Prepare for childbirth and parenthood with prenatal classes offered in-person and online
If you're having a baby, the University of Chicago Medicine can help you prepare for the arrival of your newborn. Specialists at the Family Birth Center offer several prenatal classes that are open to the community — and even available online — making prenatal education available to a wider audience.
How Online Prenatal Classes Work
With virtual classes, expectant parents and their support partners can still participate even when one or both are out of town or unable to join in person for any other reason. The Family Birth Center offers two options for online prenatal classes.
Students who choose the first virtual option learn at their own pace, using educational materials such as videos, handouts and audio instructions provided in advance. Once they complete the self-paced class, students have the opportunity to register for a live Zoom Q&A session with a prenatal nurse educator.
The second virtual option is a live class led by an instructor. Most classes are two hours long. Participants receive instructions in advance so they can gather the supplies they will need for the class, such as baby blankets and a baby doll or stuffed animal to practice diapering, feeding, burping and other infant care techniques. Instructors also email handouts to participants after class and remain available for a Q&A session immediately afterward.
Beyond Birthing Classes: From Infant Care to Postpartum Wellness and More
The most popular class is Labor Preparation for Expectant Parents. This class covers the stages of labor, along with natural approaches to pain management. An anesthesiology fellow talks about medication, epidurals, nitrous oxide and other labor pain management methods. Participants also watch videos of each labor stage.
Obstetrician/gynecologist Nicole Leong, MD, teaches Fourth Trimester: Physical Recovery After Birth. This class focuses on caring for yourself after a vaginal birth or cesarean birth and recognizing signs and symptoms of postpartum complications.
Candice Norcott, PhD, teaches From Pregnancy to Parenting: Emotional Well-Being During This Important Transition. The class discusses postpartum mental health and offers tips for emotional well-being during the transition from pregnancy to parenting.
Other classes include Breastfeeding Your Infant, Intro to Baby’s Car Seat, Infant Care and Infant CPR Safety. Most classes review safe sleep practices. Breastfeeding education is also emphasized so parents can make their own decision on the type of nutrition to provide baby.
Classes are scheduled on weeknights and weekend afternoons. Expectant parents are encouraged to attend classes before their baby is born, when they have time to focus and they’re excited about the upcoming birth.