Dr. Brianna Darcey
Acupuncture in Oakland
Preparing for a C-Section:
A Practical Guide for Parents
Practical C-section birth education in Oakland and online. Choose from small-group classes, private sessions tailored to your questions and birth plans, or a downloadable guide to help you prepare for surgery, meeting your baby, and postpartum recovery.
If you’re preparing for a planned or scheduled C-section, these classes and resources walk through what to expect before surgery, what the operating room experience is like, and how to prepare for recovery afterward.
C-Section Birth Education Class
This small-group class walks through what the experience of a cesarean birth is typically like, step by step.
The goal is to help parents feel informed, calm, and able to advocate for the kind of birth experience they want while still working closely with their medical team.
In the class we discuss:
• what happens in the hours before surgery
• the operating room environment and who will be there
• meeting your baby in the OR and early bonding
• newborn medications offered after birth
• questions you can ask your OB, anesthesiologist, and pediatric team
• practical preparation for the first weeks of recovery
The class is designed for parents who know they will have a scheduled C-section as well as those who want to understand the experience in case a cesarean birth becomes part of their plan.
Upcoming Group In-Person Classes
Sun, Dec. 13, 2026
East Bay Birth Collective in Oakland
1:30–4:30 PM
Each class is three hours long and includes the full C-section preparation guide, as well as plenty of time for questions and discussion. Partners and support people are encouraged to attend.
Private C-Section Preparation Class
For parents who prefer a more personalized experience or can't attend a scheduled group class, I also offer private C-section preparation classes.
Private classes cover the same material as the group class, with more flexibility to focus on your specific questions, concerns, and birth preferences. Partners and support people are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Classes are available in person at my Oakland office or virtually over Zoom.
Private Class: $300
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2-hour session
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In person at my Oakland office or virtually
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Includes the full C-section preparation guide (PDF)
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Time for individual questions and discussion
To schedule a private class, please reach out directly by phone at (510) 629-0085 or email at info@briannadarcey.com.
Downloadable Guide
For parents who are not able to attend the class or who would prefer to review the material on their own, I also created a downloadable C-section preparation guide.
The guide grew out of the handouts I created for the class and is designed to walk parents through the experience of a cesarean birth in a calm and practical way.
The guide includes:
• hospital packing list
• C-section birth preferences template
• explanation of newborn medications
• questions for your care team
• acupressure points for anxiety and nausea
• recovery planning for the first weeks postpartum
• trusted perinatal resources
Preparing for a C-Section Guide
Instant PDF Download $40
Why I teach this
Before becoming a doctor of acupuncture, I worked as a Labor & Delivery nurse in the hospital for nearly ten years.
During that time I saw many families heading into a C-section with a lot of medical information about the procedure itself, but very little preparation for the experience of the birth and the early hours after meeting their baby.
I created this class — and later the guide — to help fill that gap.
My goal is to help parents feel more prepared, more informed, and more connected to the experience of meeting their baby, regardless of how the birth unfolds.