Joyful Birth Classes In Springfield MO

Equipping
Parents
To Give Birth With Confidence!

Meet Shelly Burks

Certified Birth Educator - ICCE, SpBCPE, CD(DONA)

Shelly experienced a wide variety of birth experiences with her own children, from Military Hospital scheduled cesarean sections to unmedicated birth center VBACS.

As she transitioned into a household of older children, she chose to pursue childbirth doula certification through DONA out of a passion to support the mothers around her in their birth experiences.

After several years of attending both home and hospital births as a DONA certified doula, she began to pursue her child birth education certification (ICEA).

She was able to transition into being the dedicated childbirth educator for Springfield Missouri’s first freestanding birth center, and now teaches independently.

Her passion for helping mothers achieve the most productive and gentle labors led her to Spinning Babies, and she became certified as a Spinning Babies Coach in 2019.

She offers both private classes and group classes, and will do additional Spinning Babies training with those who are interested. She is recommended and loved by our local midwives and hospitals.

If you are seeking a mentor and an advocate in your birth journey, Shelly can come alongside you to educate and support you through her extensive knowledge and expertise.

Childbirth Educator in Springfield,Mo

Welcoming a new baby into your family is an exciting time. Learning what to expect during the childbirth process is an important step in becoming a parent. Whether your first child, or your fourteenth, there is a certain reassurance that comes from Childbirth Education classes.

New parents learn more about how the human body works during labor, what signs to watch for, and how the support person can provide comfort measures to their loved one during the labor and delivery process.

Childbirth classes are a perfect way for new moms to meet others on the same journey and to gain answers to the fears and questions they have. Knowing what to expect and having tools to help them navigate the unexpected, empowers women to feel confident as they get closer to delivering their newborn.

Ways I Can Help

4 Weeknight Sessions

12-hour series, taught over
4 weeknight sessions
$200

6 Hours In Private Home

Private series, consolidated
into 6 hours, done in home.
$350

Childbirth Classes

The mothers who attend Shelly’s classes appreciate her additional courses geared towards providing tools for parents as they prepare for birth, whether at home, hospital, or birth center. These classes cover techniques to encourage the best possible outcome — but also provides resources to help you be prepared should the birth not go according to plan.

It is recommended to attend your childbirth class in the third trimester of pregnancy. Statistics have shown us that parents who educate themselves on their approaching birth experience have less anxiety, more autonomy, and report much higher satisfaction with their birth experience

Shelly creates a comfortable class experience. You and your support person cover vital topics like the process of labor and birth, comfort measures and pain relief for a natural birth, how to listen to your body and incorporate position changes to encourage the labor process.

This class is offered either in a series or in a single 6-hour session.

Course Syllabus Includes:

Comprehensive Childbirth Education, including a special module, the Spinning Babies parent class.

Pregnancy

Labor

How labor works…what is actually happening?
Signs of labor..how to know?
Stages of birth, stages of labor, what to expect
What’s in your uterus?
Pain management
Labor comfort tools…positions and options
Strategies for the PUSHING stage
About Placentas

Empowering Mothers

Warning signs and complications….when to get help!
Tools for making informed decisions, and understanding your rights, especially if things aren’t what you expected
Learning common potential interventions and their appropriate use
Spinning Babies tools for taking action to help labor progress when needed
Postpartum care and community resources
Belly mapping….what can you learn about your baby with your own hands?

Join The Hundreds Of
Springfield Families I've Helped

“Since the class, my birth plan looks very different than from what it was with our previous babies.”

I was pregnant with my 4th baby, when I took the birthing class, second to having one without an epidural, and first non-hospital birth. My husband and I found the class extremely informative, even for us who had been through birth before. We found that there was a big difference between just going through labor, and actually understanding what all is going on with your body, as well as your baby’s. We learned a lot, and since the class, my birth plan looks very different than from what it was with our previous babies. Also, about Mrs. Shelly, I just want to say that she is a very loving, motherly type, that truly cares, and takes time to answer all your questions. She never made us feel like any questions we had were silly, and she encourages you to do what feels right for you. She is also an experienced mother herself, having gone through giving birth 14 times! That in itself should make any person want to hear her wisdom. I enjoyed the classes we took very much, enjoyed getting to meet others in the same phase of life, and walked away feeling much more prepared for bringing our baby into the world!

Auburn Rogers

“ I learned so many hands on things for my own labor from Shelly's classes"

My husband and I attended Shelly's birthing classes back in 2020 when we were expecting our first baby. Shelly was great! She was outgoing and interactive with the class, she made sure to get to know everyone's name and had fun little games to break the ice. Even though my family had always birthed with midwives, and I was very comfortable with out-of-hospital births, I learned so many hands on things for my own labor from Shelly's classes. My husband was new to out-of-hospital births, and Shelly's information and training helped give him confidence to be the support partner I needed during labor.

Markie Underwood

“Shelly’s class gave my husband and I confidence”

Shelly’s class gave my husband and I confidence in our pursuit of an unmedicated labor with our first child. What we learned dispelled any fearful thoughts we had. I was never afraid during labor because I knew I was feeling exactly what I was supposed to. Even in a 38 hour labor, I was able to remain calm and confident, and I know that if something has gone “wrong” I would have made informed choices as Shelly had taught us to.

Theresa Gibfried

“When I told a friend that my Birthing instructor had 14 children, he simply said that she was unique. Indeed she is. Rather than being anxious, I felt complete confidence having a teacher who owned such a wealth of experience, experience leavened with training that she was taking her time to impart first-hand to us. Shelly demonstrated genuine care even before she met us, sending introductory emails on day 0 to welcome us to class. Then, on day 1 of class, I saw a glow that I still can't put my finger on. Her warm smile and gentle tone were all so soothing that my husband and I were simply free to take in all that Shelly was teaching us. We looked forward to every class. Even with my medical background, I learned things I never knew about the birthing process from Shelly. I read and re-read my notes from class- and I can say that I was very well prepared. So many amazing tidbits were received. Once our baby was born, Shelly was able to meet her. What a natural and a professional she is- she understood our infant's personality with a single embrace. God bless her generous and kind heart for helping so many women during what can be a very scary time. We were so very happy and continue be very grateful for her! Besides being a great in-person communicator, she is also amazingly efficient with emails, responding promptly to all my many questions in a timely manner. Look no further for all that you need in a superbly special instructor!”

"I took your birth class with my husband before the birth of my first son in April 2020. We were happy and comfortable with how you organized your presentation and information, and the time spent felt valuable at the end of the class. You also created credibility for me with your confidence and personal experiences. I would highly recommend your classes to expecting parents or any parent looking for extra knowledge and support going into a birth."

"I have nothing but amazing things to say about Shelly’s birthing class. My husband was dreading going but ended up loving it, too. Shelly is an incredible communicator and kept both of our interest the entire time. I was most nervous about the actual labor part but felt so equipped after learning all of the tools from Shelly. Whether it’s your 1st baby or 10th baby, I’d recommend her class to every mama!"