Our Classes

We are proud to offer

Pre Natal Classes

In - Person classes will resume in September 2023 for weekend sessions. Virtual classes will continue for evening sessions and weekend morning 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 post birth.

Cost of classes is $200 (CAD) (per couple) for the two-day class and $175 (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 can be a spouse, partner, friend or family member)

What materials are provided for class?  To make the class as interactive and hands-on as possible, we will share 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 strive to reduce environmental impacts by offering all resources in e-formats.

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.  Requests for date changes within 7 days of class will reflect a $75 fee.  Please remember this when booking classes and plan to finish 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, the size of our room rentals and the evolving state of our global pandemic, OCEA will continue to offer all classes online throughout 2022.
We dearly want to support the health of expectant families.

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

Julia was excellent. Very personable and she made you feel very comfortable in the class and when asking questions. Really enjoyed her overall approach. I will definitely be recommending her and the class to friends.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

Lilly was incredible, she shared the information that can appear as quite daunting in such a calm, humble matter. At no point did she make my husband and I feel overhwlemed by the information abd when information felt overhwhelming, she ensured to make the time to calm all of our worries and answer all our questions

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi

Brandie sent us SO many links and provided us with a lot of different reading materials... a dream for someone like me who loves information

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

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

Julia was great! She kept things light, down-to-earth, and didn't sugar coat things. We all tend to have ideas about what childbirth is like based on tv, movies and old-wives tales, but she was great at dispelling anything that may have mislead us in the past. Her knowledge and experience in the area of childbirth was incredibly helpful.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

Julia was a great teacher! Very knowledgeable and passionate. We learned a lot.

Pre Natal – with Julia Wykes

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

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

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

Erin was very personable and shared her expertise freely and in a non-threatening way. The way she laid out the information and gave us room to ask questions and determine the best route for our own choices was so appreciated. Her quick responses to questions on the chat was also most welcome.

Bringing Baby Home – with Erin Shaheen

I’m a healthcare provider and I work with prenatal and postnatal women. I took this class, as the birthing partner, with the expectation that I can at least learn with my non-birthing partner. I ended up learning a lot myself that I didn’t know. I really appreciateD the opportunity to stimulate discussion between me and my partner so we can make informed decisions together!

Pre Natal – with Brandie Lekovic

I would recommend this class to all expecting parents. It really increased my confidence in myself going into birth and the first few months with our child. It has facilitated my ability to communicate better with my partner. This course is worth every penny and every minute of time.

Pre Natal – with Lilly Bianchi


 
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