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Pre Natal Classes

For our online group classes, we ask that participants keep their videos on during class.  Like an in-person class, this creates a sense of community and safety.   If you prefer not to be seen, we recommend a private session with one of our instructors

We suggest you take your prenatal classes between 20 weeks and 36 weeks. Be sure to register early in your pregnancy in order to ensure a place is reserved for you. Classes are offered in the following formats:

6 Weekday Evenings OR Full Weekend One Day Condensed
  • Your birth support team – The role of the Midwife, family Doctor, OB, Registered Nurse and Doula
  • Stages and Phases of labour
  • Comfort measures including relaxation and massage techniques
  • Breath awareness
  • All options for pain management
  • Making decisions and giving consent
  • Methods of induction
  • Interventions including IV’s, fetal heart monitors, instrumental deliveries, inductions, and cesarean sections
  • Post birth procedures for babies
  • Post birth recovery for women
  • Resources in Ottawa
  • Infant feeding
  • Your birth support team – The role of the Midwife, family Doctor, OB, Registered Nurse and Doula
  • Stages and Phases of labour
  • All options for pain management
  • Interventions including instrumental deliveries, inductions and cesarean sections
  • Infant feeding resources
Topics are presented in a variety of methods including videos, hands-on practice, small group discussion and relaxation exercises. Topics are presented in a lecture like style to allow for the time required to cover the content in a shorter space of time.

Our one-day condensed classes are excellent for those who may not otherwise have time to take a prenatal class at all, or for those who work shift work. We cover the topics shown in the above table, which offers a comparison to our 6-week series and two-day weekend classes.  We focus on labour and birth, leaving you with reading resources for the postpartum time.

Cost of classes is $175 (CAD) (per couple) for the two day class and $155 (CAD per couple) for the one day class and includes telephone and email contact with your instructor free parking and air-conditioned rooms. 
*a couple is defined as a pregnant person and one support person, which could be a spouse, partner, friend or family member)

What materials are provided for class?  In order to make the class as interactive and hands-on as possible, we will provide you with a series of links and information sheets five days before your class with your reminder email.  The internet has a wonderful amount of resources and we will link you to up to date resources on the net.  You do not need to print them off in advance.   We also make every effort to reduce paper use and keep ours and your photocopying costs down.   

What is the difference between the 'regular' prenatal classes and those for Midwifery clients? We strive to have classes for everyone at all times and have as many locations running at any one time.  You will notice a mix of clients in most classes.  If you are a Midwifery client you are welcome to take any class on the schedule. 

Refund Policy: When cancelling a prenatal class after it has been booked there is a $25 (CAD) administration fee. If the cancellation occurs less than 14 days before the class there is a 50% cancellation fee. If it is less than 7 days there is no refund.  Request for date changes within 7 days of class will reflect a $75 fee.  Please keep this in mind when booking classes and plan to be finished your session by 35 weeks.

People who took our online class during COVID-19 had this to say:

Given the continued need to physically distance and wear masks, OCEA will continue to offer all classes online until the end of 2020.
We dearly want to support the health of our expectant families.

We really appreciated Julia's approach. She was objective, knowledgable and funny! I appreciated her non-judgemental but also no-nonsense attitude very much:)

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes April 25, 2020

Lilly was an absolute joy! She was very professional, but also included tasteful humour which made the discussions and content very enjoyable. She did a great job of engaging the participants even over Zoom.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi May 9, 2020

Misty was phenomenal. She is a great instructor and kept our attention all weekend. We appreciated her unbiased and factual approach.

Pre Natal – with Misty Pratt June 20, 2020

This course was provided via zoom and I don't feel like I missed out on anything by participating virtually. The instructor was extremely knowledgeable and answered every question. I felt her sympathy for all of the birthing women during this COVID19 environment.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi April 10, 2020

Julia was an amazing educator and I would highly recommend her and this course to new parents. It was incredibly helpful.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes May 19, 2020

Our educator was fantastic. We were really impressed by her. She knew her material, but was engaging and interesting, even remotely for the first time. We felt she was careful with her word choices. She had a pleasant demeanor and was very adaptable and responsive based on our questions and based on the new format of the course without any issues. We would highly recommend this course, but we would recommend any class with her particularly. She made us believe we could bring home a baby and we would all survive!

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen March 21, 2020

She was very informative and very kind. Thank you again for starting a chat at the end of the class about how all of us were doing and suggesting that we check in again in a week.

Pre Natal One Day – with Brandie Lekovic March 22, 2020

This course was a great introduction in all things labour. Things are a bit different in Covid-19 times and our instructor made a point of keeping us up to date with what to expect while being very empathetic with the challenges this situation brings to labour and tricks to get through it positively.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi May 9, 2020

This class strikes a great balance between super practical guidance and insights on day-to-day life with a new baby, and also up to date, thoroughly referenced, scientifically backed health information and parenting discourse.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen March 28, 2020

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

Pre Natal One Day – with Brandie Lekovic March 22, 2020

It was interactive and live so we could ask questions as it went on and get instant feedback.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen March 21, 2020

Misty was wonderful! Very knowledgeable, approachable, encouraging, warm - we appreciate it so much, especially in the current climate of unknowns. This course was a great experience - will recommend!

Pre Natal – with Misty Pratt March 14, 2020


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