The short version. Delivering at St. Charles? Take its two-evening class for $160 and the free weekend tour. Want a smaller room and more time on comfort and newborn care? Look at Central Oregon Birth's weekend class. Finish by about 34 weeks so an early baby does not beat the class.
Hospital class or independent class?
| Hospital class | Independent class | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Knowing exactly how your delivery hospital works | More time on comfort, positions and partner skills |
| Format | Two evenings | Two weekend mornings, or private |
| Newborn care | Some | A full morning of it at Central Oregon Birth |
| Group size | Up to about 18 | Smaller |
Plenty of couples do a class and the tour. Very few need two full classes, so compare what each one covers before paying twice.
What a good class covers
- Signs of labor and when to call or come in
- The stages of labor and what each feels like
- Comfort measures and positions you get to try, not only hear about
- Pain relief options, including an epidural
- Induction and cesarean birth, so neither is a surprise
- What a partner does, hour by hour
- The first hours with your baby
- Recovery in the first days
If a class description is mostly logistics and little hands-on practice, keep looking.
Good to know about St. Charles Bend
- The Family Birthing Center is at 2500 NE Neff Road. The direct line is 541-706-4984.
- It houses the only neonatal intensive care unit in the region, which is why families from across Central Oregon deliver there.
- Suites are private, with tubs for labor and a sleeper bed for your support person.
- The care team includes obstetric hospitalists, certified nurse midwives, pediatricians and family physicians.
- A free Perinatal Nurse Navigation Program gives you a registered nurse to call with pregnancy and postpartum questions: 541-397-8909.
Questions to bring to the tour
- Where do we park, and which entrance do we use at 2 a.m.?
- What happens at check-in when labor starts?
- Who can be in the room, and can my support person stay overnight?
- What should we bring, and what does the hospital provide?
- Who does the first newborn exam, and how is the first pediatrician visit set up?
- What happens if our baby needs the NICU?
How it fits with everything else
A childbirth class is one of a handful of things worth doing before your due date. See the prenatal class plan for the order and total cost, and consider whether you want a doula in the room as well.
Common questions
How much do childbirth classes cost in Bend?
St. Charles lists its Childbirth Education class at $160 and its Breastfeeding Education class at $50. The hospital tour is free. Independent group classes and private in-home classes cost more, with a private in-home class listed at $400.
Is the hospital tour the same as a childbirth class?
No. The tour shows you the building and the process on the day. A class teaches labor, comfort measures, your options and what your partner can do.
Does my partner need to register separately?
Usually not. Central Oregon Birth says partners are encouraged and do not register separately. For St. Charles, check the event listing when you book.
When should we take a childbirth class?
Late second or early third trimester. Aim to finish by about 34 weeks so you have a buffer. Book earlier than that, since classes have limited seats.
We are delivering in Redmond or Madras. What changes?
St. Charles runs the same childbirth class at its Redmond campus. St. Charles Madras has its own Family Birthing Center at 470 NE A St, reachable at 541-475-3882. Ask your delivery location about its own tour and arrival instructions.
Is there a birth center in Bend that is not a hospital?
Yes. Bend Birth Center on Parrell Road is a freestanding birth center for low-risk pregnancies. If you are planning a birth center or home birth, ask your midwife which class she recommends.
Where these facts come from
Last checked October 8, 2026. Classes fill, schedules shift and prices change, so confirm with the provider before you go. This is local information, not medical advice.