Childbirth and Parenting Classes at Pennsylvania Hospital

Expectant Parents Orientation - Free

We are pleased to offer a free Expectant Parents Orientation for parents planning to deliver at Pennsylvania Hospital. During the orientation you will:

• take a virtual tour of Pennsylvania Hospital's Labor and Delivery and Birthing Suites.
• have an opportunity to ask all the questions you have about giving birth at Pennsylvania Hospital.
• get an introduction to our Baby-Friendly hospital practices.
• discuss how we will help you to meet your infant feeding goals.
• learn additional details about where to park and what entrance to use when it is time to deliver.

Watch the orientation video to learn what to expect and take a virtual tour of Pennsylvania Hospital's Labor and Delivery and Birthing Suites. If you have any questions, please email PennParentingU@uphs.upenn.edu or call 215-829-5020.

Labor Lab

Currently available as an interactive online class

Labor Lab is a perfect way to refresh your relaxation skills for a second or third birth or enhance your childbirth education class for baby number one. This "lab" class focuses exclusively on comfort measures for labor. Taught by certified childbirth educators and birth doulas, this will be time well spent for expectant women and their partners. Two hours of class time and homework that you will love! 

For best date options, please register for class when entering the third trimester and select a class that ends approximately 3-5 weeks before your due date.

Childbirth Prep 101, 3-Week Virtual Class

Expectant parents will learn the value of working as a team during the childbirth process. This virtual class is taught by a certified childbirth educator and covers:

• breathing and relaxation techniques
• stages of labor
• medication options
• cesarean birth

The three-week series provides the opportunity to connect online with other expectant parents.

For best date options, please register for class when entering the third trimester and select a class that ends approximately 3-5 weeks before your due date.

Childbirth Prep 101, In-Person Class

This in-person class is taught in a large auditorium with a small number of participants to allow ample room for social distancing. Masks must be worn by class participants throughout the class. Participants will go through a screening process before entering the auditorium. Please do not come to the class if you are feeling sick.

During this one-day class, expectant parents will learn the value of working as a team during the childbirth process. This class is taught by a certified childbirth educator and covers:

• breathing and relaxation techniques
• stages of labor
• medication options
• cesarean birth

For best date options, please register for class when entering the third trimester and select a class that ends approximately 3-5 weeks before your due date.

Understanding Birth e-Learning

This evidence-based, engaging online program is available for you and a partner to enjoy from the safety and convenience of your own home. Includes narration from a professional educator, engaging videos, 3D animations, learning activities and more.  Includes downloadable PDFs and a Parents' Toolbox. Registration provides access to the course content for 60 days, so it is recommended to launch the program 2.5 to 3 months before your due date.

For best date options, please register for class when entering the third trimester and select a class that ends approximately 3-5 weeks before your due date.

How to Have a Safe and Active Pregnancy

Currently available as an interactive, online course

Penn Therapy & Fitness offers an interactive, virtual class on exercise and fitness during and after pregnancy. This monthly program offers guidelines for exercise during pregnancy, including specific exercises and ways to move to avoid injury. This course, delivered through the BlueJeans videoconferencing platform, also highlights activities to avoid and warning signs to stop exercise, as well as postural changes and their effect on your overall well-being.

The instructor will also discuss:

• Common discomforts during pregnancy and how exercise can help
• Proper positioning during feeding
• Proper lifting and carrying techniques
• General stretching and strengthening exercises important during and after pregnancy 

Register at pennpartners.org/pregnancy or email ActivePregnancy@uphs.upenn.edu.

Instructions for accessing BlueJeans and a link to the meeting will be provided before class.

Baby Care Basics

Boost your confidence as a new parent by learning safe and comfortable ways to care for, swaddle, diaper and bathe your baby. We will also discuss normal newborn appearance and characteristics.

This is an in-person class. In-person classes are taught in a large auditorium with a small number of participants to allow ample room for social distancing. Masks must be worn by class participants throughout the class. Participants will go through a screening process before entering the auditorium. Please do not come to class if you are feeling sick. 

For best date options, please register for class when entering the third trimester and select a class that ends approximately 3-5 weeks before your due date.

Infant/Child Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

This CPR class is taught by instructors certified by the American Heart Association. This "friends and family" non-certifying course focuses on rescue procedures for infants and children up to eight years of age. Instruction covers emergencies such as choking, respiratory arrest and cardiac arrest. Parents, grandparents, and child care providers are encouraged to attend.

For best date options, please register for class when entering the third trimester and select a class that ends approximately 3-5 weeks before your due date.

Pediatric First Aid

This class is taught by an American Heart Association certified instructor who will help expectant and new parents learn how to handle many emergencies that can occur with babies and young children. There is a focus on child safety and prevention, as well as specific action plans for when mishaps do happen and how to stock a first-aid kit.

For best date options, please register for class when entering the third trimester and select a class that ends approximately 3-5 weeks before your due date.

Beginning Breastfeeding

Currently available as an interactive online class

Taught by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), this class will help get you off to a good start with breastfeeding. Partners and your support team are welcome to come at no additional cost.

We offer this class both virtually and in-person. Please check carefully when registering to make sure that you select the option you prefer. In-person classes are taught in a large auditorium with a small number of participants to allow ample room for social distancing. Masks must be worn by class participants throughout the class. Participants will go through a screening process before entering the auditorium. Please do not come to class if you are feeling sick.

For best date options, please register for class when entering the third trimester and select a class that ends approximately 3-5 weeks before your due date.

Becoming Grand

Currently available as an interactive online class

This one-evening course helps grandparents-to-be and new grands tap into the wisdom they have acquired through experience while learning ways to help and support the new parents. Come learn what's new and evidence-based in the world of infant safety and parenting and share with other grands.

Baby Talk!

Do you want to unlock communication with your new baby? Here is a key!

Join us for a 60-minute workshop led by a Speech Language Pathologist with a specialty in child development. This group is for parents and caregivers of children 6 months old or younger and is designed to help you communicate with your newborn.

We will focus on:

• language development
• comprehension
• expression
• basic sign language
• identifying your baby's non-verbal communication signals 

Beyond Birth Program

Beyond Birth is a program that supports patients throughout the Penn Medicine community.  \We are committed to shining a light on perinatal mental health to support patient, families and our communities. We support people in the emotional transition to parenthood, including those experiencing depression, anxiety, loss, infertility, trauma, and more. The program supports patients virtually through weekly, drop-in parent support groups (postpartum, NICU and pregnancy groups) and through birth trauma recovery groups. This program supports patients with phone calls to provide screening and assessment to identify gaps in care/services, provide therapeutic brief counseling and address any barriers to following through with postpartum longer-term therapy needs.  Patients are also connected to necessary local resources, providers for treatment, and any other appropriate community supports.

Please note that this program does not currently provide individual therapy or serve as emergency/crisis support. Beyond Birth is a bridge for patients who seek support for mental health needs during pregnancy or postpartum and connects them to needed community resources, including various parent support groups.

Breastfeeding and Returning to Work

You've got the basics down and even feel like a pro, but now it's time to start planning for your return to work. What are your options? How can you make work work? Taught by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), you need this 90-minute class. BYOB: Bring Your Own Baby.

Exploring Parenthood (0 to 6 months)

The Hall-Mercer Child and Parent Center offers this in-person discussion group for first-time parents of infants between 0 and 6 months old. The group is led by experts in newborn care and infant development and can help you adjust to new parenthood. You'll be able to ask questions, share experiences, and learn how to parent with confidence. Baby games, stories, and songs also will be shared. In this class, you will meet parents whose infants are the same age as yours.

Topics may include:

• Establishing a sleep and feeding routine
• Returning to work
• Finding great childcare
• Learning through play
• Physical, social and emotional milestones
• Life changes of new parenthood
• Parenting during a global pandemic

You have the option to register for the whole Exploring Parenthood session or to drop into individual classes.

Exploring Toddlers (13 to 36 months)

In our toddler playgroup, children will enjoy exploring our developmentally stimulating roof play-space to climb and slide in the playhouse, ride in push cars and tricycles, play with balls, trucks, cars, dolls and other toys that inspire imaginative play. Our classes include a thematic curriculum and there will also be time for more structured activities like art projects, sensory activities, puzzles, story-time, musical instruments, books, songs, games and movement activities to delight your child and provide you with inspiration for at-home ideas.

In this group, you will become more self-confident as a parent. Guided by an expert in early childhood development and education, the group will provide support as you share your experiences and ask questions so you can parent your toddler with confidence and best support your toddler's physical, social and emotional milestones. We will also include creative ways to support your toddler's development during unprecedented times at home. Instructors will present different parenting topics each week based on group interest, including: language development, handling tantrums, separation anxiety, sharing, social skills, potty training, positive discipline, getting ready for preschool and parenting during a pandemic.

This class is a great way to find other parents who are in the same stage of parenting and get lots of information about how to enrich your child's development. Parents will enjoy getting to know new friends from their community and discussing their questions and concerns with their group members and instructor. And the children love to spend time socializing as they make their "first friends" at playgroup!

Sweet Sleep Seminar

Currently available as an interactive online class

This 90-minute class will help you develop an understanding of infant sleep and maybe help you get some sleep yourself! There is so much advice about sleep — and much of it is contradictory. What is normal? What is safe? And how can I foster healthy sleep patterns in my baby?

This session is geared for parents of infants 4 weeks to 4 months old. However, expectant parents, grandparents, and caregivers will also benefit from attending. Babes in arms are welcome!