Childbirth and parenting education
Benefits of childbirth education and parenting classes at Penn Medicine
Whether this is your first child or you’re adding to your crew, we help you and the rest of your family prepare to welcome a new baby.
Our childbirth classes help you understand labor and delivery, explore care options, and plan for childbirth. An experienced registered nurse (RN) who’s gone through extensive training to become a certified childbirth educator (CCE) leads our childbirth classes. You can attend by yourself or with a supportive partner.
Our parenting classes help you feel confident in your new role as a parent, teaching you proven methods that keep you and your new baby safe, healthy, and comfortable.
In addition to preparing you for childbirth and parenting, many attendees enjoy connecting with other expectant and new parents. We help facilitate these connections and allow you to share your experiences.
We offer classes both in person and online so you can choose what fits your lifestyle and schedule.
When should I take childbirth and parenting classes?
We recommend taking childbirth classes during your second trimester or the first part of your third trimester, so the information is still fresh when you’re ready to give birth. You may take infant care or other parenting education classes in the third trimester or the first few weeks after giving birth.
You aren’t required to take classes, but we highly recommend attending one or several to prepare you and your family for welcoming a new baby.
Types of parenting education we offer
Virtual and in-person classes are available at all Penn Medicine labor and delivery hospitals. Class topics and formats vary by hospital. Please choose a location to view its classes:
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Hospital
- Chester County Hospital
- Doylestown Health
- Lancaster General Health
- Penn Medicine Princeton Health
We also offer self-guided online courses that you can do at your own pace if traditional classes don’t work for your schedule.
We teach you how to keep your baby safe and respond to emergencies. Great for parents, grandparents, and caregivers, class options include:
- Car seat safety
- Infant CPR and first aid
- Safe sleep practices for newborns
Whether you want to understand the basics of breastfeeding or need guidance on pumping and storing breastmilk, our expert lactation consultants help you learn to feed your baby. Class options include:
- Prenatal breastfeeding
- Pumping and returning to work
There’s a lot to juggle after bringing home a newborn. Our CCEs boost your confidence as a new parent by reviewing safe and effective ways to care for your baby, including swaddling, diapering, and bathing. You may attend by yourself or with a supportive partner. Class options include:
- Baby care basics
- Understanding your newborn
You can take childbirth classes as a series over several weeks or a single all-day class. You learn what to expect during labor and delivery and explore various medication and birthing options. You may attend by yourself or with a partner. Class options include:
- Childbirth prep 101
- Childbirth refresher
- Comfort and relaxation for birth
- Labor lab
- Understanding birth
- Understanding cesarean section
We help you nurture your baby’s development, adjust to parenting, and meet other parents whose infants are the same age as yours. Experts in infant care and child development lead the group. Classes include:
- Baby talk!
- Bright beginnings
- Exploring parenthood (birth to 6 months)
- Exploring toddlers (13 to 36 months)
- Sweet sleep seminar
Having more than one baby is exciting, but it can be challenging, too. In our Understanding Multiples class, we help you learn what to expect during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We also share some helpful tips on how to care for your newborns in those first few weeks.
Growing your family is a big transition for everyone, especially your children. Our sibling class helps children ages 3-10 prepare to become big brothers or sisters. We discuss changes that will happen within your family and talk through any questions your child may have. We take a guided tour of the postpartum area so your children know what to expect when they meet their newborn sibling. A guardian must be in attendance for the entire class.
Your body goes through significant physical and emotional changes in the first few weeks after childbirth. We help you understand these changes, connect with your newborn, and heal your body. Infants are welcome to attend this class with you. Postpartum support classes include:
- Beyond birth
- Infant massage and bonding
- Postpartum adjustment
Safe Sleep Awareness for Every Well Newborn (SAFE) program
Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), also known as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), is the unexpected death of a baby under the age of 1. In Pennsylvania, SUID claims the life of one baby every four days. Most commonly, the baby passes away while sleeping.
To reduce SUIDs risk, experts at the Pennsylvania Hospital and Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania developed the SAFE Sleep Program. We teach parents, grandparents, and caregivers how to create a safe sleep environment for infants. SAFE Sleep launched in 2017, and today, many medical centers in Pennsylvania use the program to help prevent SUID.
Safe sleep at Penn Medicine
If you deliver at a Penn Medicine hospital, you’ll participate in the SAFE sleep program. A maternity nurse reviews safe sleep guidelines for infants and answers your questions. You watch a video that reviews safe sleep practices, including placing your baby on their back, on a firm surface, with nothing else in the crib.
Before leaving the hospital, we ensure you have everything you need to create a safe sleeping environment for your infant.
Penn Parenting Resource Center
Located at the Pennsylvania Hospital, parents can take childbirth and parenting classes from a qualified educator. The center also offers comprehensive lactation support.