Silver Creek Birth Class
In-person, inclusive, evidence-based and holistic childbirth education offered in the heart of Silverton, Oregon!
Thanks to generous sponsorship from the Willamette Health Council and Compass Perinatal Family & Community Support, we are pleased to open our Silver Creek Birth class and our Spinning Babies Class® at no cost to our local community beginning this spring — from April 2025 to April 2026!
Upcoming Class Dates:
April 19, 2025
May 31, 2025
June 21, 2025
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
That’s right! Through generous funding from the Willamette Health Council, our Silver Creek Birth Class will be open to our local community beginning this spring at NO COST! From April 2025 to April 2026 we will offer our birth class every month, alternating locations between Silverton and Salem (Salem location comingthis summer!).
This community childbirth class is modeled after our one-day Silver Creek Birth Class, which helps prepare individuals and families for an empowering childbirth experience. We are proud to facilitate this in-person, inclusive, and evidence-based birth class that focuses on building coping skills, self-advocacy skills, knowledge of common medical interventions, and an understanding of birth physiology.
Ready for more? This birth class pairs well with our Spinning Babies® Birth Preparation Class, a four-hour class for birthing parents and their partners to gain deeper understanding of birth physiology. Our Spinning Babies class focuses on movement and positioning that you can begin practicing in pregnancy to create more comfort and ease for both you and baby! While these techniques are absolutely helpful during labor, the magic is in preparing your body during pregnancy — the earlier you start Spinning Babies®, the better! We’re also pleased to offer this course at no cost to our local community* this year!
*Free Class/Pricing Info:
We believe in accessible childbirth education for all. That's why we're partnering with Willamette Health Council to offer free classes to families in our community this year! We have space for five to eight pregnant folks (plus your support person) in each of our classes. The majority of these spaces this year are reserved for individuals who reside in the Marion-Polk region and cannot afford our regular registration fee ($207) - this class is FREE to you and you are our priority!
If space allows we are also welcoming donations from those who are interested in attending but may live outside of the Marion-Polk Region and/or are able to pay a class fee. We will gladly accept your paid registration with a donation to our non-profit, Compass Perinatal Family & Community Support. Your donation will help support future childbirth educational offerings in our community!
Scroll down for more information about our Silver Creek Birth Class!
In the gorgeous Emerald Events space, overlooking the beautiful Silver Creek that runs through Silverton, we will spend a power-packed, interactive day learning about the pregnant body, what to expect during labor, how to build a coping mindset, and how to build advocacy skills to achieve your own unique birth goals.
We take a holistic, trauma-informed approach to present childbirth as a natural human experience, so that you understand exactly what your body is capable of doing.
In doing that, we also dive deeply into some of the common interventions you might be asked to make decisions about. We explain and demonstrate various drug and non-drug pain and coping techniques, while exploring your options and alternatives through a benefits and risks perspective, so that you feel confident making evidence-informed decisions. With a massive emphasis on partner support, your rights in the heath care system, and building self-advocacy skills, you will leave fully prepared to face whatever lies ahead.
Great for first time parents, families seeking a solid refresher, or for those who desire a completely different experience from one you had before.
Our class will begin at 9:00am and last until 4:00pm, with an hour-long lunch break in the middle, giving you the perfect opportunity to soak up the energy of downtown Silverton while you go to lunch on your own with your support people. Or bring your own packed lunch and eat it on our beautiful balcony, while you listen to creek flow by. You could even make a lovely “babymoon” out of the weekend! You can visit the Smith Creek Village website or the Oregon Garden Resort to check out some popular, local accommodations.
Mats, birth balls, beverages, snacks, Silver Creek Birth workbook, and all other learning materials provided. All you need to do is bring yourself, your water bottle, a support person if you have one, a cozy pillow, and a desire to learn more about what your amazing body is about to do.
A note on inclusivity: Our goal as childbirth educators is to facilitate a learning space that is safe, supportive, and informative for all people preparing to give birth, including single parents, surrogates, and families of all kinds. We designed this class specifically with LGBTQIA+ individuals in mind, and all workshop participants must agree to maintain a respectful and affirming environment for one another.
Upcoming Class Dates:
April 19, 2025
May 31, 2025
June 21, 2025
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Bethany and Becky are both experienced THW doulas, certified childbirth educators, and Spinning Babies® Certified Parent Educators, who have a passion for supporting folks with evidence-based information and client-centered care, so that their voices are heard and amplified in the birth space.
Meet yourInstructors
Bethany Griffin-Shetler
Co-Owner of Silver Falls Family Support
CBD, CPD, LC, DipCBEd (CBI), CLC, SpBCPE
Becky Gilliam
Owner of Empowered Birth Care
CD (DONA), ICCE (ICEA), SpBCPE
Our other team members
Samantha Wilson
Co-Owner of Silver Falls Family Support
Birth & Postpartum Doula (CBI), Full Spectrum Doula (Cornerstone), Lactation Counselor
anatomy and physiology
building a coping mindset
how labor starts
stages of labor
pushing
relaxation, visualization, breathing
massage, counter pressure, comfort techniques
pain medications
epidurals
common interventions
cesarean birth
communication skills and self-advocacy
the Golden Hour
postpartum recovery and healing
embracing the pregnancy and birth journey
building community with other like-minded participants
and more!
What we’ll cover
We aim to create services and offerings that are financially accessible. Please read about our economic justice pricing and reach out if you need to talk to us about payment options.
A note from us to you about partner support
You might have an awesome, loving partner who is fully invested in all things child rearing as equally as you are. Or you might be parenting on your own, navigating this pregnancy on your own, hoping to calm your own fears and embrace your own power as the strong birthing person that you are!
We stand with all parents and all families.
Bring your partner(s), bring your mom and dad, your grandma, a friend, a neighbor, or just yourself.
Be your own best support person. Or let us be your support person.
You belong here.
Still not sure if taking a childbirth class is right for you?
Is there even any evidence that shows that taking a childbirth preparation class actually matters?
Actually, yes! Check out our post about this here.
And if you’re still not convinced, read our article, “Do I really need to take a childbirth class?”
EDUCATION IS POWER!