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:

We thought Lilly was wonderful!! She kept the course engaging and shared a lot of useful information. She was also funny!! We would highly recommend her course to friends.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

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

The course covered all of the major topics that new parents should be thinking about and presented an array of options in an approachable and practical way. From learning about the basics (eating, sleeping, diapering) to gaining a lot of information on important things that we otherwise wouldn't have thought about (infant CPR, baby gear essentials, healthy attachment practices, parenting resources in Ottawa), we came away feeling far more confident in our knowledge and level of preparation for bringing our baby home!

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Ottawa CEA is a fantastic organization. My husband and I have taken two classes through them and feel less anxious about welcoming our first child, and more prepared about what to expect both during labour and when we bring our baby home. The instructors who lead the classes (Erin and Brandi) were extreme knowledgeable, friendly and explained everything thoroughly.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

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

Misty is a fabulous childbirth educator! Both my husband and I felt comfortable asking questions during the class, which is not always the case with online courses. I would 100% recommend this class to a expecting mothers and their partners. What a great way to prepare for the upcoming birth of our little one! :)

Pre Natal – with Misty Pratt

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

I would recommend this class to anyone. Even if you think you know it all, the setting allows you to explore so many options for childbirth. Ask your questions, talk to others in the group and see how other people are feeling about it. The class was amazing, but even the open discussions helped to open my eyes to new possibilities. Informative, comforting, empowering.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

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

My coworkers highly recommended I take a course with Ottawa CEA. I’m so happy that I did. Ottawa CEA offers amazing options and resources for new parents and speakers to both the birthing parent as well as the birth partner. The language used is also very inclusive. The instructors are knowledgeable and they answer every question you have. I feel more ready leaving the course to have my first child.

Pre Natal – with Michelle Morra

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

This course provided it us with the knowledge and confidence we need to bring our bundle of joy into this world! In these uncertain times it reminded us to focus on things we can control! Erin was a great teacher. Thank you so much!

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

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

This course exceeded our expectations. It covered topics we never would have even thought of looking up on our own.

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

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

Misty was phenomenal as a Facilitator, she was unbiased in her approach and research-based which was great. She was empathetic, I felt she spoke equally to moms-to-be and partners and didn't make it all about the moms which was a relief. She answered every question the participants had, she was knowledgeable beyond my expectations!

Pre Natal – with Misty Pratt

She was very engaging and passionate about the information she was sharing. I enjoyed her teaching style.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

Every parent should take this class to feel empowered and capable of making informed decisions on the care of their child-to-be. Our instructor stayed very current on industry trends and current stats and figures, and had a number of fantastic contacts and resources to pass along to us. My partner and I feel so much better about parenthood after taking this course. Highly recommend it!

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

This is a great course! It definitely helped me and my husband feel better prepared and more knowledgeable about what we will be going through. It provided us with a wide range of information from stages of labor to pain management, to breastfeeding and mommy/baby care after birth. Thank you so much for making our preparation for the big day a more pleasant experience!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

This class prepared us extremely well for the birth of our wonderful daughter. We had planned on delivering at the Birth Centre but due to a fast labour had her at home. The information received during the session greatly helped and took away any worry I had. And Lilly was an absolutely fantastic teacher!

Prenatal Classes for Midwifery Clients – with Lilly Bianchi

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

This course will help you answer questions you didn't even know you had - both for people who are pregnant and their partners!

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

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