McMoyler Method – The Best Birth

I came about Sarah’s class through a colleague of mine who raved about this workshop as a first-​time terrified parent such as myself. Originally, I was going to sign up through UCSF but decided against attending multiple 4 hour classes at $ 100 a pop. For two nights, Sarah gave you the lowdown on what to expect during labor, the birth itself and tending to your infant afterwards in an interactive and informative way. When I left the class, I felt better informed and prepared than when I arrived.
I am now writing this review 5 weeks post partum and the information I obtained during Sarah’s workshop helped me through labor and delivery, and also caring for my newborn. The most important thing that I took away from this class during my delivery was the breathing techniques when I was going through 24+ hours of active labor. Also, during my recovery at the hospital, my 2 day old daughter started choking and I instinctively knew to turn her over and started patting her back before I had a chance to press the nurses button, I thank Sarah’s class for having drilled that into my head.
I’ve read many reviews here criticizing the class, but honestly, ever birth experience is different and there’s only so many hours available for Sarah to cover the depth and the breath of what your labor and delivery experience could be. Overall, this class was worthwhile for me and $ 400 is a small expense to pay when it comes to your child.

This class was recommended to me by my OB/​GYN Dr Laurie Green that’s why I followed her recommendation. I was DISAPPOINTED with the time and money I spent on it. I walked out shocked and took more issues out of child birth than I came with.
1. Sarah McMoyler shows her background as a registered nurse and the whole class is all about her personality, acting skills and her awesomeness.
2. The class had way too much PRODUCT PLACEMENT, too many references throughout.
3. Introduction of the class was WAY TOO LONG, not informative at all. Class could have been an hour or two shorter if product placement, lame jokes and sucky intro were removed.
4. The breastfeeding and newborn care portions were too short, I expected more.
5. Information on labour and delivery seemed very hectic, NO STRUCTURE. I didn’t learn much at all. No breathing technics except useless hee/​haw and aaah.
6. Two live videos of labour that she showed in class were very DISTURBING and I don’t see how they are supposed to be helpful.
7. A VERY PRICY class for what you get out of it: $ 400 for you and your partner.
Overall, I left the class filled with DISGUST, I wish I had done something more useful that day and I wish I could claim my money back.
The only USEFUL part was Infant CPR and Choking Relief section of the class and we got to practice on dolls. But you would be better off taking online certification for as much as only $ 40.

Just finished the class.
It was excellently made. Exceeded my expectations. I must point out that I and my wife have read a lot on the subject prior to attending the class, so there wasn’t so much we didn’t know. But the class itself is extremely valuable if you didn’t spend a lot of time reading on your own.
Even if you did spend a lot of time reading though, I still recommend it because you will get some hands on experience with stuff like infant CPR and Heimlich manœuvre which can be a life saver. It’s also good as a way to confirm what is true from everything you’ve read and what is just myths.
Overall I think Sarah McMoyler did an outstanding job and was a great presenter and educator!

I would say this class was just ok. We took it at the recommendation of my OB who I love, but at the end when my husband and I walked out, we said to each other at least we learned something but meh, could have been better. We felt pretty gypped at how much this cost — at $ 400/​couple it is NOT cheap. That was the most painful part for me…
I am of the thought that doctors and nurses know what they are doing and I plan to listen to them throughout my labor as they are the experts. If this is not your philosophy, I think you would take more issue with this class. Sarah is very friendly & has a wealth of knowledge after being a labor/​delivery nurse for quite some time. I appreciated her expertise in this area. However, as an overall class I would really only rate this two stars. I’ve kept it short & sweet with pros/​cons below. Feel free to make your own decision!
PROS:
— We feel better prepared for birth, slightly less terrified.
— CPR & choking section was really good info and I plan to share with anyone taking care of our little guy.
— We enjoyed the brand new baby + family coming in at the end, sharing their experience, and Sarah showing us how to soothe the baby & do a bath.
— Sarah was lively, friendly, and very knowledgeable.
CONS:
— The product placement was god AWFUL. I thought my husband was going to poke his eyes out. Way too much, too many references throughout, felt like an infomercial. I appreciate recommendations, but this was too much. Class could have been at least an hour or two shorter if removed.
— The breastfeeding and newborn care portion was a bit lacking, I expected more. I thought at least my husband would learn how to change a diaper & practice swaddling a bit more.
— This class seems tailored to the Marina folk with lots of $$$ to throw at their babies. Case in point, families with baby nurses were referenced frequently.

Be warned that this class was not really childbirth education. I walked out shocked but sort of went with it anyway because I thought maybe I didn’t know any better. It is basically about how to let the hospital have their way with you and is not a method at all! I really did not get any coping strategies other than breathe and use medication. I know now that It disregards evidence based information including that low intervention is best for mom and baby and that having a doula at the birth is good for both mom and dad and lowers the rate of intervention. My MD recommended it but I can see that was mainly for his benefit. My birth was nothing like I wanted mostly because I was not prepared. I was certainly not well informed on the breastfeeding aspect of things. I feel this class led straight to my c-​section as well as our subsequent nursing problems. I had wanted something that was not going to be crunchy because I knew I would hospital birth but I wish I’d gone another route.

My husband and I live in a town where only one child birth preparation class is offered through the local hospital. Unfortunately with our schedules this class did not work because of the days /​times it was offered which lead to me searching for another alternative for us.
I was so thankful when I found Sarah McMoyler’s class. I first read her book and connected with her approach to labor and delivery. After consulting with my husband we thought Sarah was a great match for us as a couple and decided to enroll in the class.
We just completed the one day live class in San Francisco (we drove from Santa Barbara) and we are so thankful. The class provided us with wonderful information. Everything discussed was relevant and taught with a realistic and non — «shaming» approach. We loved that the main emphasis was all that matters is a healthy mom and healthy baby. Everyone in the class was involved (especially the partners) and asked wonderful and helpful questions. It was great to be surrounded by other couples that were interested in asking the same questions we had.
We can’t thank Sarah and her team enough for such a great and informative day. We feel much more prepared going into the final weeks before our baby is due. I know that we will continue to use the helpful information taught to us for years to come — especially the class book that is going to be our «labor and delivery bible» (literally already packed in our hospital bag).
THANK YOU to the McMoyler & Best Birth Team for everything.
Best,
Kendle & Trey

Amazing and fabulous! My husband and I took this class this weekend and it was well organized, thoughtful and entertaining. Sarah and her team are the real deal! Highly recommend.

My daughter is now 5 years old. At the time of her birth I was living in San Francisco and I gave birth at CPMC. I am greatful for many things I learned or got emphasized at Sarah’s McMoyler Method class, especially the need for a birthing plan. I had a LONG labor and everything Sarah brought up and got the class to be prepared for … happened. 5 years later I am still grateful I was prepared to be my own & my child’s health advocate during those prescious 46-​hr labor in the hospital. Sarah explained it’s great to have a plan and communicate it to the medical staff, but also know that things may happen not according to plan. I would not have been prepared to stand up for myself to the hospital staff and even to my child’s father if it wasn’t for the McMoyler Method. I understand it’s tough to have a class that pleases everyone but leading up to the big day, especially the first-​time Mommies-​to-​be is extremely nervous and humor is much appreciated.
@Sarah, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You may not remember me but I will always remember you. Even your recommendation for me when I had to switch OB in week 30 worked out great. I was so scared! I kinda got busy after the birth (ha ha) so thus my delay in thanking you ;-)

This class was recommended to me by my OB/​Gyn, Dr. Laurie Green. 23 months after attending the McMoyler Method class, I know that it was relevant and played an essential role in providing me with the confidence to go into labor without fear and welcome my daughter into our lives.
The class covered the following topics (and more):
— LABOR
Stages of labor, managing contractions, pain management, writing your birth plan
— NEWBORN CARE
Breastfeeding/​latching, swaddling, bathing, nail care
— INFANT CHOKING & CPR
It covers the basics and you do practice with a doll, however I do recommend you take another more comprehensive class and actually get certified or take a refresher course when your little one starts sticking things in their mouth.
In many ways, you will see that Sarah McMoyler shows her background as a registered nurse and addresses these things from the perspective of someone who has had first hand experience in the birthing room. She doesn’t believe in the necessity of the Angelcare baby monitors, which are designed to warn you if your baby stops breathing but sometimes gives you false alarms if your baby moves off the sensor. We actually did buy one after our daughter was born and loved the peace of mind it gave us. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
While this class covered the basics that every new parent (or those who haven’t had a baby in a while) needs to know, your first lesson as a parent will be to discover that not every labor or child fits a mold. We still had a difficult time getting a good breastfeeding latch, our swaddles frequently fell apart, and I watched choking & CPR videos before nearly every meal when my daughter started eating solid foods and we had to go the baby-​led weaning route because she just didn’t want purees at all. There is just no one size fits all to parenting because many pregnancies are unique and most babies are different. But THIS class gives you basic knowledge and something even more valuable — a little more confidence.
Still, unless you plan to read a few pregnancy, labor, and newborn care books (I strongly recommend What to Expect When You’re Expecting) AND get CPR certified, I would recommend this class to any new parent. It was worth the $ 400 I paid for my husband and I to attend the one day format.
(SPOILER: There will be prizes for participation of significant others and partners!)

Just completed our 2 night baby course with Sarah & couldn’t speak more highly of the experience! My husband & I feel like she did a really great job forcing us to deal with some things we weren’t yet ready to cope with… but in a memorable & engaging manner. I felt there was more detailed emphasis on night 1’s «Birth Preparation,» than on night 2’s «Newborn Childcare.» Meaning, not an «in-​depth» overview of breastfeeding & diaper changing… but I’m assuming that’s b/​c once you go down that rabbit-​hole, you’ve pretty much used up the entire 3 hours of class. She did redirect us to her stellar manual to get more in-​depth details on the particulars though.
Good amount of time on CPR, which is perfect! That’s not something you want to just run to a manual for, so she really put thought into what should be covered in-​depth vs what can the manual suffice to elaborate on.
As first-​timers, this is really overwhelming stuff & while I can’t say I feel 100% confident in my soon-​to-​be parenting abilities (who can!?)… I totally feel I have all the tools, resources & support info to get us on our way… plus Sarah’s only an email away. Her classes are more like an ‘event’ versus a boring curriculum. She’s animated & SO passionate that you don’t even need to question her methodologies… I trust her & all her years of experience. So should you!
Thanks Sarah :)
~ Jon & Josie Decker

Very informative for the first-​time parent (which is what I think this was intended for), this isn’t our first rodeo so some of the info wasn’t new to us but the CPR portion was great and her inclusion of the partners was great. She was very sweet and very passionate, and did a good job getting everyone to participate. I haven’t given birth in 4 years so I just wanted to get my head back in the game and get us on the same page, this was a nice little refresher course and it was great to set a little time aside for the baby. I would definitely recommend, especially for first-​timers!

Very informative, very efficient class on the birthing process, as well as tips/​tricks for health and safety of newborns.
We learned a ton and feel much more prepared and confident for this experience together. The accompanying book we received in class will stay close by throughout the first year as it has twice the info and specifics as the class itself.
Partners are heavily featured and included in class, which was nice to reinforce that this is not just mother’s work!

While I didn’t love the class experience, when my husband and I walked out at the end of the day we looked at each other and said «I feel prepared now.» Bottom line — we got more than we expected from the class, and subsequently cancelled RSVPs at two additional classes at CPMC (newborn care and breastfeeding).
Cons: Presentation was a bit theatrical for my taste, and I would have preferred more interaction between class participants (at least an introduction round). I was probably the grumpiest and most reserved person in the room, but that said I’m totally baffled by the 1– and 2-​star reviews.
Pros: Comprehensive walk-​through of labor process, medical terminology, pain management options (with zero judgement or preference, which seems rare in SF), CPR, newborn care, breastfeeding and more. While it would be impossible for a class to cover every topic in depth, it touches on the most important topics, and the class textbook provides all the detail you could want. It has become my go-​to reference for just about any question I have as my due date approaches.
There’s a reason SF OBs recommend this class. If a friend was expecting, I would definitely recommend McMoyler Method.

My husband and I took the class recently and we’re very disappointed. I’m afraid we didn’t like the forum mainly because Sarah McMoyler is really over the top in her antics. Super in your face and touchy feely-‘running her fingers through the men’s hair and saying things like «I’m only teasing you because I really like you.» She doesn’t even know the person. She calls it the McMoyler Method but there is no methodology. She’s created a little media empire for herself in the birthing world so more power to her I guess but besides the 15 – 30 minutes infant CPR part the rest was completely useless. The cost is outrageous for what it is 400 per couple. She is a big know it all who knows little more than most women who have a baby. I also hate it when people say to you «your life is over now that you are having a baby which she did. I really thought my husband was going to scratch his eyes out.
Just take a CPR class and read a book. Cheaper and better way to spend your time.

My husband and I took this class over the weekend, and did not have such a great experience. I know there are a lot of great reviews of the class on Unilocal,and think that others who were in the class with us seemed to be enjoying it, so respect the fact that the class may really work for some. For us it did not.
To begin with, the amount of product placement/​advertising is just overwhelming and awful. Each person is presented with a «gift bag» on their table, but it’s just a bunch of advertisements for everything ranging from photography to baby gear. Sara (the instructor) also shamelessly promotes products throughout the class, and does a hard sell for cord blood banking (for a specific company that has their material presented there of course).
Much of the way that the information in the class is presented is quite gimicky, and is based on narrow gender-​based stereotypes (ie guys would rather be golfing than thinking about anything baby related, etc.), which I found to be pretty offensive. Sara relies on this type of humor throughout the class, getting male volunteers to do what she sees as embarrassing role plays to get some laughs. It was unclear how these role plays were informative regarding preparing for birth or the care of a newborn. The class is also totally heterosexually biased, and seemed alienating to same sex couples.
Some of the basic information presented could be useful, particularly if you have not read any books or spoken to any friends or families about their birth experiences. But if you have some basic knowledge about the birth process, I did not think that there was much to learn from the class. Even though it is called the McMoyler Method, there is no special/​unique «method» she teaches (ie she seems to consider breathing through a contraction part of her «method», but I do not think she invented that technique!).
Lastly, the class is completely overpriced for what is offered. It’s clearly a great business venture for Sara, considering the 60+ people attending our Saturday class alone, and all of the deals she has with the businesses she promotes through the class. The class definitely targets the marina/​pacific heights type, so if you think you might be more comfortable in a different type of environment, I’d highly recommend looking elsewhere for an experience that is less commercial, and more about preparing for the big event at hand in an informative and meaningful way!

My husband and I attended Sarah’s 2-​night evening series this past week and are so happy we did! Sarah is the best! She’s so energetic and engaging — the time flew by. I know my husband was not thrilled at taking 2 evenings to go to a class after a long day of work, but he liked it so much so that he went up to her afterwards and the first words out of his mouth were, «Sarah, you’re the best!» He’s right. We loved the classes for so many reasons:
1. class atmosphere is so comfy! they provide chair pillows for the mamas and chairs to rest your feet on, as well your own water pitcher and some healthy food bars. Everything is clean and ready to go when you show up — very organized.
2. we learned a ton — everything from the different stages of labor to how to bathe a baby! Highlights for us were infant CPR and learning about why labor can be slow and tips to speed things up!
3. the time flies — it’s over before you know it — you will wish it hadn’t ended!
4. she provides you with a super helpful booklet of everything you learn in class plus a ton more so you have a reference guide. we will for sure be bringing this with us to the hospital! Plus you can show family members and clue them in too.
5. she involves the partners so my husband felt engaged, not just on the side lines. He had a ball and even volunteered during one of the exercises. I’m not sure what the other husbands below are complaining about in their reviews — they seem like a bunch of cry babies with sensitive egos to me! My husband had fun participating and he most definitely volunteered — he was not called on out of nowhere. We never saw her do that.
I would recommend this class to all mothers and their partners who want to learn more about the birthing process and childcare in a comfortable, fun, engaging environment taught by a complete professional who has clearly been doing this her whole life! We both feel ready and armed for what’s to come thanks to Sarah!

Just got done with Sarah’s classes and I thought they were fantastic.
She covers a mountain of material, keeps the class moving, is consistently engaging and interesting as well as being warm and funny. I thought Sarah was frank about what was medical fact vs. myth and clear when sharing about her opinions and recommendations. Sarah is experienced and credible, happy to take questions and talk individually on breaks or after class.
The critical reviews here seem to be from people who were really focused on alternative/​natural childbirth methods, had issues with her style or felt they were being pitched. Since Sarah covers a ton of material, someone who is focused on learning a particular style of childbirth should probably take a class focused on that method. Sarah’s class offers so much information it’s not practical to spend a ton of time on info that may only apply to a small percentage of people. I found Sarah’s style engaging and entertaining – I thought I would be a bit bored in a childbirthing class but I was pleasantly surprised that I found it interesting. I never felt pitched to and didn’t mind the bag of info from businesses since it’s helpful to know what resources are available. You can chuck it all if you’re really up on the baby/​parents marketplace.
Overall I enthusiastically recommend McMoyler classes.

I highly recommend this class for any mama’s and papa’s to be out there! Sarah is so energetic and honest and my absolute favorite thing about her, is how she involves the partners/​daddys! She really focuses on what their role is going to be in the childbirth process and how they can help in caring for a newborn. After walking out of 101 last week, my husband turned to me and said «We so got this babe! I am ready for baby girl to come!» Hearing those words made me feel so happy and comfortable and assured that hubs was very prepared about what to expect.
We are currently in the middle of 102 this week and already so pleased with what we have learned so far. We are super excited to meet the «star couple and newborn baby» that will be coming to class tonight!
If you live in San Francisco or the East Bay (like we do), don’t even bother researching other prenatal childbirth and newborn care classes. Just book this one and you will be completely satisfied.
The class setting is conference style with long tables and chairs. They provide pillows for the preggo mama’s and a chair on the other side of the table for you to put your feet up if you want.
If you take the evening classes like we did, be sure to eat beforehand or pick up some food from somewhere or else you will be hungry. An hour and half into the class, Sarah gives a cookie and milk break which is nice too.

I want to first start by saying KUDOS to Sarah McMoyler and her wonderful, well-​prepared lectures on the child birthing process, all the way up to the first few weeks with your new baby! I think it’s important to start by acknowledging her ability to deliver such a thorough compilation of materials in such a short amount of time. Although there are alternatives to Sarah’s classes, I have yet to hear about one with such a hands-​on, interactive format.
My wife and I attended both the 101 and 102 weeknight sessions lasting over a two-​week span. In terms of the course structure, we’ve had friends that have taken the weekend session as well and can attest that having options (weekend vs. weekday) is perfect. My wife and I have found out how important our weekends are now (she’s 6 weeks shy or her due date), so having weekday sessions was huge.
In terms of the environment, the class takes place in a large quasi-​lecture hall in a California Pacific building. We found this to work just fine for the group of 30−40+ people, especially since Sarah does a great job on walking the aisles to ensure that everyone sees and hears her. Also, she provides pillows, refreshments, and of course, who can forget — cookies! All in all, not to say that this little bit of information really matters, it at least makes for a more «comfy» class setting.
The content, what most of you care about, was spot on. What do I mean by «spot on»? Well, for one, you will receive course booklets covering everything you will EVER need to know pre and post-​labor. Yeah, plenty of books out there have more or less the same information, packaged more or less in a similar fashion. However, it is important to note that Sarah does a fantastic job going through the most important material in such a way that slowly but surely answers your questions before you even realize you wanted to ask them. As a new father, I can attest that I had plenty of pending questions that were ultimately addressed by Sarah throughout the course. So yeah, buy all the books you want regarding child birth, and the first few weeks, but I can promise you that you will have Sarah’s course lecture books by your side at the hospital come delivery time.
The last thing I want to comment on is regarding the last piece of course 102. Let me just tell you that having the ability to see a «real» family come in with their newborn (in our case the newborn was 20 days old) and swaddle, change, bathe, and even sooth the baby, was more than invaluable. I liken it to the whole indoctrination vs. hands-​on learning environment. Nothing compares to seeing it in action, right in front of your face.
The take away is this: in a world with more information than you or I even know what to do with, it’s very easy to convince yourself to save the money and self educate. I for one am totally of that mindset. What I realized with this class was that it’s impossible to know what to care about come «go-​time». That is, Sarah does a solid job of educating you on the most important takeaways when you’re in the moment. Yeah, you probably will only retain and adopt only 10% of the information much like you did in college, but remember, you have the course booklets, a network of parents, and even Sarah McMoyler to answer your questions well after the class is over.
Good luck to all of those new parents out there!

Okay this class is a must do for any new parent. When we were looking for birthing and parenting classes, we figured we’d save some money and just take classes through CPMC. Every parent we talked to who went through the MCMoyler Method said it was a lifesaver. We changed our mind and decided to give the classes a try.
FIrst off DO take both classes! I recommend starting with the parenting classes. I’m so glad we did this. Her methods seemed a little hokey and I wasn’t sure if I was buying into it all, but when she brought in the star family it all changed my mind. She demonstrated a baby bath and when the baby started screaming she put her methods to use to soothe the lil guy. I was soooooo impressed how it all actually worked!!! This stuff was no BULL and at that moment we completely bought in to her ways.
Had we not taken her classes. I cringe to think of how unprepared I would’ve been when our baby was born. I was naiive thinking that since I wasn’t an Olympian I’d get an epidural and be fine. Ya well that’s completely unrealistic. She gives you the reality of what to expect on game day and doesn’t shame people for not wanting to breastfeed, the desire of natural child birth and empowers mothers and their partners with the tools to help progress through the INTENSE phases of the birthing process.
My heart goes out to the women who’s men posted that Sara likes to publicly humiliate men. That’s such BS! FIrst off how the hell do you expect a women who’s 9 months pg demonstrate aspects of parenting and the process of delivery. She keeps things funny, engaging the audience and most importantly does not sugar coat.