Hi,
I prefer not to consider my weekend classes a crash course  as they are a lot more comprehensive then some of the other formats out there. Basically we do 9:00-4:00 both days with a one hour on-site lunch that we provide (and then we push them out the door for a 10-15 minute walk).
On the first day we cover pregnancy topics and the process of labour and birth (there is a lot in these two things but for brevity that is how I am explaining it here). The second day we do interventions, birth planning, birth planning for the unexpected, postpartum and breastfeeding. It is a lot to cover but it is the same 12 hours that we do over our 5 week, 2.5 hr series. I like to relate everything back to pregnancy and birth if I can and what I like about the weekend format is it is like being in labour for the weekend - we move through things one step at a time always building on what has happened earlier. It allows for easy integration. The downside is that it can be overwhelming for particpants so we try not to lecture tons and instead we like them to take information and do reflective exercises that personalize the information for them. We give them a resource book to take away that has additonal information and places to go to seek more information on different topics.
Our classes get rave reviews  and the feedback is that participants walk away feeling more confident and that their expectations for the class were exceded. I think having a format that is entrenched in adult education principles and is extremely respectful of the learners is the key.
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Shawna Lewkowitz, M.Ed., CD (DONA), CPD(CAPPA), LCCE
and
very proud mama to 2 amazing little girls
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