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!

Amazing class for new parents to be. Very informative and we both feel more prepared for the birth of our baby

As a first-time expectant mother, I had all kinds of questions about what to expect. I found that the information provided but the Ottawa CEA was really helpful and backed up by lots of evidence, both scientific and anecdotal. It was a helpful addition to the mix of information that we have been getting from books, family and friends. I highly recommend Ottawa CEA classes to expectant mothers. The teachers are really well-informed and they create great learning environments where you have a chance to learn from them but also from other parents. (If possible, please just use my first name if you publish this blurb in your testimonial. Thanks!) Also - I don't think I adequately expressed how much I appreciated Tabitha's efforts during our class. She was a great teacher and made me feel both more excited, and more prepared, for what is in store. Many thanks!

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!

I love the Bringing Home Baby class my husband and I attended. I would recommend it to any new or soon to be new parents. The information provided was very useful and balanced. I left feeling substantially more confidant than when I started! Thank you OCEA!

Julia was wonderful. Her voice is both lively and soothing to listen to. She’s also really hilarious. I loved the added bits of humour. She gave many opportunities to ask questions throughout the course. If she isn’t sure about something, she accesses her own resources/network and gets back to you with an answer. As COVID protocols are constantly changing within the healthcare domain (hospitals, birth centres, home births), I thought she was very knowledgeable about the current situation within each place. She was very knowledgeable about the birth process and the postpartum period for the family unit. There were many resources that we could access to facilitate some of the topics within the class that could need more attention either in the prenatal period or postpartum period (I.e infant feeding) which was great!

The bringing baby home class is a must for any new parent! It has really helped us to feel prepared and more confident and has provided us with information and resources which we will use for years to come. Also, our instructor was great and there was no question that she couldn't answer. She made everyone feel comfortable and brought a sense of humour and kept everyone interested and engaged.

We can't imagine NOT having taken the course! Not only did we learn a lot of useful things but with the money we'll save not buying unnecessary items the course paid for itself!! We highly recommend every new parent take this course!

This course is extremely useful in helping you navigate the plethora of advice that will inadvertently be thrown your way when you are a new parent. The instructor walks you through myths and realities, essentials and non-essentials, patiently stopping to answer all of your questions along the way. The baby safety and CPR portion was great in helping me feel more prepared to have a little new life to be responsible for! Partners are also very much included in all activities and I really appreciated this - as mom to be won't be raising the child alone :)

We really enjoyed Erin’s style and appreciated the additional materials sent to us. There were lots of opportunities to ask questions and Erin is clearly an expert! Her demonstrations were very helpful and her attention to everyone’s unique circumstances (eg. Which neighborhood we live in, which car seat we have) was much appreciated!! Would definitely recommend this class to others!!

Absolutely ! As first time parents the Prenatal course helped us feel informed about the labour, birth and post-partum stages. My husband and I both feel we're better prepared to know what to expect, what is normal, what isn't and it prompted questions and discussions we wouldn't have otherwise thought to have ahead of labour. We both feel more empowered coming out of this course. As a soon-to-be first time mom I now feel like birth isn't something that has to happen to me but rather something I can take more ownership over. I can't recommend our facilitator, Brandie, enough as well. She is absolutely phenomenal!

I feel empowered for the birth, and my husband feels like he understands everything better. The workshop really demystified the process and presented clear information and useful tips. We are so happy that we decided to attend.

Excellent experience, good speed, well communicated. She made everyone feel very comfortable, able to contribute and take something away. She is a knowledgeable trainer who kept the training interesting and stimulating. Loved the ice cube exercise!

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!!

Great class despite changed format

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.

I feel so much more prepared for my home birth after taking this class. I enjoyed learning and sharing/bonding with the other participants who will be new parents just like me.

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!

The OCEA prenatal class was so informative. My husband and I walked away from the classes feeling like we had a lot of information and the necessary tools to make informed decisions that fit our birth plan and our own family preference for our at-hospital birth. My husband was also really pleased with the course because it offered a lot of information on the role of the birth partner, which is information you don’t find readily available online unfortunately. We highly recommend any new parents to take this course so that you can feel prepared and make decisions on your birth date that you feel comfortable with.

Michelle is an excellent instructor. Her presentations and commentary were useful and very insightful for first time parents. I appreciated that she took the time to answer all questions that came up during class and handled difficult or more contentious topics with grace and nuance that respects that some solutions will have to be tailored to the baby, mother or family preferences. She also provided us with a wealth of resources that have been useful. My husband and myself both feel better-prepared for birth and the postpartum period thanks to this class.

Erin was very personable and shared her expertise freely and in a non-threatening way. The way she laid out the information and gave us room to ask questions and determine the best route for our own choices was so appreciated. Her quick responses to questions on the chat was also most welcome.

I HIGHLY recommend this course. Our instructor was so knowledgeable, and so understanding of the issues facing new parents. I feel so much more confident about our upcoming baby than before this weekend. Both my husband and I walked away from this weekend feeling more excited, and better prepared than before. The information was based on base practices/guidelines, but also incorporating real life parenting experiences. Truly, a really great course.