Is the idea of giving birth and the prospect of life with your new baby a little intimidating? Do you feel that the information you have been getting so far is overwhelming or full of conflicting opinions about how you “should” do things?
Our childbirth educators are highly experienced, deeply compassionate and currently active birth and parenting support professionals. In over two decades we have taught our Birth Essentials labour and delivery support skills to countless expecting parents and nursing students.
Our judgement-free prenatal classes will give you the knowledge, tools and confidence to birth and parent like a rock star.
Prenatal Class Options: Group & Private
Birth Essentials is rooted in over 30 years of experience attending births, supporting new families, and educating health professionals. Our evidence-based, judgment-free approach ensures you feel supported, heard, and truly prepared.
How the Hybrid Format Works
Access narrated visual lessons (10–40 minutes each) to cover essential birth and postpartum theory on your schedule.
Hands-on practice focusing on coping measures, labour support, massage, partner advocacy, and multi-purpose infant soothing skills.
Covered in All Classes: Pregnancy changes, labour stages, breathing/relaxation, partner support, hospital/home logistics, newborn care and breastfeeding.
Community Experience
Hybrid Group Classes
$325
Save $25 for MotherWit birth doula clients
- Format: Self-Paced Modules + 5-Hour In-Person Session
- Location: Our NDG Office on select Sundays
- Focus: Interactive hands-on practice, labor support skills & building a parent network
Tailored & One-On-One
Hybrid Private Classes
$475
Insurance receipts provided upon request
- Format: Self-Paced Modules + 4-Hour Private Session
- Location: In the comfort of your home or at our NDG office
- Focus: Customized curriculum tailored entirely to your birth goals
Register for a Montreal prenatal class now!
Prepare Wisely
More than just learning what to REALLY expect when you’re expecting, you’ll learn what to DO! Birth Essentials Prenatal Classes prepare the birthing parent and partner for all aspects of pregnancy, labour and delivery, and life with a new baby! Our fun, interactive, and inspiring classes will demystify the birthing process, outline your options, and help address your fears.
Birth Powerfully
Birth is unpredictable. We provide you with judgement-free information, techniques and skills to help you cope effectively with the expected AND the unexpected. Whether naturally, with pain relief, or by Caesarean, MotherWit Birth Essentials Prenatal Classes will prepare you to birth like a rock star.
Parent Authentically
New parenthood can be overwhelming. MotherWit Birth Essentials Prenatal Classes will help you feel confident about understanding you and your baby’s physical and emotional needs. You will learn about feeding and newborn care through interactive hands-on demonstrations.
We educate and support you unconditionally in your choices.
There is no one ideal way to give birth or parent!
Birth, Coping, and Partner Skills
- How the body prepares for birth (and how you can help it)
- Signs of labour
- The experience of birth
- The problem with timing contractions
- When to REALLY get going to your place of birth
- Coping with labour (pacing, relaxation, breathing, identifying your natural coping skills)
- Partner skills (massage and emotional support)
Newborn Feeding and Bonding
- The baby’s experience of birth
- The immediate postpartum experience for Mom and Baby
- Family bonding in different scenarios
- Breastfeeding
- When breastfeeding needs help
- Options in feeding
- The partner’s role in supporting infant feeding
Options in Childbirth
- What happens when I get to the hospital/birthing centre?
- Demystifying clinical routines
- Medical pain management options
- Cesarean birth
- Use your BRAIN (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, Need time or Nothing)
- The rights of the labouring parent
- Managing your expectations
Baby Care and the New Family
- Home with Baby…now what?
- Basic baby care skills and concerns
- Postpartum recovery
- Why is my baby crying?
- Newborn sleep and parent survival
- I’m not myself; signs of anxiety and depression
- Importance of community and support
MotherWit Birth Essentials Prenatal classes believes that new parents and babies are our community’s most precious citizens.
Non-judgemental, supportive social contact is essential to the wellbeing of parents. Our popular weekly MotherWit Moms’ Meet-ups are safe places to bring your belly or your baby, share experiences, resources and expand your village. A MotherWit certified doula always facilitates to answer questions.
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Robin and I would like to thank MotherWit for the great Birth Essentials Prenatal Classes they gave, we really enjoyed the format and information given!
It was great being in such an open, welcoming environment and we really liked that all types of birth were covered and there was no judgement or pushing in any one direction as being the “best”.
I wanted to thank you all again for the Birth Essentials Prenatal Classes. I thought you would be happy to hear that Nicole gave birth to our little baby, Luna Mercy, on August 20th. Labor was swift and intense but through what we learned in your classes we felt empowered and prepared. Throughout labor Nicole was able to tap into her MotherWit and I could feel the power radiating from her the whole time. It was a wonderful birth experience and we can thank MotherWit for contributing to that. The three of us are now nesting, resting and bonding on our little babymoon.
Pregnant for my first time, so clueless as to what to expect, I knew my husband and I needed guidance and knowledge. Lesley and the team at MotherWit Birth Essentials Prenatal Classes did such an incredible job of laying out the facts of childbirth with humour and warmth. They opened our eyes and prepared us in ways we would never have figured out on our own. Thank you MotherWit!