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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 until the end of 2020.
We dearly want to support the health of our expectant families.

Great use of zoom!

Bringing Baby Home – with Brandie Lekovic April 10, 2020

Julia was an amazing educator and I would highly recommend her and this class to new parents.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes May 19, 2020

We very much enjoyed the online OCEA pre-natal course and are glad we took it. We appreciated that our instructor presented unbiased information on the birth process that was specific to Ottawa hospitals. Even my partner who already has experience with childbirth and babies learned a few new things! Would recommend to other expecting parents.

Pre Natal – with Misty Pratt June 20, 2020

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 Dec. 12, 2020

We liked being able to following the course from our home. We also appreciated how flexible and understanding Erin was throughout.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen June 27, 2020

She did a great job in making us feel comfortable to ask questions.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen March 28, 2020

Was able to do it from the comfort of my home

Bringing Baby Home – with Brandie Lekovic April 10, 2020

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 April 10, 2020

The courses offered by the OCEA have been very helpful and informative. They allow you to feel more confident about the labour process, the hospital environment you will be entered into, and bringing baby home. I would recommend this to anyone having a baby.

Bringing Baby Home – with Brandie Lekovic April 10, 2020

Lilly was great at fostering a community environment through the screen! She was always available for questions and encouraged group atmosphere in an unprecedented new learning environment!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi April 22, 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

Great class despite changed format

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes March 21, 2020


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