Are you looking for online childbirth classes?
Perhaps your local hospital or birthing facility doesn’t offer them or maybe they’ve been canceled.
Whatever the reason, there are virtual birthing classes available for you as a new mom.
If this is your first pregnancy, you’re bound to have a ton of questions.
At least I know I did.
What will labor be like? What should I expect at the hospital? How do I take care of a newborn?
I had so many questions that I needed to be answered beyond the books that I was reading.
Fortunately, my husband and I were able to take both a birthing and breastfeeding class before many became full or even canceled. However, I know that not all new parents have the opportunity to do so.
You shouldn’t walk into your delivery with a bunch of questions unanswered or fear of the unknown. I want to do my part to help reassure you, if only by providing you with options.
So in this post, I’m going to share all of the online child birthing classes that I was able to find.
Before jumping into the list, let me answer some frequently asked questions first.
Otherwise, you can just click here to go to the list.
Are child birthing classes even necessary?
If you’re here, you’ve probably already made up your mind that taking a childbirth class is necessary for you.
However, if you’re undecided, you may be wondering if you even need it.
The truth is that a child birthing class isn’t necessary. They are completely optional.
But, as someone who has taken both childbirth and breastfeeding classes, I would strongly recommend it for first-time parents.
By taking these classes, I was able to have one central source of information instead of scouring the Internet for answers to my questions.
These classes are structured specifically to teach you the most important things that you need to know going into labor and delivery and for postpartum care.
They are taught by professionals in the field, which should make you assured that the information you receive is accurate and can be trusted. Our classes were taught by labor and delivery nurses (and a lactation consultant) with over 30 years of experience.
What you’ll learn in your childbirth class
The specific details of what will be covered in a class vary by provider. Nonetheless, in general all classes should touch on the following topics:
- Planning your birth
- What to expect during pregnancy
- Labor & birth terminology and stages
- Pain management
- Labor and birth interventions
- Birthing options
- Prenatal and postpartum care
- Preparing for newborn/what to expect
- Breastfeeding
Though there may be classes that are specifically dedicated to any of these individual topics, comprehensive childbirth classes should cover them all in some capacity.
During our class, our instructors also went over what to bring to the hospital for delivery. I thought that this was very helpful as we began packing our hospital bag.
If you’re unsure about what to bring, I’ve created a hospital bag checklist that you can use as a guide.
When should you start classes?
Any time before you go into labor is a good time to take childbirth classes. However, the sooner you’re able to enroll in the classes, the more likely you’ll be able to secure a seat–virtual or live.
Our hospital recommends enrolling in classes before the 5th month and having them complete four to six weeks before your due date.
We took our classes early in the third trimester.
This was still early enough in the pregnancy for me to be able to go back through the books and other resources and review them several times before going into labor.
Does insurance pay for childbirth classes?
Birthing classes are often covered by insurance; however, it’s best that you check with your plan provider beforehand to be sure.
In our case, we were able to pay for our classes using HSA, as it is a qualified expense.
Online Birthing, Lamaze and Breastfeeding Class Options
Free Online Childbirth Classes
- Childbirth Class Videos by BabyCenter
- Baby Med Email Course
- YouTube – There are several videos of recorded in-person courses that you can watch for free. The link that I’ve provided takes you to a few of these videos.
Paid Online Classes
Cost: $260
The Gift of MOtherhood is the curriculum used by my hospital. They do offer the option to buy the teaching material that comes with video lessons.
I recommend purchasing the booklet for about $5 that has the same information and access to videos.
Cost: $35-$150
Cost: $170+
Cost: $200+
Cost: $195+
Online Lamaze Classes
Cost: $195+
Online Breastfeeding Classes
Cost: FREE
Cost: $50+
Final Thoughts on Virtual Childbirth Classes
As a new, expectant mother, you won’t regret doing all that you can to prepare yourself for your baby’s arrival.
Taking an online childbirth class is a great option to do so, particularly if you can’t attend on in person.
If you know of any additional online resources, please free to share them in the comments.
Otherwise, here are a few more articles that you might find useful.
Posts Related to Childbirth Classes
- How to Host an Oline Baby Shower
- 15+ Pregnancy Must-Haves & Essentials for New Moms
- Best Pregnancy Apps for New Moms 2020
- The Ultimate Baby Registry Checklist
As Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI), she has been teaching personal finances to women & youth for over a decade.
Fo is an established writer and expert contributor on the topics of personal finance, budgeting, debt payoff, money mindset, saving, entrepreneurship, investing, motherhood, personal development, and more.