Welcome to Ottawa Childbirth Education Association

Let's talk birth and babies!

Freedom of choice Based on a Knowledge of Alternatives

Practical tools to prepare for birth

Hands on parenting class for expectant parents

Bringing baby home

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For over 40 years, trusted by Ottawa's parents-to-be.

People who took our online class had this to say:

It was useful to understand the real benefit of breastfeeding compared to formula, as opposed to all the judgemental information that is out there.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

Lilly was amazing. She approached sensitive conversations (sex, positions, comfort measures, anatomy) with grace and took the awkwardness of the conversation away.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

OCEA courses provide you with the information you need to feel confident in preparing for birth and baby. I'm so glad I took them. I highly recommend them to any Ottawa soon-to-be parents!

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

I highly recommend the OCEA's Prenatal Class. As first time parents my husband and I had a lot to learn and this course was so helpful for us. We left class feeling like we are prepared for the birth of our baby. We were provided with all the tools and resources we need and our instructor was excellent. Thank you OCEA!

Pre Natal – with Sarah Hartell

The workshop on bring baby home was informative: It is especially working so well with busy couples, as the instructor focuses on each topic with the detailed explanation. You have time to discuss with your partner, as well as in the class at large. The instructor is very professional, effective and friendly. We took a two-day workshop, but time went on so fast. We're very happy about this workshop.

Bringing Baby Home – with Brandie Lekovic

Easy going, could speak up and ask questions without feeling judged.

Pre Natal One Day – with Brandie Lekovic

The prenatal course was so thorough and really helped us feel ready for this next big step in our lives. The instructor was so knowledgeable, kind, supportive, and just an all-around amazing teacher. The course helped relieve our anxieties about the birthing process, and what to expect afterwards, we feel so much more confident now. Thank you!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

I would recommend this class to all new parents. The class offers very practical information that will help you prepare for the arrival of your baby, but also provides information that will be used once your baby arrives all the way into being a toddler.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Lilly was amazing - she is clearly extremely knowledgeable, answered every participant's question, and her voice was extremely soothing especially during the comfort measures section.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

This class prepared us extremely well for the birth of our wonderful daughter. We had planned on delivering at the Birth Centre but due to a fast labour had her at home. The information received during the session greatly helped and took away any worry I had. And Lilly was an absolutely fantastic teacher!

Prenatal Classes for Midwifery Clients – with Lilly Bianchi

Julia was wonderful! She did a great job of making the information engaging and easily accessible for first time parents. She was really encouraging and inspiring!

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

I could not speak more highly of Brandie! She is an absolutely phenomenal instructor - knowledgeable, personable, well-spoken, organized - I could go on! She used props to help illustrate concepts, answered a wide variety of questions, provided resources, and engaged the group (not easy over Zoom). She also stayed online as long as needed after each session to answer any additional questions that arose. Taking this course alleviated my fears about childbirth and increased my confidence. I would highly recommend her to anyone!

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

The course covered all of the major topics that new parents should be thinking about and presented an array of options in an approachable and practical way. From learning about the basics (eating, sleeping, diapering) to gaining a lot of information on important things that we otherwise wouldn't have thought about (infant CPR, baby gear essentials, healthy attachment practices, parenting resources in Ottawa), we came away feeling far more confident in our knowledge and level of preparation for bringing our baby home!

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Yes - Couldn't recommend these classes more. After taking the Pre Natal and Bringing Home Baby Classes, myself and I my partner both feel more prepared for the unexpected and to welcome our baby home. We now have many tools and resources specific to our area to help us through the process.

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

Although we have plenty of resources available to us, including couples that have recently had babies (some of which explore more "alternative" or new methods in raising their children and others more conservative), plenty of people that are giving us advice, books, online tutorials etc... this course was truly invaluable. The course structure made a lot of sense and the instructor (we had Erin) was so knowledgeable, answering questions based on her wealth of experience, existing research studies, historical context and so on. We can't imagine this information being conveyed in any other way other than in a class such as this. We literally could ask anything pertaining to the course topics and would get a very good answer. We will be recommending this course to everyone that is expecting. We found it especially helpful that we had not made any baby related purchases yet because one component of this course was about what products to buy, should wait to buy, not buy and WHY. Thank you!

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Very fun and informative! Lily made online learning more community like than we thought possible! It was great to experience online learning from the comfort of our own home!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

Lilly was friendly, engaging, relatable, professional and very knowledgable. We really enjoyed her as our educator!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

My partner and I took the Pre Natal Class with OCEA. The class was hosted on Zoom, since the COVID-19 pandemic meant we had to have a virtual class. Our teacher, Julia, really made this class top-notch. We learned about all our different birthing options in Ottawa and what to expect from each, including any adjustments resulting from the pandemic. It was comforting to learn the current standard of care we can expect in Ottawa, and how this matches the most recent scientific information about birthing. The local information is really what makes this class worthwhile compared to reading a general pre-natal book. We left the class feeling informed and empowered in our choice of care and our choice of birthing place.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

Julia was extremely knowledgable and friendly. We loved that she remained neutral about all the interventions and methods of caring for baby and mom. If she has any biases, they were not obvious, and we thought that that was really great. She made us feel safe and welcome and confident in any of the choices we might have to make when we deliver our baby.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

We very much enjoyed the online OCEA pre-natal course and are glad we took it. We appreciated that our instructor presented unbiased information on the birth process that was specific to Ottawa hospitals. Even my partner who already has experience with childbirth and babies learned a few new things! Would recommend to other expecting parents.

Pre Natal – with Misty Pratt

Erin was really good! We were both impressed by how easy she made it look even through these challenging times! Made us feel comfortable to ask anything.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

I found this pre-natal class a perfect choice for us as a couple because of the one-day condensed format and the energetic and fantastic instructor Tabitha! I would recommend this to anyone in Ottawa who is looking for a credible prenatal class that gives an overall approach to what to expect in labour, taking care of baby and taking care of yourself. Money very well spent!!

Pre Natal – with Tabitha Bernard

Before baby gets here

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Pre Natal Classes

OCEA's prenatal class will give you all the practical tools to prepare you for your birth whether at home, hospital or birth centre. Our small interactive group classes include the following information presented in small group formats ... Pre Natal Classes Schedule

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Bringing Baby Home

Our Bringing Baby Home class is a hands on parenting class for expectant parents that covers normal newborn behaviour, diapering decisions, bathing strategies, bonding and attachment and more! ... Bringing Baby Home Schedule

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Comfort Measures

This hands on class includes coping strategies to help you feel confident understanding the Pain - Tension - Fear cycle. How to interrupt this cycle using a variety of positions, massage and breathing techniques to help you at each step of labour and birth ... Comfort Measures Schedule

With baby

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Infant sleep class

Are you an exhausted parent that has tried everything and cannot get your baby to sleep? Do you want to find a solution that is not crying it out? We will be creating a space for parents to follow their instincts when it comes to their new baby... Infant sleep class.

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Infant Massage

Learn the health-giving properties of Infant Massage: growth and motor skill development, blood and lymph circulation, immune system stimulation, building bones, helping with gas and colic, aid with deeper and longer sleep, emotional and physical bonding time ... Infant Massage Schedule

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Baby at the Table

Baby at the Table – a baby foodie class for the first year. Thinking about introducing solids? Not sure when or where to start? Purées or Baby Led Weaning? Baby is eating solids and you want to connect with others, diversify recipes, or create mealtime routines? ... Baby at the Table

Specialty

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It Takes a Village

About to be a Grandparent? Or maybe an Aunt, Uncle or another "villager"? This class is just for you! Sure, babies will always be babies, but parenting has so many new dimensions these days. Let us get you up to date on newborn development, sleep, tummy time, infant feeding, car seats, and more. We also explore how to be helpful and supportive while keeping your family relationships happy and boundaries healthy. It Takes a Village

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CPR

Our virtual CPR classes focuses on infant choking, signs of readiness for starting solids, babyled weaning and baby proofing strategies. This life skills class is excellent for family and friends who are interested in learning all aspects of infant, child and adult CPR ... CPR Schedule

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Parenting Group

Join us for the new OCEA parent group, BABY STEPS! Come and discuss life with your newborn. This group is geared to families with babies from 0-6months, covering topics including family adjustments, creating new family traditions, normal sleep patterns, and Parenting Group Schedule

Tutoring

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Private Tutoring

OCEA provides private tutoring for individuals and couples unable to commit to an evening series or weekend class. Take a session on your own or with friends and we will meet your scheduling needs ... Private Tutoring Schedule

OCEA Social