Prenatal classes (also called childbirth preparation or labor and delivery classes) are highly recommended by ob-gyns for first-time parents, yet due to COVID-19’s pandemic many families are searching for alternatives to group classes.
Discover pregnancy, labor & delivery and newborn care from a father’s perspective with 3D animation and interactive activities. Additionally, this eClass includes baby tracking tools and checklists.
Text-Based
Online prenatal classes offer expectant moms who cannot or do not wish to attend in-person childbirth classes a convenient and cost-effective solution. You’ll still get all of the same information, but at your own pace – including being able to pause videos when necessary and make detailed notes and checklists as you go along – while some online classes even offer a downloadable textbook you can keep for one full year after taking their course!
There are various online pregnancy care classes, from basic to specialized. Some are free and some cost a bit more; when choosing a class to meet your preferences and needs, find one which specializes in hospital-based labor and childbirth (for instance if you plan to have a natural birth).
During the pandemic, many pregnant women failed to attend their in-hospital antenatal appointments due to fear of infection and concern about high costs for these visits. Therefore, it is highly advised that more online antenatal care programs be made available to pregnant women for them to prepare for labor and delivery as well as reduce fear associated with hospital visits; such programs should provide general gestational education as well as mental health consultations via voice or video calls.
This online class, taught by a Certified Childbirth Educator, covers content such as third trimester testing, signs of labor, types of births, pain management techniques and postpartum care. Couples will also learn hands-on how to bathe, dress, diaper and feed their infant safely during class; in addition to safety topics including car seat safety and home security issues covered by their instructor.
Kopa Birth online childbirth class will teach both you and your partner how to prepare for unexpected circumstances during labor and delivery, including physical changes in your body and relaxation techniques for use during labor and delivery. For $79 participants can enjoy 12 video lessons, downloadable workbook, wellness meditations and access to their private Facebook community for participants. Check your insurance provider if any reimbursement of fees exists prior to enrolling.
Video-Based
Video-based learning has quickly become one of the hottest trends in eLearning and it has quickly become the standard format for online training. Video captures learners’ attention more effectively than other forms of instruction, attracting their full attention with each minute spent watching it – plus it comes at a lower cost compared to traditional training methods, making this an appealing option for associations and constituent-based organizations.
Video provides learners with a multisensory experience that incorporates text, graphics, camera footage, animation and audio – creating a highly engaging learning experience that stands apart from other eLearning formats. YouTube alone boasts 2 billion users; so it is clear why video-based learning has such an effective method for imparting knowledge and skills to students.
Video-based learning offers learners the flexibility of engaging with material at their own pace, enabling them to pause, rewind, and replay content as often as desired. This makes understanding information simpler while increasing retention as well.
Video-based lessons differ from traditional courses in that they provide information in short bursts over an extended period, which often leads to increased stress. By contrast, video lessons allow learners to complete them whenever and wherever it suits them best, reducing anxiety while ensuring greater retention of information for improved workplace performance.
Video in eLearning can also assist instructors and trainers become more effective facilitators of learning. By sharing their expertise through video, instructors can more easily explain complex concepts to their students more easily. However, videos should never replace face-to-face sessions; they simply serve to supplement it. It is also key that videos remain engaging for learners by creating short, information-rich videos of two to four minutes duration so as not to lose learners’ interest too quickly.
Free
As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, many expecting parents are seeking alternate methods of preparation for labor and newborn care. While in-person group classes may be ideal, sometimes during a pandemic it simply isn’t feasible; thankfully there are online classes offering similar information that can be completed from anywhere with internet access.
Some online childbirth classes are even free to register! While they may not offer as many interactive features and videos, such as paid classes do, they still provide all of the same information about what to expect during labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery. Some courses even provide you with a downloadable textbook you can keep and refer back to whenever needed.
An increasingly popular virtual birth class option is hosted by Genevieve Howland of Mama Natural pregnancy guide fame, as well as author of “The Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth”. She’s joined by Maura Winkler who’s an IBCLC (international board-certified lactation consultant). For $49 per couple this course provides six video lessons as well as recipes, meditations and other bonus materials – in total over 16 video hours are covered as well.
EvergreenHealth eClass provides another great resource, covering pregnancy and newborn care from both mother’s and father’s perspectives. Available in multiple languages and providing read-along audio as well as customized learner settings for those with vision, hearing or motor impairments – access is provided up to 9 months! The EvergreenHealth eClass can be taken anywhere with internet connectivity (such as computers and mobile devices).
Authored by a Childbirth Educator
This online childbirth class offers a great alternative for those who cannot attend traditional classroom settings, with its 100+ page course manual and private Facebook community group of participants. Plus, with its money-back guarantee you can give it a try risk-free. Designed by clinical childbirth educators for every step in your pregnancy journey – prepping, laboring and postpartum are covered comprehensively as part of this comprehensive pregnancy prep course that can be taken anytime anywhere – make this your pregnancy prep solution of choice today!
This online class offers two 2.5-hour sessions live-streamed via video that cover Lamaze’s philosophy of healthy birth practices and discuss topics like preparation for labor and birth, medical support during childbirth, comfort techniques and postpartum care. Both English and Spanish versions of the session are offered, and participants are welcome to ask any questions during class time.
This class is an online self-guided class designed for pregnant women and their partners or support people to prepare them for natural birth, including explaining what happens at each step, nonpharmacologic pain management options available to them, medical interventions required and why cesarean sections may be necessary. Valley midwives offers this free offering but anyone interested can attend.
Expectant parents affected by COVID-19 may have had to cancel in-person prenatal classes during this pandemic; however, there are still numerous high-quality options for antenatal education available to them. Kopa Birth offers an online pregnancy care class which teaches couples what they can expect during their hospital birth and offers tips for selecting an ideal doctor and hospital to deliver their baby. It gives expectant couples confidence when caring for their new arrival and helps them learn about birthing options while giving them peace of mind when caring for their new born infant after giving birth!
Understanding Fatherhood offers expectant mothers another excellent prenatal and postpartum course online through its Understanding Fatherhood platform, designed by registered nurses and clinical childbirth experts following the Lamaze philosophy. From understanding your body changes during gestation to postpartum care such as breastfeeding and diapering – everything covered here!
