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:

Erin was phenomenal. She is obviously very knowledgeable, but more than that, she is clear with her method of delivery and strikes me as honest and genuine. My husband and I felt like this course was worth it after day one with Erin, and it's because of how she gave us the information, as opposed to just the information itself. We learned a lot from Erin and are very grateful to her.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Bringing Baby Home is like the Coles notes of parenting. It helps sum up what all the baby books Teach without any biased push on any one thing. It allows you test out each option and make your own informed decision on what will work best for you and your baby. Very impressed and well worth our time and money. Loved it.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Lilly was an exceptional instructor and this course was truly an incredibly empowering experience for us (which we didn't fully expect). As scientists, we went into the course just hoping to get the information. But, with that information came a shared sense of connection and support that has been so challenging to develop during COVID because we are far from our family and because we can't both attend all of the prenatal appointments. Not only do I, the birthing partner, now know what support I may need and how to ask for it, but also my spouse, the non-birthing partner, feels equipped to offer and provide support when times get challenging. This course made us so excited to meet our baby and Lilly made us feel ready to care for them!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

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.

Pre Natal – with Michelle Morra

Julia was really informative and full of excitement, so it was indeed a wonderful series of class

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

OCEA classes, like the Bringing Baby Home course, were our best investment pre-baby! We feel more confident, prepared, and better equipped to deal with the normal challenges facing every new parents. We cannot recomment OCEA classes enough - the instructors are truly amazing, endless source of knowledge and compassion. OCEA classes are huge confidence boosters, and they are also...fun (even virtually). We loved everything about the Bringing Baby Home, and our ongoing pre-natal class.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

We had a great 6 weeks with Julia! We really enjoyed her facilitation of the prenatal class and topics/information presented and discussed. It was very helpful and informative. We 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!

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

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

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

Yes: Ottawa CEA provided us with the best educational experience out of the multiple baby classes we took. The content is very well researched, concepts are explained clearly. Multiple perspectives for many issues are provided with evidence and encouragement is given to make your own informed choices with extra resources. There is no "fluff" and we felt much better about bringing a baby home after. I will be referring back to the resources from this course often. I highly recommend Ottawa CEA for expecting parents.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Brandie was a wonderful instructor. She was organized and personable. The content was fresh and relevant. It exceeded our expectations!

Bringing Baby Home – with Brandie Lekovic

Learning about travel, answering questions related to Covid 19, having her demonstrate baby carriers (I was about to give up on mine before this) and just all of the support for caring for a newborn that we would have otherwise not known.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

I really enjoyed learning with Erin, she was great at presenting information and making it digestible for first-time parents like myself who might be a bit nervous on what's to come! I signed up my husband to join me (he is a primary care physician who has a lot of base knowledge on babies). He listened in to the class, and agreed that Erin was a great teacher and presented information on feeding, nursing and health-related info really nicely for first time parents. Thanks, Erin!

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 OCEA Bringing Baby Home class provides a wealth of information and up to date, easily accessible and practical resources for soon-to-be parents, in easily digestible segments that leave participants feeling confident in their ability to parent their new son or daughter.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

What a wonderful human!! She was so nice and extremely informative :)

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

My partner and I were extremely pleased with the course we took. We learned a lot about childbirth and immediately afterwards, and feel now that we can make better informed decisions when it comes to the day of our child's birth. The information presented by our instructor was unbiased and often referred to the actual evidence in the literature, which we appreciated. We would highly recommend this course to anyone needing a pre-natal preparation class.

Pre Natal – with Tabitha Bernard

The prenatal class through OCEA was amazing! It was so nice receiving information with my partner by my side. It led us to having continued conversations in our own home about pregnancy, our plans for labour, delivery, and postpartum. Brandie is an incredible educator. She makes everyone feel at ease, she is hilarious, honest, and nonjudgmental. She wants the best for each couple simply by making sure you are informed with the best information out there

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

Great class. Exceeded my expectations and I feel much more prepared as a first-time mom. All the little details you don't think of until after the fact. Definitely worth the small fee for a greater piece of kind.

Bringing Baby Home – with Brandie Lekovic

Again, the very frank and honest explanations of what to expect are extremely valuable. These are things that nobody ever tells you and are usually very difficult to talk about.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

We liked being able to take the class from the comfort of our own home, yet in an interactive way.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

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

I was encouraged by my Midwife to take this class even though I was unsure and hadn't planned on taking any prenatal classes. I am so glad that I listened to her! My CEA class really helped me to understand the birth process much clearer than I ever thought was possible. It prepared me emotionally and mentally by explained what to expect each step of the way and physically by giving practical tips and in-class practice as to relaxation methods and positions for natural pain management. I left each evening feeling encouraged and empowered. I wholeheartedly recommend this class to anybody having a baby!!!

Prenatal Classes for Midwifery Clients – with Brandie Lekovic

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