything on your list.  I use a write on board or they can use the back of their name placard. 

We explored things like Kahoot! for a fun, interactive way to expel myths.  Check it out (https://kahoot.com/), you can get a free version.  For this one you can put up things like

1) It is fine to be induced at 39 weeks if I am tired of being pregnant (T or F)

2) For my baby's health, while I am pregnant it is important to avoid all of these except:

  • cigarette smoke
  • uncooked or undercooked meat 
  • eggs
  • high stress

3) Having a supportive partner can increase breastfeeding success (T or F)

Hope this helps! 

Kristi Webster and Nicole Carlisle have reacted to this post.
Kristi WebsterNicole Carlisle

In  my 4th Trimester class we do an activity where I hand out bags that have diapers and bottles with liquid in them to each couple.  Each bag represents a certain day after delivery (1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 7 days, 2 weeks).  Each diaper has either a yellow paper circle for a pee diaper or a black circle for meconium, mustard yellow for breastfeeding stool and green for transitional stool.  Each bottle has the average amount of colostrum or breastmilk a baby would get at each feeding.  The couples then have to work together to figure out which bag goes with which day.  It is a great way to get them interacting as well as visually see what diapers and feedings are going to look like for the first few weeks and the progression that occurs. (1st day - 1 pee diaper, 1 meconium diaper & 5 mL of liquid in bottle, 2nd day - 2 pee diapers, 1 transitional and 1 meconium diaper and 8 to 10 mL of liquid etc.)

Debbie Young, MSL, LCCE, ICCE, ICBD, CLC, Susan Jesse and Cathy Allen have reacted to this post.
Debbie Young, MSL, LCCE, ICCE, ICBD, CLCSusan JesseCathy Allen

Our Newborn Care class gets rave reviews because it is interactive. We did customize the PowerPoint a bit because we wanted to stress what to do for your Newborn when you leave the hospital. We go over the Newborn in our childbirth class and we get slammed on our evaluations if there is a lot of repetition between all the classes. We moved the Car seat slide to the beginning because that is where you would start when you leave the hospital.

The Newborn Traits: Skin-to skin is taught and procedures and characteristics are covered in our childbirth class so we assign couples to watch those videos and read that material on their own. There is a company in town called Baby Begin and it has great videos about Tummy Time, leaving babies too long in "containers" like mamaroos and rock-n-plays, and different holding positions and burping. The videos are great but the position are very fast so we watch then practice. the Tummy time ones show you how to exercise your baby a little to stimulate peristaltic waves to release gas. I attached a Tummy Time picture we laminated and pass around.

Newborn Behaviors: Baby's cues, States of alertness, sleep, SIDS, Safe sleep environment. (We have stopped teaching swaddling with a blanket and have moved to sleep sacks and Merlin sleep suit which are boot recommended by First Candle. We practice putting dolls in the sacks. 

Bathing, Nail Care, Dressing and Diapering: Each couple gets a bin with bath supplies. Couples having twins have two sets of dolls and bins. We all stand up and give baths, change diapers, dress and undress so they know what to expect. The bath is very detailed going over how to clean in all the crevices of a newborn. We actually go over cord care and circumcision care during the bath. This is usually their favorite part.

Crying and Comforting: We go over the why and then we demo different ways to wear your baby and some general safety tips. Since we went over different positions earlier we talk more about sound, going for walks, shh-ing, etc.  

Feeding: This is very brief and we assign the chapter to do at home. I pull up a slide of the Newborns Stomach (see attachment) and we sit and visit about what is going on. This is a very real and intimate discussion. We have already gone over hunger cues in behaviors. We stress going to a Breastfeeding Class and watching the videos and reading the chapter at home. If mom choose to formula feed, we give them a handout after class.

Newborn Essentials: Nasal aspirators, Thermometers, Tylenol, Cool Mist Humidifiers, When to call the pediatrician, Well baby check-ups.

This is probably way too much but the more interactive we are in class the better evaluations we get and parents feel equipped. InJoy has so much in their app we can point the new parent in the right direction. Good Luck!

Cathy Allen

 

 

Uploaded files:
  • Tummy-Time.JPG
  • newborns-stomach.jpg
Debbie Young, MSL, LCCE, ICCE, ICBD, CLC and Kristi Webster have reacted to this post.
Debbie Young, MSL, LCCE, ICCE, ICBD, CLCKristi Webster
Quote from Debbie Young, MSL, LCCE, ICCE, CLC on February 5, 2020, 9:04 am

I just presented a seminar for a group of 19 educators in Alabama on this subject.  We did stations where the class broke up in small groups and were given an assignment to present information on a topic (this could be assigned the week before).  We talked about presenting lesser know topics with an example of something that is known, like top 10 features you want if buying a new house.  The student lists them and then has to take away 3, then 5. It is like making a birth plan when you look for your ideal but sometimes don't end up with everything on your list.  I use a write on board or they can use the back of their name placard. 

We explored things like Kahoot! for a fun, interactive way to expel myths.  Check it out (https://kahoot.com/), you can get a free version.  For this one you can put up things like

1) It is fine to be induced at 39 weeks if I am tired of being pregnant (T or F)

2) For my baby's health, while I am pregnant it is important to avoid all of these except:

  • cigarette smoke
  • uncooked or undercooked meat 
  • eggs
  • high stress

3) Having a supportive partner can increase breastfeeding success (T or F)

Hope this helps! 

Debbie I was in this class in Alabama and you did an amazing job! I have implemented several of your techniques, one of them being Kahoot and it is such a hit!! Planning on implementing it during our virtual classes coming up this week as well. Thanks again so much, your information is game changing 

Debbie Young, MSL, LCCE, ICCE, ICBD, CLC has reacted to this post.
Debbie Young, MSL, LCCE, ICCE, ICBD, CLC

So great to hear from you Nicole.  It is great that so many of the ideas carry over to holding classes virtually.  I appreciate your kind words. 

Cathy Allen, I love your tips and ideas.  Thanks for sharing.  It is timely with us all learning how to do this virtually.