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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.

Brandie did an excellent job at teaching the course via zoom. She was engaging, offered great tips and information.

Bringing Baby Home – with Brandie Lekovic April 18, 2020

Julia was wonderful! She did a great job of making the information engaging and easily accessible for first time parents. She was really encouraging and inspiring!

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes April 9, 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

Excellent instructor, could not have asked for better.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi July 18, 2020

Lily made online learning more community like than we thought was possible! It was also very nice to learn from the comfort of our own home!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi April 10, 2020

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 May 28, 2020

Brandie was great! She was non-judgemental, calm, and made it all feel informative but not scary. We weren't sure what to expect and felt that we had an instructor who valued healthy mom, healthy baby and involved partner more than anything else. That was really important to us.

Pre Natal One Day – with Brandie Lekovic June 19, 2021

Before Covid-19, we both had very busy schedules and it was easier for us to sign up for one single day. We’ve also been reading a lot of books in preparation so we felt that a one day session would be ok. It definitely exceeding our expectations. I think my partner is much more ready for when I’m in labour as am I!

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

The course Bringing Baby Home was suggested to me, I had no idea there would be so many other options - what a great service to the National Capital Region!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi April 10, 2020

Misty was great! It's obvious that she's passionate about labour and birth, and she approaches all topics with tons of knowledge and absolutely no judgment. It was a pleasure to take this course with her!

Pre Natal – with Misty Pratt July 10, 2021

Great use of zoom. Thank you.

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

Great course! Erin is so knowledgeable. We feel like this course will save us a lot of money and angst once the baby is born. I really appreciated how current the information was and the information about local options we can use to get help and support. I wish every new family could take part in this course!

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen Dec. 12, 2020


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