Newton Wellesley Childbirth Education Classes

HypnoBirthing

• In-Person or Online via Zoom
• Recommended to complete class by 36 weeks of pregnancy.  
• Class fee: $275

The HypnoBirthing method, developed by Marie Mongan, is a comprehensive 5-week class series that prepares you for a more calm, comfortable and joyful experience - whether unmedicated, medicated or cesarean birth. Each week you will learn and practice different breathwork, relaxation, visualization and/or physical techniques to condition your mind and body for labor and birth. You will learn how to release fears and reach a deep state of relaxation to allow your body and baby to flow with the rhythms of birth and do what they are intended to do. Practices learned in class are truly life skills that can be used forever more.

Class is for the pregnant person and a partner/support person. We welcome all expectant families, regardless of birthing location.

Class covers:

• process & physiology of birth
• understanding, and working with, birth hormones
• guided relaxation, deepening and visualization
• breathing techniques for calm and comfort
• massage for late pregnancy and labor
• positions and movement for progress and comfort
• special circumstances and medical interventions
• the 4th trimester

Class dates and register

• Check class dates and availability  
• Register for this class

Suggested classes to accompany Hypnobirthing: Getting Ready for Breastfeeding, Getting Ready for Your Newborn and Spinning Babies Parent Class (class fee discounted to $100 with class registration)

Life with Baby: Easing the Transition Workshop

• Live online, via Zoom            
• Workshop is free but registration is required. 
• Recommended to take this workshop AFTER Getting Ready for Birth and/or Getting Ready for Newborn.

This workshop helps new parents plan for life adjustments when life includes a new baby. It compliments the Getting Ready classes and covers unique content that is not included in the Getting Ready to Care for Your Newborn class.  

Are you curious about how to get sleep, eat healthy, and manage household demands while taking care of your precious new baby? This interactive workshop provides you with fun and customizable practices for your early parenting journey.

It is important to consider each person’s history, culture, values, and preferences as you devise your parenting plans. You and your partner will explore what is most meaningful and come up with ideas how to parent and evolve your relationship with open communication and mindfulness techniques.

We welcome all expectant families, regardless of where you plan to give birth or how your family is growing - adoption, baby #2 or 3!

You will develop a plan for:

• self-care
• relationship care
• home care
• baby care

Class dates and register

• Check class dates and availability  
• Register for this class

Mind/Body/Birth: Comfort Measures Workshop

• Online via Zoom
• Recommended to complete class by 38 weeks of pregnancy.  
• Class fee: $80

This interactive workshop is for pregnant people to prepare to cope with the sensations of late pregnancy, labor, and birth. This is a fantastic complement to other birth preparation classes, whether you are looking forward to medical pain relief or not.

Class explores partner-based practices to ease tension and promote progress during the birthing journey. Couples build confidence as they learn and practice techniques together, helping you to create an outline of your favorite strategies for your birth plan. Be ready to move and participate!

Class is for the pregnant person and a partner/support person. We welcome all expectant families, regardless of birthing location.

Class covers:

• mind body connection and the hormones of birth
• breath-work and cueing breaths practice
• guided relaxation, deepening and visualization
• hands-on comfort: massage, counter pressure, hip squeeze
• positions for progress and comfort

Class dates and register

• Check class dates and availability  
• Register for this class

Getting Ready for Birth Without Medication

• In-Person or Online via Zoom    
• Recommended to complete class by 36 weeks of pregnancy. 
• Class fee: $250

This class includes all the content of the Getting Ready for Birth class but with an emphasis on strategies for birthing without medical pain relief (typically, epidural) and avoiding other common medical interventions. This 12-hour class series allows time for learning and practicing coping techniques so you can decide which ones work best for you. Medical procedures and medical pain relief are covered in a non-judgmental manner so that you can confidently create your preferences/plan and make decisions throughout your birth process.

Class is for the pregnant person and a partner/support person. We welcome all expectant families, regardless of birthing location.

Class covers:

• how your body works and how labor works
• best practices, using evidence-based information, for labor and birth
• hands-on practice of pain relief strategies and comfort tools
• how to stay calm & comfortable, from breath-work to epidurals
• how doctors and midwives can help, including medical pain relief, induction, and cesarean delivery
• collaborative decision-making
• hospital routines and policies
• when to call and when to go
• warning signs and when to seek help

Class dates and register

• Check class dates and availability  
• Register for this class

Suggested classes to accompany this class: Getting Ready for Breastfeeding, Getting Ready for Your Newborn and Spinning Babies Parent Class (class fee discounted to $100 with class registration)

Getting Ready for Your Newborn

• Live online, via Zoom
• Recommended to complete class by 36 weeks of pregnancy.    
• Class fee: $60

This class covers how to care for a baby during the first three months of life. You will learn tips and strategies to use during this brand new experience.

Registration is for up to two people who are planning to care for a newborn baby. 

Class covers:

• safe sleep practices
• baby communication: reading baby’s cues
• comforting your crying baby
• feeding choices: breast, bottle, and infant formula
• bathing, diapering, dressing
• nail, cord, and circumcision care
• signs of illness and when to call baby’s healthcare provider
• car seat basics
• pets and babies

Class dates and register

• Check class dates and availability  
• Register for this class

Suggested classes to accompany Getting Ready to Care for Your Newborn:  Getting Ready for Breastfeeding

Getting Ready for Birth

• In-Person or Online via Zoom
• Recommended to complete class by 36 weeks of pregnancy. 
• Class fee: $200

We will explore the expected and unexpected, the wide range of normal, and the choices you may be faced with during your labor and birth. During this 7-hour class we debunk common myths and answer your questions so that you can confidently create your preferences/plan and make decisions throughout your birth process.

Class is for the pregnant person and a partner/support person. We welcome all expectant families, regardless of birthing location.

Class covers:

• how your body works and how labor works
• best practices, using evidence-based information, for labor and birth
• how to stay calm & comfortable, from breath-work to epidurals
• how doctors and midwives can help, including medical pain relief, induction, and cesarean delivery
• collaborative decision-making
• hospital routines and policies
• when to call and when to go
• warning signs and when to seek care

Included with registration, no additional fee:  Life with Baby: Easing the Transition and Mind Body Birth: Comfort Measures

Class dates and register

• Check class dates and availability  
• Register for this class

Suggested classes to accompany Getting Ready for Birth: Mind Body Prgenancy Workshop (class fee reduced to $60 with class registration), Getting Ready for Breastfeeding, Getting Ready for Your Newborn, Spinning Babies Parent Class (class fee discounted to $100 with class registration)

Getting Ready for Birth Again: A Refresher

• Live online, via Zoom
• Recommended to take class any time after 26 weeks of pregnancy.   
• Class fee: $80

This class is an interactive conversation for pregnant families with prior birth experience. We explore the variations among spontaneous labor, induction, vaginal and cesarean birth. We will build upon what worked and what didn’t work out so well for you before to develop strategies for a positive birthing experience. Parenting tips are shared collaboratively for smoothing the transition to a growing family.

Class is for the pregnant person and a partner/support person. We welcome all expectant families, regardless of birthing location.

Class covers:

• differences between first and subsequent labors and births
• how to stay calm & comfortable, from breath-work to epidurals
• how doctors and midwives can help, including medical pain relief, induction, and cesarean delivery
• vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)
• collaborative decision-making
• hospital routines and policies
• the first days in the hospital
• when to call and when to go
• warning signs and when to seek help

Class dates and register

• Check class dates and availability  
• Register for this class

Suggested classes to accompany Getting Ready for Birth:  Getting Ready for Breastfeeding, Getting Ready for Your Newborn, Mind Body Birth: Comfort Measures (class fee discounted to $55 with class registration), Spinning Babies Parent Class (class fee discounted to $100 with class registration)

Spinning Babies for Parents

• Live online, via Zoom and In Person
• Recommended to take class any time after 26 weeks of pregnancy.  
• Class fee: $145

This provides clear instructions on how to use Spinning Babies® for a more comfortable and confident pregnancy and labor. Learn how to use the techniques for when labor seems long, painful or has a stall. Explore how knowing where the baby is in the pelvis, why it matters and what you can do to help your baby get in an ideal position. Together, you and your support person can use these techniques before and during labor to help "make room for baby!"

This three-hour class adds confidence and skills for the birth partner and reassurance for the birthing person.

Class is for the pregnant person and a partner/support person. We welcome all expectant families, regardless of birthing location.

Class covers:

• body balancing activities for pregnancy and labor
• tips for flipping baby to be head down in pregnancy
• positions to shorten labor and avoid medical interventions
• techniques to change baby’s position for progress during labor and birth

Class dates and register

• Check class dates and availability  
• Register for this class