New Revisions Now Available for the Preparing for Birth PowerPoint & Guidebook

We are pleased to announce important updates to the latest versions of the Preparing for Birth PowerPoint (fourth edition v4.2) and the Preparing for Birth book (third edition v3.2). As always, our goal is to support educators and families with the most current, evidence-based materials that align with best practice and meet the needs of expectant families.

Key Updates at a Glance

Pregnancy, postpartum and newborn warning signs updated: The warning signs sections for pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn have been updated to align with the latest CDC guidance on symptoms that require immediate medical attention.

Added a brief introduction to the Labor and Birth section: A quick overview helps educators guide discussions and prepare parents to learn about the stages of labor in the following pages.

Expanded risks and benefits for cesareans: Content on cesarean birth has been refined to clearly outline potential risks and benefits, supporting informed decision‑making and balanced conversations.

Edited meconium topic for clarity: Explanations of meconium and Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid (MSAF) during labor and birth have been revised to better explain the differences.

Expanded benefits of massage in pregnancy and birth: The section on massage now includes a more thorough discussion of its benefits for comfort, stress reduction, labor progression, and partner involvement.

For more information on the research supporting these updates, visit our references page.

Why These Updates Matter

Accuracy is critical in childbirth education. These updates ensure your curriculum is current, evidence‑informed, and ready for teaching in any setting—hospital classes, birthing centers, community programs, or virtual sessions.

For educators: The expanded content provides clearer, evidence‑based information that is practical and easy to use when teaching.

For parents: Materials reflect the latest research and professional standards while offering practical tips that support preparation and confidence.

Next Steps for Existing Customers

For previous PowerPoint buyers: If you purchased the fourth edition of the Preparing for Birth PowerPoint in English or Spanish within the past year and still have remaining downloads, the updated PowerPoint (v4.2) is available through your original download link.

You can use the new PowerPoint as is, or if you have made changes to your file, simply replace the following slides with the updated versions: 17, 56, 67, 103, 109, 110, 118, 119, 126, 137, 142, 146, and 150. 

For customers with custom PowerPoint versions, please contact us and we will provide the updated slides for you to insert into your existing file.

If you have purchased the fourth edition PowerPoint but your download access has expired, please reach out and we will be happy to help you access the updated materials.

The newly revised Preparing for Birth Book (v3.2) is now available in both digital and print versions* and reflects the same content changes. 

The corresponding Childbirth Curriculum (v4.2) was updated in Fall 2025 to reflect these same content updates.

For new users

This is the perfect time to explore and adopt the updated bundle for your childbirth education program.

Thank you for your commitment to high-quality childbirth education. We remain dedicated to providing educators and families with the latest, most usable content.

*Preparing for Birth parent guidebooks (v3.2) are currently available in English only. The Spanish version will be available in Fall of 2026.