NORWAY — The Family Birthplace at Stephens Memorial Hospital will hold a “Preparing for Birth” class from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 and 19, in the Harper Conference Room, Ripley Medical Building. Gail Martel, RN, will facilitate the course.

Expectant parents will learn about the labor and delivery experience. They will explore how to relax and allow themselves to flow with labor through breathing and relaxation techniques.

Coaches will learn how they can assist the pregnant woman through the process of labor and share in the joy of the baby’s birth. Information on making a birth plan, comfort measures, stages of labor and cesarean delivery will be explored. A question-and-answer session will follow.

Preregistration with payment or Mainecare information is required. The fee for is $50 if delivering at SMH or $60 if delivering elsewhere and is covered by insurance and Mainecare.

To register, call 743-5933, ext. 380, or online and send in payment. For more information, visit www.wmhcc.org, click on women, then on preparing for birth.

Stephens Memorial Hospital is a member of MaineHealth. Visit Western Maine Health on the Internet at www.wmhcc.org.