NORWAY — The Family Birthplace at Stephens Memorial Hospital will hold a four-day Preparing for Birth class from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Thursdays, Nov. 8, 15, 29 and Dec. 6, in the Harper Conference Room, Ripley Medical Office Building, 193 Main St.

Hilary Ware, RN, will facilitate the course. The group will explore how to relax and allow themselves to flow with their labor through breathing and relaxation techniques. The coach will learn how to assist the pregnant woman through the process of labor and share in the joy of birth.

Information on making a birth plan, comfort measures, stages of labor and cesarean delivery will be explored. A question-and-answer session will be held.

Preregistration with payment is required. The fee is $35. To register, call 743-1562, ext. 6951, and send payment.

The Family Birthplace will also hold a breastfeeding class for new and experienced mothers. The session will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the Harper Conference Center.

Shannon Nassa RN, ICBLC, will lead the class, which will cover the facts of breastfeeding and help to dispel the myths. The group will learn skills for successful breastfeeding, as some infants are born knowing what to do and some need to be taught. Some mothers may take more naturally to breastfeeding while others require more support. The class will help make people aware of the support services available to breastfeeding mothers.

For more information or to register for the class, call the Family Birthplace at 743-1562, ext. 6951. There is a $10 fee per couple. Preregistration with payment is required. Classes are scheduled monthly.

For more information and future class offerings, visit www.wmhcc.org. Stephens Memorial Hospital is a member of MaineHealth. Visit Western Maine Health on the Internet at www.wmhcc.org.