BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Soon-to-be mothers can get an idea of what to expect with North Baldwin Infirmary’s ongoing labor and delivery class.

According to instructor Jennifer Paul, the series of free maternity classes provides information about the birth process.

“I cut to the chase,” the registered nurse said in a telephone interview, explaining the topic of Monday’s class. “We talked about vaginal and C (cesarean)-section deliveries. We discussed when to come to the hospital and how to come to the hospital.”

The classes also cover such topics as “epidural analgesias” (local anesthesia), the advantages and disadvantages of enemas and the “hurdles they’ll (expectant mothers) jump while in labor,” Paul said.

“I tell them they’ve got 24 hours to do this in, and it’s a little bit of bitter-sweet work,” the instructor said, explaining the details of that timeline. “It takes three minutes for the I.V. (intravenous therapy), less than one minute to break the water bag and less than 10 minutes for the epidural.”

The child-birth classes also include instructions on pushing and how to handle visitors, the importance of getting rest and what to pack, Paul said.

Among those items to bring, the teacher said, are medicines and snacks the person bringing the expectant mother to the hospital might need.

“If they take care of their needs, they’ll take care of the person in labor better,” Paul said.

Also part of the series of classes is a hospital tour, including a viewing of the cesarean-section room.

Child-birth classes are held 6-8 p.m. every other Monday in the North Baldwin Infirmary second-floor conference room, with the next class on Aug. 8, according to NBI’s Child-birth Class schedule on www.nbinfirmary.com. Classes progress in the following order: healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery, postpartum care and newborn care, breast feeding, infant cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and safety.

For more information, call Paul at 580-1729 or visit www.nbinfirmary.com and click on the community-programs page and then the health-education page.