07/21/2025
FREE CHILDBIRTH CLASSES | North Country Healthcare and AVH Partnership Offers Summer and Fall Sessions | Published July 20, 2025 3:13 PM EDT | By Staff Writer, Littleton Reporter
LITTLETON, New Hampshire—As rural regions across America contend with declining access to maternity care, Androscoggin Valley Hospital (AVH) in Berlin is stepping forward with a renewed commitment to maternal health. Through its Valley Birthplace program, AVH will offer free childbirth preparation classes through the end of 2025, helping North Country families prepare for one of life’s most critical transitions.
These classes—open to all pregnant individuals and their birth partners—are designed to bridge the growing healthcare gap in northern communities, where distance, staffing shortages, and cost often prevent timely and comprehensive prenatal education.
The initiative is part of North Country Healthcare’s regional strategy to improve birth outcomes, increase access to care, and reduce preventable complications—especially in medically underserved areas like Coös and Grafton counties.
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WHAT TO EXPECT
Each childbirth class runs from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at AVH’s Mt. Adams Conference Room, with the following 2025 sessions scheduled:
August 19
September 23
October 21
November 18
December 16
Course topics include:
• Stages of labor and delivery.
• Pain management techniques (medical and natural).
• Comfort measures and relaxation.
• Partner and support roles.
• Communication with care teams and building birth plans.
• Immediate postpartum care, healing, and bonding.
• Q&A, video demonstrations, and group discussions.
While in-person attendance is encouraged, virtual participation can be arranged—a vital option in a region where many families must travel 30 to 90 miles to reach hospital services.
To register, participants can email courtney.girard@northcountryhealth.org or call 603.326.5682 for phone registration.
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WHY IT MATTERS: THE RURAL MATERNAL CARE CRISIS
The return of these free sessions coincides with urgent national and statewide concerns about maternal health in rural America:
• More than half of U.S. rural counties had no hospital-based obstetric services as of 2022, according to the March of Dimes.
• New Hampshire ranks among states with growing “maternity care deserts,” particularly north of the Lakes Region, where fewer than five full-service birth centers serve thousands of square miles.
• Research published in Health Affairs found that rural residents face higher rates of pregnancy-related mortality, primarily due to delays in care, underdiagnosed conditions, and lower prenatal visit rates.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that nearly 60% of maternal deaths are preventable—especially when families receive early education, consistent monitoring, and clear guidance before delivery.
In the North Country, transportation barriers, workforce shortages, and weather add to the risk. Expecting families often forgo prenatal classes due to cost, distance, or lack of information—missing critical education on birth planning, safe delivery, and postpartum recovery.
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BUILDING TRUST, SAVING LIVES
Programs like AVH’s childbirth classes address more than education—they help rebuild trust in rural healthcare. The Valley Birthplace at AVH is recognized for its commitment to individualized care, safe delivery protocols, and cultural sensitivity. By offering these classes at no cost, AVH helps reduce income-based disparities that can affect birth outcomes.
A 2023 study in the Maternal and Child Health Journal concluded that birth preparation classes significantly reduce rates of cesarean section, emergency interventions, and postpartum depression—especially among first-time and low-income mothers.
Knowledge truly is power. By helping families understand what to expect and how to advocate for themselves the classes provide tools to improve not just the birth experience—but the lifelong health of parent and child.
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FINAL THOUGHT
Whether you are navigating your first pregnancy or growing your family, these classes offer a valuable space for learning, connection, and confidence-building. For residents of rural New Hampshire, where healthcare infrastructure is stretched thin, AVH’s childbirth series is more than a service—it’s a lifeline.
In a time of shifting healthcare priorities and policy debates, this effort serves as a reminder that support doesn’t start at the hospital doors—it begins months before, with education, care, and community.
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HOW TO REGISTER FOR FREE CHILDBIRTH CLASSES
Classes are free and open to all pregnant individuals and their birth partners. In-person attendance is held at the Mt. Adams Conference Room at Androscoggin Valley Hospital (AVH), with virtual options available if needed.
To register, email: courtney.girard@northcountryhealth.org
Or call: 603.326.5682
Please include your name, expected due date, and preferred session(s) when registering. Advance registration is encouraged, as class sizes are limited.
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© 2025 Littleton Reporter. Sharing is welcome—reposting in full is not. For permission to republish or quote, please message us directly.
Image: © 2025 Littleton Reporter.
Sources: North Country Health, March of Dimes "Maternity Care Desert Report" (2023), CDC "Maternal Mortality and Preventability Report" (2022), Health Affairs "Challenges in Rural Obstetric Care" (2022), Maternal and Child Health Journal "Impact of Childbirth Education on Delivery Outcomes" (2023), New Hampshire DHHS "Rural Health Needs Assessment" (2024)
North Country Health Consortium
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NH Department of Health and Human Services
