LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — With childbirth classes being cancelled because of social distancing guidelines, one Lexington doula and childbirth educator has gotten more demand for her online childbirth classes.
Chante Perryman of Baby Dreams Maternity Concierge is keeping busy, even if she's not moving much from her desk. Since she shifted her childbirth classes to fully online, she's been getting more clients.
"Even across the state and even across the country, like I'm getting phone calls from people in Colorado and Virginia,” she said. “These people are still like, 'I still need to take a class. I still need to get the information and education.'"
Perryman has even added a class to keep up with demand. While she does lose the hands-on support, she says moving the learning to online doesn't change much.
"I'm still able to show, for example, I still have my supplies and PowerPoint, so they're still getting the same information,” she said.
One change though is she puts more of an emphasis on aspects of childbirth that could be heavily affected by the pandemic, like postpartum stress.
"I can only imagine how these numbers are going to soar, because you have women at home, say dad has to go back to work, so now she's really at home by herself with this brand-new baby,” said Perryman. “Yes, she can call someone, but it's completely different to have someone come over and relieve you from baby. So that you can have a moment to yourself."
Perryman encourages new mothers to be open about feelings and reach out to people when they need it.
"Their mental health is just as important as their physical health in recuperating after having a baby,” she said.
