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Comfort Measures‎

This is not a full prenatal class. This is a hands-on session to practice coping strategies and to help you find practical tips for your labour and birth.
Dress comfortably, bring a birth/pilates ball if you have one, a comfortable pillow, and a yoga mat or bath towel for your comfort. We will practice positions on the floor. Inspired by Lamaze, Bonapace, rebozo, yoga, visualization, cranial sacral therapy, and years of Doula experience.
 
This class was designed as a complement to our prenatal class (group or private). 
It is also a great refresher for those who have already taken a prenatal course, are having another baby, preparing for a VBAC, and is specifically designed for those wanting strategies to avoid pharmaceutical pain relief.
 
Labour partners are encouraged to help support the birthing woman and to expect homework.  
Pregnant women who would like to come on their own are so welcome and invited to work directly with the facilitator / experienced Doula, Brandie Lekovic.
 
 Cost of class is $75. 

 

Infant Massage

Infant Massage has shown to increase oxytocin (feel good hormone) and decrease cortisol (stress hormone) for both babies and caregivers.  We all need a little more of this!  While others are social distancing - we will be encouraging special contact with those you care about and have in reach. 
 
OCEA is offering Live online opportunities to learn this skill and to connect (with us, others, and your baby).  Classes run for 4 sessions (Wednesdays & Fridays) for $55.  Max 9 babies / class.
 
 
Health-giving properties of Infant Massage include; growth and motor skill development, blood and lymph circulation, immune system stimulation, building bones, help with gas and colic, aid with deeper and longer sleep, emotional and physical bonding time.
 
Infant massage is a natural way to nurture and care for your baby. We tend to do it while holding them - without even thinking about it. Infant Massage classes teach a full body massage routine, the benefits of individual strokes, ways to communicate with your baby, and to have some very special time together.

The facilitator, Brandie Lekovic, will lead you through individualized massage sessions. Sessions include massage oil (if joining an online session see notes) and handouts. Classes are intended for babies who are pre-crawling and provide lots of clever hints on carrying massage into the years to come. Brandie received her training with the International Association of Infant Massage and loved being able to use these tools with her boys.  

Live Online Class:  4 sessions for $55. - a community offering during Covid social-distancing. 
Group class for $75 (4 sessions over 4 weeks).  - on hold until further notice.

Private in-home sessions are $100 for a single session or $150 for 2 sessions (giving better chance for practice).  You are welcome to invite a group of baby's new friends for an additional $10 per baby.  Grandparents and other people who will be massaging baby are always welcome. - on hold until further notice.

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 registering and plan to be finished your session by 35 weeks of pregnancy.
 

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 throughout 2021.
We dearly want to support the health of our expectant families.

Honestly, it was easily one of the best online courses I have taken. The size of the group was perfect. I still felt connected to the instructor and the participants. Lilly did a great job of making us all feel included and part of the class, despite there be a screen between us. I don't have anything bad to say about it.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi May 9, 2020

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 May 11, 2020

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 June 20, 2020

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 May 19, 2020

I was a little skeptical to do this class through zoom, but I had heard so many good things in the Pregnant in Ottawa group, and am very happy we made the choice, as it was very well done.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen June 13, 2020

Due to covid was online. Was actually more comfortable being home and not having to commute

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen April 4, 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

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 Jan. 6, 2021

Our educator Erin was an expert and was very clear in her method of teaching. All my questions were answered and the class interaction was very good. I would take another course with OCEA.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen March 28, 2020

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!

Pre Natal One Day – with Misty Pratt July 11, 2020

Erin provided good information regarding on screen time with infants/children which is something that we have always been concerned about.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen April 25, 2020

Erin and Lily are both very knowledgeable, resourceful, practical and pragmatic in all of their teaching and advice. We appreciated that their courses (Labour and Delivery and Bringing Home Baby) were offered through Zoom. We are thankful for their support before we welcome our baby.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen June 27, 2020


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