Classes and Parenting Groups
In-Person or Virtual Classes to Support You
At Baystate Health, we provide a wealth of education and support for expectant parents and families. We can help through every stage of pregnancy, childbirth, delivery, and beyond.
Childbirth and parent classes cover a range of topics, from breastfeeding to childbirth, parenting and more. We also offer support groups for new parents and families.
Register for Childbirth and Parent Classes
We offer virtual classes and groups out of Springfield and Greenfield.
Classes at The Birthplace in Greenfield
Virtual (WebEx) Childbirth Education Bundle - $175
This class is a bundle of 5 two and a half hour sessions held live with a Parent Education Instructor that can be taken from your own living room. Learn in a virtual classroom while having your questions answered in real time.
You’ll learn about:
Class 1
- Stages of labor and delivery
- Basic comfort techniques
Class 2
- Medications
- Medical interventions
- Cesarean Sections
Class 3
- Labor support
Class 4
- Postpartum care
- Newborn care
Class 5
- Prenatal Breastfeeding
Childbirth Education Express- $175
This in-person class will take place over two consecutive days (Saturday and Sunday).
The classes will provide information including the stages of labor and delivery, basic comfort techniques, medications, medical interventions and labor support.
Postpartum care is covered as well as how to care for and understand your new baby.
Finally, we will provide the most current information on breastfeeding, including helpful tips and techniques.
Infant Care - $35
Learn how to care for and understand the new baby in your family.
We will discuss:
- Your relationship to your baby: infant bonding, feeding cues, sleep patterns and behaviors
- Hands-on skills for baby care: infant soothing, diapering, and bathing
- Keeping your baby healthy and safe: recognizing when your baby is unwell, knowing when to call the pediatrician or lactation consultant
Infant Massage - Free
This is a four-week series.
We will learn about:
- Massaging your baby using specific strokes and techniques to promote bonding and attachment.
- How massage benefits all systems of the body and helps your baby relax, sleep well, and relieve colic
Keeping Baby Safe - $40
This class teaches parents how to keep your baby safe.
Virtual Keeping Baby Safe - $40
This class is held over the WebEx meeting platform from 6-8 pm. Click "Register" for available dates to register.
You'll learn about:
- Infant CPR
- First aid for choking
- Poison prevention
- Baby-proofing your home
- Car seat safety
Classes at Wesson Women & Infants' in Springfield
Childbirth Questions and Answer Hour: Ask a Parent Educator
Virtual meeting via the Zoom platform on scheduled Sundays from 6-7pm, click the register button to view dates.
Having a baby? Questions about labor & delivery? Postpartum care? Want to know which Childbirth classes to attend? Please join us at any time during the hour for a free Q&A with a Certified Parent Educator.
Virtual Childbirth Education Bundle - $165
This class is a bundle of 4 two hour sessions held live with a Parent Education Instructor that can be taken from your own living room. Learn in a virtual classroom while having your questions answered in real time. You will also automatically be registered for our part 2 of breastfeeding, to be taken after baby is born, closest to your due date.
You’ll learn about:
Class 1
- Stages of labor and delivery
- Basic comfort techniques
Class 2
- Medications
- Medical interventions
- Cesarean Sections
Class 3
- Infant care
Class 4
- Prenatal Breastfeeding
The Basics-Breathing, Massage and Positions for Labor Virtual class - $25
Learn helpful breathing patterns, massage & relaxation techniques and a variety of comfort positions useful during labor in this unique virtual class. This class is ideal for those looking to have a natural birth and it's also perfect as a refresher class for those having a 2nd baby.
*Class not available at this time
Online Preparation for Childbirth - $80
Our online childbirth class is ideal for those who enjoy learning on their own and at their own pace. It is great for expectant parents who can’t attend an on-site childbirth class due to work schedules, time constraints, or medical conditions. This class does not include any face-to-face time with a Parent Educator.
The eight-chapter program will help you:
- Understand pregnancy – what’s happening to your body, discomforts, warning signs, nutrition, exercise, and more
- Learn about labor – preparing for birth, pre-labor signs, onset of labor, 3D animation of labor process, and more
- See how the stages of labor unfold – watch amazing real-life birth stories
- Discover helpful comfort techniques – breathing, relaxation, massage, visualization, focal points, hydrotherapy, labor and pushing positions, advice for partners, and more
Spanish Online Preparation for Childbirth - $80
This course has all the same valuable information as our English class above but for our Spanish speaking parents-to-be.
Virtual Prenatal Breastfeeding Class - $30
Receive the most current information on breastfeeding, including helpful tips and techniques using the Zoom meeting platform from the comfort of your own home.
One Day Childbirth Education Express Bundle - $165
This one day class, held on Saturdays from 9 am-4 pm (45 minutes for lunch). This bundled event also includes three additional classes: Infant Care, Prenatal Breastfeeding and Postnatal Newborn Behavior and Feeding.
*Class not available at this time
You’ll learn about:
- Stages of labor and delivery
- Basic comfort techniques
- Medications
- Medical interventions
- Postpartum care
Two Day Childbirth Education Bundle - $165
A two-day class held over two consecutive weeks from 9:00am-3:00pm. The first class consists of labor, delivery and postpartum. The second class will cover Infant Care and Prenatal Breastfeeding. This bundle class also includes a free virtual postpartum class, Baby's Home! - Now What? Virtual class.
*Limited series at this time
You'll learn about:
- Stages of labor and delivery
- Basic comfort techniques
- Medications
- Medical interventions
- Postpartum care
Four Day Childbirth Education Bundle - $165
Four classes held over two consecutive weeks from 5:30pm-8:00pm. (Sunday, Monday, Sunday, Monday)The first class consists of pregnancy, labor and delivery, the second class presents medical interventions, Cesarean section and postpartum. The third class will cover Infant Care and the fourth class covers Prenatal Breastfeeding. This bundle class also includes a free virtual postpartum class, Baby's Home! - Now What? Virtual class
You'll learn about:
- Stages of labor and delivery
- Basic comfort techniques
- Medications
- Medical interventions
- Postpartum care
Basic Breathing and Positions for Labor - $25
This class is ideal for parents who want a more in-depth knowledge of advanced comfort and support techniques for labor and delivery. This information is not covered in the Preparation for Childbirth and Childbirth Education Express classes due to time constraints.
*Class not available at this time
Practice time for relaxation, guided imagery, natural pain management and breathing techniques (Lamaze) are just a few of the topics covered.
Maternity Tour - Free
Join us for a brief overview in the Lundy Boardroom on Wesson Ground floor followed by a 45 minute tour of the birthing areas including:
- Women's Evaluation and Treatment Unit
- Labor and Delivery/Postpartum unit
- C-Section Postpartum unit
- NICU/CCN area (not inside the nurseries)
Online Multiples Childbirth Education Class - $80
Our Multiples Childbirth Education class is a class that is taken in the comfort of your own home. This class is ideal for expectant parents who want education that is specific for families expecting twins or triplets in their second trimester of pregnancy.
Virtual Infant Care Class - $35
This unique virtual class will take place on an evening from 6 – 8 pm.
Topics include: creating and maintaining a loving bond, diapering and bathing, taking baby's temperature, comforting techniques, infant feeding cues, sleep patterns, normal infant appearance and behavior, and when to call the physician.
This class will be held on the Zoom meeting platform
Infant Care Class - $35
This prenatal class teaches you how to care for and understand your new baby.
*Class not available at this time
You will learn about:
- Creating and maintaining a loving bond
- Diapering and bathing
- Taking baby's temperature
- Comforting techniques
- Infant feeding cues
- Sleep patterns
- Normal infant appearance and behavior
- When to call the physician
Virtual Keeping Baby Safe - $40
We all want happy, healthy children. As parents, we can help make this happen by using safe practices in everyday living.
In this virtual class we will touch on topics such as:
- Car Safety
- Safe Sleep practices
- Poison prevention
- Baby-proofing your home
- Choking/First aid practices until first responders arrive
- and many more.....
*Class not available at this time
Keeping Baby Safe - $40
This face to face class teaches parents how to keep your baby safe.
You'll learn about:
- Infant CPR
- First aid for choking
- Poison prevention
- Baby-proofing your home
- Car seat safety
Keeping Toddler Safe- $40
This face to face class teaches parents how to keep your toddler safe from ages 2-5.
You'll learn about:
- Injury prevention
- Water/Drowning Safety
- Basic first aid
- CPR and what to do for choking with mannequin practice(compressions, breaths, calling 911, and more)
- How to treat burns, falls, poisoning, bleeding, bites, and much more.
Baby's Home! - Now What? Virtual class - Free
Taken after you deliver, this class provides postpartum support for new parents and provides information on newborn behavior in the first few weeks of your infant’s life.
You’ll learn about:
- Feeding cues for breast and bottle feeding
- Infant sleep patterns
- Comforting a crying infant
- Returning to work
- Continued support for breastfeeding moms
- Pumping techniques
- Storage of breast milk.
Online Sibling Preparation class - $35
After completing this unique class, you will be able to:
- Use age-appropriate language to talk to your child about babies and birth
- Include your child in preparing, welcoming and caring for baby
- Teach your child how to be a Super and Safe Sibling
- Includes videos and activities to do with your child
Grandparents Class - $25
This class, for grandparents-to-be and new grandparents, provides information about current labor and delivery, infant feeding and safety practices. Discussion on the role of grandparents and a tour of the birthing center is included.
*Class not available at this time
Babysitters Academy - $75 per child/ $30 additional sibling
Designed for young adults ages 11 1/2 to 15 and includes: baby care, first aid, fire safety, home security, accident prevention & CPR.
Parent Support Groups
Expectant parents can join this free group at any time during the hour to have their questions answered by a Certified Parent Educator. If you have questions about labor & delivery, postpartum care, what childbirth classes to take, or anything else you need answered, register below.
This group takes place on scheduled Sundays from 6-7 pm. Click the register button for dates.
Find community and make lasting friendships as we support one another through the rollercoaster of parenthood. Topics include the challenges of parenting, recognizing postpartum mood changes, breastfeeding, baby milestones and more. Snacks provided!
• Facilitated by the parent education and lactation departments
• Every Thursday 11 am-12:30 pm
• Baystate Education Center, 361 Whitney Ave, Holyoke
Parenting Resources
Who says children don’t come with a handbook? Contact us to request detailed booklets from Baystate for help with breastfeeding, pregnancy, and childbirth:
Becoming a Family: Your Pregnancy & Hospital Services
- Becoming a Family (English)
- Convirtiéndose en Una Familia (español)
Baystate’s Babies: Getting to Know Your Baby – A Parent’s Guide
- Baystate’s Babies Guide (English)
- Baystate’s Bebés (Español)
Parenting Info & Tips
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