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:

The course Bringing Baby Home was suggested to me, I had no idea there would be so many other options - what a great service to the National Capital Region!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

Was able to do it from the comfort of my home

Bringing Baby Home – with Brandie Lekovic

Incredible instruction that far exceeded my expectations. I was hesitant on the value at first but quickly found that it was worth every penny and then some. I highly recommend this class for first-time parents who feel lost or overwhelmed by the plethora of consumer products and parenting advice.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Aside from all the info provided by the educator, I liked the interaction with other couples

Pre Natal One Day – with Brandie Lekovic

I enjoyed the fact that we were at home, it made my wife more comfortable to be able to use our own bathroom and have snacks on hand etc. It also allowed us to must ourselves during the discussion and make comments to each other privately when an issues or decision that we wanted to discuss came up.

Pre Natal – with Misty Pratt

I would recommend this prenatal class to anyone having a baby! The mechanics of childbirth are so much more complicated than I thought, but Brandie explained everything perfectly! We laughed, and learned so much! I definitely recommend the course, it is SO worth the investment!

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

As a pregnant woman, I went into this course with a lot of fear about labour and birth, and I came out feeling like, "I can do this!" Our instructor was unbiased, kind, and funny, and we felt like we could really trust her and the information she offered. We also connected with the other couples in the course, extending the community of support around us for when baby arrives! This course exceeded our expectations. Thank you!

Prenatal Classes for Midwifery Clients – with Lilly Bianchi

Julia was awesome! Would have loved to do it face to face, but completely understood due to the current climate. It worked well online and was very information.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

This was an excellent course and Erin was wonderful. She answered questions with clarity, had a wealth of knowledge and experience, gave relevant examples, and was non-judgmental and open. I already recommended this class to another expecting family because I do not know how we would have gained this knowledge without it. The science and evidence base at the center of the class was really refreshing and useful because the wealth of information online is generally confusing and contradictory. Erin cleared up so much of that confusion for us. Thank you!!

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

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

We did not know exactly what to expect from the class, but from the moment our instructor began we knew we were in great hands. The balance of sober and honest information with compassion and a spirit of honouring the process of birth was comforting and empowering. The hands on practice of massage and comfort techniques is something that we will definitely be practicing in the weeks to come. Thank you Brandie and OCEA for such a fabulous course!

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

Bringing Baby Home was a really thorough and educational experience. It managed to alleviate our first parent jitters and made us feel a bit more secure that we knew what we were doing. It also offered us a lifeline to ask questions after the course was finished which has helped a lot.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Erin, our instructor. She made the experience really positive and always made sure that as parents of twins we had that perspective. She is AMAZING!

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

We had a great 6 week online Prenatal class with Julia! My husband and I really enjoyed the facilitation of the class and topics/information presented and discussed. It was very helpful and informative. We also really appreciated Julia's down-to-earth nature and very realistic views and presentation of the topics. Julia was very detailed but kept it light and realistic with no sugar coating, which is just what we needed! - thank you!!

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

Erin was absolutely amazing, very knowledgeable and kept the class interactive even in the online platform. Very helpful at answering questions and gave a lot of great tips.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

I've taken other online pre-natal classes and this is the first that felt really comprehensive, unbiased and supportive. In my partner and I have enjoyed the hands on techniques, the balance between practical and academic and getting to know other couples expecting their first child. Lilly was non-judgmental and very well informed, she shared her knowledge eloquently.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

Coming out of this course, my partner was able to more easily identify his role in the birth. The atmosphere was relaxed and easy, without judgement, and we were able to ask questions and have them answered by a reliable and non-judgemental source.

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

Great class, for someone that had high anxiety about birth, this class was exactly what I needed, I was one of those women that wanted to have a Cesarean birth because I was so afraid of labour and pain, so my family and friends couldn't believed it when I came out of class and told them I hoped I have a natural birth, I can't believe it either!!. They help with not only the understanding of the birth process but with elements on how to cope with the fear and of course pain.

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

This course exceeded my expectations. I learned more in 14 hours then I have reading books over the last 5 months. The information (unlike a lot of books) is current, accurate with Canadian health standards and taught with a hands on, practical approach. EVERY new patent should take this class.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Absolutely! Taking this class is one of the best decisions we've made as first-time parents-to-be, and we are so glad that we enrolled before making any major purchases or having our baby shower. We are bombarded with so many decisions regarding feeding, diapering, transportation and parenting, and this class was very effective at presenting some of these options to us in an easy to understand way, which has made us feel empowered to make consumer choices that will best suit our lifestyle. The course paid for itself within the first hour, when we were able to immediately rule out some of the purchases that we assumed were "must haves".

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Yes. Julia was a great teacher! We appreciated her forthright and balanced approach to teaching. We loved the frank way she handled all questions and concerns. She created a judgement free environment - which is exactly what you want as first-time parents.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

The prenatal course with the Ottawa Childbirth Education Association was extremely beneficial to my Husband and I. As first time parents, we felt that this course answered many of our questions and will definitely help us make informed decisions surrounding the birth of our baby. We would definitely recommend this course to any expecting couples!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

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