Prenatal & Postpartum Classes & Support

BIDMC offers in-person and virtual classes, in addition to online learning modules you can browse at your own pace. We offer a range of classes:

• All-inclusive childbirth and infant care class (including tour) with optional infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• Childbirth education class and tour
• Infant care class with optional infant CPR
• Infant CPR and safety
• Prenatal yoga
• Preparing for your cesarean section and tour
• Refresher childbirth class and tour
• Sibling class
• Virtual Q&A

View our current classes and events for a complete schedule and to register.

Childbirth preparation classes help prepare you and your partner learn what to expect through the end of your pregnancy including these and other helpful topics:

• Early signs of labor
• Physical process of labor
• How your partner or labor companion can best support you

Tuition Reimbursement

Check with your insurance provider to find out if they offer reimbursement for childbirth classes. If so, save your receipt and provide it to them along with your Certificate of Completion.

If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA), you can submit course receipts and completion certificates to those accounts as well.

Consider taking classes between the 28th and 34th weeks of your pregnancy. This is the time when you’re best able to absorb and retain key concepts, while having adequate time to gather more details and line up postpartum resources.

Our classes are popular, so don’t wait until your last trimester to secure your spot. Our classes are open to all, including those not delivering at BIDMC.

Obstetric anesthesiologists host free Q&A sessions virtually to share information and to answer questions about anesthesia and pain management during labor and delivery.

Sessions are held on the last Thursday of February, May and August, and the third Thursday in November, from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm. Please call 617-667-3112 to register for this free session.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful and natural way to feed your baby. This is especially true during the first three months of your baby’s life, referred to as the fourth trimester. We are happy to offer a space for practice and support.

Weekly, In-Person Breastfeeding Support

We offer in-person breastfeeding support for the lactating caregiver and their baby up to age 12 weeks, with our international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC).

You must register for each session. Please sign up for one session at a time. If you don’t pre-register, we may not have space for you during that session.

Virtual Breastfeeding Support

This resource is designed for families age newborn through the end of their breastfeeding journey. The purpose of this weekly question and answer opportunity is to support families as they progress along their breastfeeding journey. Common topics include general breastfeeding, pumping, returning to work, breastfeeding and the addition of solid food and weening. These weekly sessions are hosted by an IBCLC via Zoom.

You must register for each session. Please sign up for one session at a time. If you don’t pre-register, we may not have space for you during that session.

Through our mentoring program, parents are matched with a trained, volunteer mentor who provides weekly phone call support through the first 12 weeks post-delivery. Mentors lend valuable support, encouragement and reassurance as well as resource information particularly around breastfeeding, or when to call your pediatrician.

As mentors initiate calls during the first days home from the hospital, they are often in a position to recognize early signs of a postpartum mood disorder and thereby help families get connected to the appropriate health care provider as early as possible.

To register for our mentoring program, email the Parent Connection your name, baby's name and phone number.