Having a kid may be a nerve-wracking experience for some people. There is a broad variety of information covered in these parenting programs that can be completed online from the convenience of one’s own home. Some of the subjects covered in these programs include the process of giving birth as well as the health of the new mother and baby following delivery.
A year ago, when I found out I was pregnant, I had idealistic, albeit somewhat cliched ideas of what the next nine months would look like: shopping at the mall at my own leisure for maternity clothes, going to ultrasound appointments with my husband, indulging in prenatal massages and pedicures, having a large, joyful baby shower, and taking childbirth preparation classes at the nearby parenting center. However, the reality of my pregnancy has been quite different from my expectations. Obviously, none of this has actually taken place. Because of the way the world is right now, expectant mothers like me have been forced to make some unanticipated adjustments to their birthing plans. This is because, as many of us have discovered, a baby waits for no one—not even a worldwide pandemic—and birthing plans are non-negotiable.
I am not going to complain. I am thankful that despite the fact that the experience hasn’t been perfect in every way, I was able to spend time in the convenience of my own house. I also discovered that I had more access than ever to knowledge on parenting at my fingertips, and happily, it appears like there are an unlimited number of internet support groups and opportunities to connect with physicians, midwives, and doulas.
According to Mia Di Julio, M.D., an OB-GYN at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, completing an online course may still be productive and helpful, despite the fact that it may not provide the same sense of immersion as participating in the actual activity in person.
“Even though it is probable that your prenatal experience may not go according to plan, there are several ways in which you can remain connected and educated in a safe manner. According to Dr. Di Julio, “[Online courses] can reduce stress and anxiety and help you feel more empowered and excited going into your birth experience.” [Online courses] can also help you feel better prepared for the birth experience. “I encourage every family to creatively utilize the many resources available and to maintain active communication with your doctor or midwife to support you along the way.”
Expectant mothers and fathers have access to ever-expanding ranges of choices. These birthing and parenting programs offered online will, however, at the absolute least, make you feel a bit more prepared for welcome your new one into the world. This is true regardless of when you found out you were pregnant or how much time you have left before your due date.
Pampers
In order to provide parents with access to cost-free birthing instruction, Pampers has partnered with the birthing instruction Association. This in-depth information for each step of the labor and delivery process is presented in a video series consisting of nine parts and conducted by professional birthing specialists. The films are brief (lasting no more than roughly 15 minutes each) and offer to provide answers to all of your fundamental concerns, such as what to anticipate immediately after giving birth and what to anticipate throughout each stage of labor.
Lamaze
Are you curious about Lamaze? During this epidemic, you won’t be able to locate any in-person local sessions to learn the method, which focuses on deep breathing; instead, you’ll have to make do with learning it online. Normally, you could find a handful of these classes near you. And hey, don’t worry about it since the internet offers even more choices, so that’s not a problem at all. Lamaze International has produced a series of online childbirth education seminars with the assistance of seasoned Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators, relying on research that has been shown to be accurate. You may learn things beyond breathing exercises by searching for courses by trimester or category (pregnancy, labor and delivery, nursing, infant care, and parenting), and you can learn things like how to effectively parent together or how to prepare to go back to work while breastfeeding. The option to purchase it in bundles is available to each class.
Kopa Birth
Kopa Birth is a wonderful resource for expectant moms who want to give birth in a medical facility without the use of any drugs. The goal of the online course, which was designed by a licensed nurse who is also a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, was to make it easier for women to feel confident and at ease throughout natural childbirth with the support of less medical interventions. The website provides course access subscriptions for a period of either three or seven months.The programs consist of a simulated work experience, as well as hours of video lessons and meditations. In addition to that, there is a bonus package that consists of food plans, a workout program, and several other additional features.
Tinyhood
Tinyhood was established by two mothers who were upset by the lack of clear parenting counsel that was accessible to expectant parents. These women both had backgrounds in engineering. This served as the impetus for them to launch Tinyhood, which is a curated collection of online courses that are focused on the fundamental subjects that you need to know as a new parent and are taught by qualified professionals. The Baby 101 course is broken up into 15 distinct lessons that cover a wide range of topics, including baby CPR and tummy time instructions in addition to frequent breastfeeding difficulties and establishing healthy sleep routines. In addition to that, during the COVID-19 epidemic, they provided their breastfeeding lessons at no cost.
Nurture
If you have done any research at all regarding the available services for parents, you have most likely come across Erica Chidi. She began her work as a volunteer inside the San Francisco jail system, assisting pregnant convicts, and now she has more than a decade of experience as a birth and postpartum doula. Since then, she has published the book Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, and Early Motherhood, which shot to the top of the best-seller lists almost immediately after its release. She has also begun giving her services online, and she has assisted thousands of women all across the nation via her online course.
The Online Birth Course that Nurture offers is now accessible to take advantage of via the LOOM platform. It is a thorough prenatal and postpartum guide that will not only teach you the essentials but will also help you prepare emotionally by addressing how your relationships, profession, and way of life will change with the arrival of your kid. This book will be helpful to you both throughout your pregnancy and after you have given birth. In addition to the 26 videos that are filled with knowledge, you will also get access to printable worksheets and a monthly webinar in which Chidi will be present to answer any questions you may have. As a demonstration of solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement, twenty-five percent of the revenues from the sale of this course will be donated to the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. In addition to that, Chidi is one of the co-founders of Loom, which is a sexual and reproductive health facility in the city of Los Angeles.
Taking Cara Babies
Concerned about the process of sleep training? The online classes offered by Taking Cara Babies are highly recommended by first-time mothers. After all, the company’s creator, Cara Dumaplin, is a mother of four, works as a neonatal nurse, and is married to a doctor. She knows what she’s talking about. Since the introduction of Taking Cara Babies by Dumaplin in 2013, the company has assisted thousands of parents in getting their infants to sleep independently for 10 to 12 hours by the age of 5 months. She provides a variety of classes, including:The First Five Months Bundle, which contains the book “Will I Ever Sleep Again?,” will provide you with the resources necessary to build a reliable foundation for sleep and “love the newborn stage,” as mentioned in one of the testimonials. There is also a 5-24 Month Collection available, which consists of a phone consultation with a qualified sleep specialist and a multi-segment video course that runs for a total of ninety minutes.
WeeHuman
WeeHuman’s class offerings are probably going to be the most suitable choice for you if you are the kind of person who absorbs information most effectively during live sessions in which you can engage in conversation with both your instructor and your fellow students. WeeHuman provides parents with live, instructor-led, small-group educational programs on childbirth, parenting, and early childhood development. In addition to its interactive online courses with educators and professionals (hosted through Zoom), participants have access to a resource collection that has been produced by experts, help via chat, and community-based question and answer sessions. For example, the Modern Childbirth program consists of fifty-one sessions that are designed to empower and equip soon-to-be parents.
John Hopkins
Check out the online childbirth education program offered by the gynecology and obstetrics department at Johns Hopkins for a charge of fifty dollars if you are interested in learning more about the medical side of giving birth and nursing. The curriculum is broken up into eight separate chapters that will help you better grasp various relaxation and comfort methods, as well as pregnancy and labor in general.
Motherly’s Birth Class
Because of the widespread COVID-19 epidemic, many expectant mothers have been compelled to search the internet for childbirth and parenting training. During the epidemic, Motherly made its online birth class available for free to all of their users. It is a course that will accompany you through the labor process and prepare you for the birth experience that you are hoping for. It is taught by Diana Spalding, who is a registered nurse-midwife and the author of The Motherly Guide to Becoming Mama.
Robyn
Consider Robyn to be a directory of wellness specialists designed specifically for pregnant and postpartum practitioners. Doulas, fitness trainers, pelvic floor therapists, mental health therapists, coaches, acupuncturists, and a wide variety of other perinatal period-trained experts are all available to be located and contacted via the website. In addition to that, the organization provides its very own birthing preparation and instruction course (which is, of course, done online). The course covers the preparation for delivery as well as the birth itself and the postpartum period. It addresses often asked topics such as “What happens at appointments with my OB or midwife?” “What happens right after birth?” and “How do you feed your baby?” It is also a class that acknowledges the fact that there is not one single way to become a parent.
Mama Natural Birth Class
The extremely well-liked online birthing class offered by Mama Natural is a good option for expectant mothers who want to give birth without the use of any medications. The course covers a wide range of topics, such as pregnancy nutrition and natural remedies for symptoms such as swelling or heartburn. It also discusses the practical tools you’ll need to ensure a peaceful birth and how to put together the best support team. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there is also a brand new module called “Coronavirus and Pregnancy” that covers all you need to know about pregnancy and delivery. Maura Winkler, who is a registered nurse-midwife, nurse, doula, and board-certified lactation consultant, and Genevieve Howland, the creator of Mama Natural and author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, are the hosts of this show. Genevieve Howland is also the author of The Mama Natural Week-by-Week Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth.