Becoming a mom can be stressful. There are a million things to prepare for — getting the baby’s nursery together, choosing a name, and, of course, the birth process.
The thought of going through labor and delivery can be scary and overwhelming, but there’s no need to go into the experience blind — there are a TON of resources available to help new moms prepare for birth.
And one of the great things about living in the 21st century is that you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your home to take a childbirth class. These days, you can find a variety of birthing classes, breastfeeding classes, and other types of prenatal classes fully online!
If you’re interested in taking a virtual birthing class and don’t know where to begin, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the best online birthing classes right here.
Should I Take an Online Childbirth Class?
You might be on the fence about taking a childbirth class online — it does sort of seem like one of those things that just needs to be done in person. But according to Mia Di Julio, an Ob/Gyn in California, online birthing classes can be just as effective as in-person classes and could be well worth it.
Plus, thanks to the pandemic, online birthing classes have really improved since, for a couple of years, they were the only option for expectant mothers. Online prenatal classes are a great way to learn about different birth experiences and create a birth plan.
These courses also help you learn about breastfeeding and postpartum care. There’s something to be said for being able to take classes in the comfort of your own home at your own pace – you can even take them in your cozy maternity PJs if you wish!
So without further ado, here are some fan favorites:
Lamaze International
You’ve probably heard of Lamaze classes before — it’s one of the longest-running class series for childbirth education. This group is well-known for focusing on deep breathing and pain management during delivery.
They offer several online courses for pregnant women, including:
- Pregnancy preparation and wellness
- Sex during pregnancy
- Labor pain management
- Having a vaginal birth after a cesarean (VBAC)
- Breastfeeding
- Early parenting and baby care
Some of their courses are free, and you can preview others at no cost. Online classes are generally priced between $29.95-$34.95 per 60-75 minute lesson, although you can get a slight discount by purchasing bundles. You can browse their classes by trimester and by type, which is helpful, or look at their FAQ page for any questions you may have.
But the best part about Lamaze classes, in our opinion, is that they routinely top online birthing class lists compiled by doctors and healthcare professionals. Lamaze classes have been around for over 60 years and are well-trusted in the medical community for their evidence-based information.
With Lamaze, you know that the info you’re getting is legit — and that’s possibly the most crucial factor when it comes to choosing a virtual childbirth class.
Kopa Birth
If you’re thinking about having a natural childbirth — AKA no epidural — Kopa Birth might be the class for you. Like Lamaze, they routinely top lists of the best birthing classes. Plus, the courses were developed by a registered nurse and Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, so you know they’re the real deal.
Kopa Birth runs between $195 and $245 for over twelve hours of in-depth video lessons. They focus on natural childbirth, offering tips for labor positions, natural pain management, and meditations to help you relax during labor. Forgoing your epidural requires a bit more courage than even your boldest wardrobe choice, and for the guidance that you need to get through a natural childbirth, it doesn’t get much better than Kopa Birth.
Pampers Childbirth Education Class
Pampers — yes, the diaper brand — offers online childbirth education classes, and the best part is they’re 100% free. Over the course of an hour and a half, you’ll take nine different classes covering body changes and nutritional needs during pregnancy. These classes go through labor and birth, bringing your baby home from the hospital, and postpartum care, including the things you’ll need to nurse your newborn.
Having a baby is expensive, so we love any sort of fee-free resource to help out new parents-to-be. Even though it’s free, Pampers doesn’t skimp on quality; the instructors are all registered nurses and clinical childbirth experts, so you know the information you’re getting is legit.
The downside of this course is that it’s pretty brief and doesn’t explore different scenarios outside of a typical hospital birth. These include a C-section, home birth, or natural childbirth. Other alternative birth methods, such as hypnobirthing, are also not covered. But if you’re looking for a good place to start learning about giving birth, Pampers is an excellent resource.
Mama Natural Birth Course
Another natural birth course that frequently tops online childbirth course rankings, Mama Natural offers 12 hours of in-depth and self-paced video courses on virtually any question you may have about having a natural birth. We love this course because it covers nearly every scenario you may encounter when giving birth, including when things don’t go according to plan.
Mama Natural birth courses cover hospital births, birthing centers, and home births. The modules also talk about unexpected childbirth experiences, such as C-sections and unplanned interventions.
The course materials will walk you through the stages of labor, finding a birthing support team, and natural remedies and relaxation techniques for managing labor pain. In addition, you’ll gain valuable information about postpartum care and breastfeeding. These courses are comprehensive and taught by certified nurse-midwife Maura Walker as well as renowned childbirth writer Genevieve Howland.
The only downside to the Mama Natural birth course is that it focuses on unmedicated, natural childbirth. You won’t find much advice in the way of choosing pain medication for delivery here. At $264 for the full on-demand course, it’s also on the pricier side — although we believe it’s well worth the cost for some first-time parents.
Nurture
Another one of our favorite online childbirth courses comes from Erica Chidi, a well-known doula who got her start by volunteering with pregnant inmates in the San Francisco prison system.
We love Nurture because of how comprehensive it is. The 26 videos that you get access to cover not just the physical and tangible aspects of childbirth but also help you prepare for the emotional and mental changes resulting from pregnancy.
The courses will walk you through changes that may occur between you and your partner, changes in your career, and of course, all the physical changes and pertinent prenatal and newborn care information you need to know. You’ll also get access to worksheets and monthly webinars with Erica Chidi. The full birthing class package runs around $400.
Johns Hopkins Courses
If you’re looking for a more medically-minded childbirth class, Johns Hopkins has got you covered. The hospital offers both in-person and online classes for $150 and $50, respectively, making it one of the more affordable options on our list.
During the online course, parents-to-be will learn about body changes and nutritional needs during pregnancy, preparing for labor and the stages of labor, and relaxation and comfort techniques during delivery.
In addition to childbirth classes, they also offer an online Lactation Support Group for breastfeeding patients as well as individual consultations for couples hoping to put together a birthing plan. Johns Hopkins is one of the most respected medical institutions in the country. So, you really can’t go wrong with the advice and tips provided in these courses.
Factors To Consider When Choosing an Online Birthing Class
Clearly, there are a lot of options for online birthing classes out there. That’s great, but it can also be overwhelming. When selecting which online childbirth class is right for you, think about what type of birth experience you want to have and what factors are most important to you.
First, consider where you want to give birth. Do you want to have an at-home birth, go to a birthing center, or have a hospital birth? You can find different birthing classes targeted to each different type of delivery.
You’ll also want to think about whether you’ll use pain medication or an epidural during your birth or choose the natural birthing route — each one may require different types of preparation.
Lastly, you’ll want to consider factors like a budget, whether you’ll be taking the courses with a partner or alone, and whether you want the class to cover additional aspects of becoming a new mama, such as breastfeeding, postpartum care, and prenatal information.
At the End of the Day
No matter what birth plan you choose or however fate intervenes in your delivery, your birthing experience is your own, and that’s what makes it special!
Remember that no birthing experience is automatically better than any other. You forge your own path, mama — with the guidance of the experts in your life, soon enough, you’ll be celebrating your newest family member’s arrival!
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