Preparing for Baby?

Exploring Options for Childbirth Education

By Leslie Ashton, RN, Bsc, Childbirth Educator, Labour Support Doula, FullCircle Bilingual Birth Services

One of the exciting rites of passage expectant parents often participate in as they prepare to welcome their new baby is attending prenatal classes. When choosing a prenatal class, there are many options to choose from! While most people taking these classes are first time parents, classes are also open to individuals that already have one or more children. Some organizations also offer sibling preparation sessions. So, how do you choose which prenatal classes are right for you and your family? What options are available in the Ottawa area?

In a complete prenatal class series (versus a one day condensed session), expect a comprehensive coverage of topics. Typical material covered will likely include: information regarding the roles of different caregivers (Doula, Labour & Delivery Nurse, Midwife, Family Physician, Obstetrician), warning signs/signs of pre-term labour, arranging for a hospital presentation or tour, 'Optimal Foetal Positioning', signs of labour, stages and phases of labour, comfort measures and positioning in labour and birth, as well as pharmacological and non-pharmacological options for pain relief, and a review of medical procedures and interventions. Resources in the community, including lactation support, are also given – along with handouts to go along with the course.

A relatively new and very popular option for prenatal preparation is a one day condensed session. While the one day course focuses on preparation for labour and birth, and touches on most of the same topics covered in a more comprehensive 2 day prenatal preparation series, there is less time for more in-depth coverage of each topic, and less time for review, practice/role playing, relaxation and discussion and less use of videos. Because the condensed courses focus on labour and birth, the postpartum period and breastfeeding are not typically covered. However, there are other opportunities for accessing this important information.

When should you take your prenatal classes? It is recommended that you sign up between 25 and 30 weeks, planning to finish your class before 35 weeks. Because there is a high demand, register early in your preferred course, to guarantee a spot. In the Ottawa Region, we are fortunate to have many different available prenatal and childbirth classes. Below is an overview of some of the available classes in the region, but please also check with your care provider for further choices.

Ottawa Childbirth Education Association (Ottawa CEA):

Established in Ottawa in 1974, the Ottawa CEA is the largest independent organization in the area. They offer private and group prenatal preparation classes (group classes have a maximum of 10 couples), held evenings or weekends, as well as a condensed one day Labour and Delivery Preparation class. Classes are held in various locations throughout the city.

The Ottawa CEA also offers a unique 'Bringing Baby Home' series, which focuses solely on parenting. The series is 9 hours and takes place over 2 weekends and the topics covered include:

How to decide what items to purchase for life with baby

Basic baby care including bathing, swaddling

The difference between cloth and disposable diapers

Benefits of babywearing and opportunity to try different baby carriers

Breastfeeding and introducing solids

What you need to know when purchasing a car seat for your baby

Learn how to properly and safely install your car seat

Have your seat inspected - suggestions for improvements will be made if necessary by a Ministry of Transportation trained installer

Infant CPR training through the Heart and Stroke Foundation

Babyproofing: how to make your home safer for your baby

Learn the most common cause of injuries and how they can be prevented

Where to purchase home safety products

In addition, the Ottawa CEA also offers CPR training and certification, an important life skill for all parents.

http://www.ottawacea.com/

BirthCare:

Birthcare, under the direction of Registered Nurses Barb Belohoubek, RN, BScN, IBCLC, and Susan Nolan, RN, MScN, IBCLC, has been an independent organization providing personalized education and support through the childbirth experience since 1992.

BirthCare currently offers group prenatal preparation classes in Westboro. They have a 2 day series option, held over consecutive weekends ,or their popular one day compressed session, held on either a Saturday or a Sunday. Classes are small, limited to 5 couples. Private and semi-private prenatal preparation sessions are also available through BirthCare.

Available in the evenings, BirthCare's 'Breastfeeding and Early Parenting' seminar, is led by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Sessions are held in small groups, with a maximum of five couples, and offer lots of time for questions and answers. This class is an important follow-up component to the one day labour and delivery compressed session, or for anyone wanting an in-depth, specialized breastfeeding and early parenting seminar. Topics include breastfeeding, from the very first feed, through the first few days and weeks and beyond. It will also cover how to choose a breast pump. The parenting portion covers topics such as taking care of mom and baby, recovery from labour and delivery, parent/child bonding, normal newborn sleep, wakefulness and fussiness. Cost is $30/couple.

In addition to childbirth education, BirthCare also offers professional labour support doulas, postnatal nursing care, lactation services by International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC), Medela breastfeeding products, and family care visitors.

www.birthcare.ca

Mother Nurture Childbirth Services:

Exclusively available to all midwifery clients, Julie Keon, CD(DONA), CBC, of Mother Nurture Childbirth Services, teaches a prenatal series available only to clients of midwives. An excerpt from Julie's website, www.mncs.ca, outlines the development and rationale behind these unique classes:

"The Midwifery Collective of Ottawa invited Julie to teach these classes with hopes of preparing their clients more effectively than traditional classes were able to do. Being in a group of like- minded couples who can speak openly of home and hospital birth, fears/worries and the healthy pain of labour and birth can make a tremendous difference in how couples go into their births and postpartum period. Of course, topics such as unexpected

outcomes, interventions, compassionate use of epidurals/medications and

cesarean births are also covered."

http://www.mncs.ca/

Lamaze:

Jennifer Young, Lamaze® Ottawa, is a Lamaze® Certified Childbirth Educator. She currently offers Lamaze® classes privately in your home for a fee of $50 per hour. Private sessions are a minimum of 2 hours per session and 2 sessions are typically recommended (instruction is best 4 to 8 weeks prior to your estimated due date). For more information on the Lamaze® philosophy, visit www.lamaze.org. To register for private Lamaze® sessions, please contact Jennifer Young, Lamaze® Ottawa, directly: www.lamazeottawa.ca, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 613-746-1510

The Bradley Method: Healthy Beginnings Prenatal Education:

Karen McIntosh and her husband Paul Peters, Healthy Beginnings Prenatal Education, uniquely offer The Bradley® Method (www.bradleybirth.com) prenatal education classes in Ottawa. Classes are held at the Extraordinary Baby Shoppe on Wellington St. W., just east of Parkdale. Students should begin classes before their 25th week of pregnancy in order to complete the full 12 week course (over 30 hours of prenatal instruction and coach preparation).

www.healthy-beginnings.ca, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

HypnoBirthing:

For couples exploring the option of HypnoBirthing® (The Mongan Method), (www.hypnobirthing.com), please contact the following for more information:

Pia Anderson, (613) 828-0546, or by email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Multiple Birth:

Lynda Haddon, of Ottawa Twins Plus Prenatal Classes, offers Multiple Birth Prenatal Classes 4 to 6 times a year in the Ottawa area. These classes address the specific issues related to a pregnancy with two or more babies. For more information, and/or to register, please contact Lynda Haddon (an experienced mom of multiples herself!) directly, www.multiplebirthsfamilies.com/classes.html, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

City of Ottawa:

The Ottawa Public Health Department at the City of Ottawa offers prenatal classes in either English or French (classes in other languages may also be available), taught by Public Health Nurses at various locations in the city. Cost is $ 36, however no one will be denied classes due to financial hardship. Classes for teens, or young single parents, are offered at no charge. It is important to register as soon as you are pregnant, since the 6 class series has an initial component that begins before 18 weeks gestation. Support counselling for pregnant women and/or their partner who smoke are also available at no charge.

For a listing of several agencies offering prenatal classes throughout the community (including hospital based classes), as well as for more information on classes offered by Ottawa Public Health, and/or to register: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/health/support/professionals/perinatal/prenatal_classes_en.html or call 613-580-6744, ext. 28020.

Other publicly sponsored childbirth education options in the Ottawa area include:

www.healthunit.org/pregnancy/pregnancy/pregnancy_prenatal_classes.htm

www.gov.on.ca/children/oeyc/en/index.html

www.childbirthkingston.com/