Classes

Giving Birth with Confidence (online only)

MONTHLY • 5.0 HOURS • $199

Preparing for birth does not guarantee that your labor will go smoothly, but it can certainly tip the odds in your favor. This single-session, six-hour childbirth classes are based on the idea that birth is a profound life event and that it offers opportunities for learning and growth. This class involves both education and exploration of feelings about pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Our One-Day Intensive is ideal for busy families who don't have time to take a longer class. This holistic class covers everything you need to know about labor and focuses on fostering confidence in your ability to give birth, the process of labor and birth, being part of decision making and building realistic expectations about your birth. We will discuss signs of labor, how to avoid an unnecessary C-section, explore options for pain relief,  learn about optimal fetal positioning, relaxation techniques, and partner massage for labor.

Your Amazing Newborn (online only)

MONTHLY • 2.5 HOURS • $49

This class is offered to new parents and adoptive parents interested in learning important skills before the new baby arrives. We'll cover basic techniques to care for your newborn. The class will include a discussion of infant cues, sleep and feeding habits, the signs and symptoms of illness, newborn characteristics, infant milestones, bathing/hygiene, diapers/diapering, strategies for coping with crying and tips for adjusting to life with a new baby. This is a great class for first time parents. Our small group size allows for demonstration and practice, as well as a pace conducive to discussion of individual needs. Expectant mothers are encouraged to bring a support person – partner, mother, best friend, etc. 

Coping with Fear & Pain in Labor (online only)

MONTHLY • 2 HOURS • $39

For most women, the pain of labor and delivery is one of the things that causes the most anxiety about having a baby. The less tense and afraid you are, the less painful your labor will be. While the experience of pain may be different between women, beginning with early contractions many mothers will face an unfamiliar, escalating physical experience of dilation, overwhelming exhaustion, and feelings of uncertainty.  For many women it will be more than they expected.Decisions you make about pain relief measures can have a profound effect on your experience and memories of labor; procedures, medications, or restrictions that may become necessary for you or your baby; and your and your baby's well-being after the birth. For these reasons, you will want to explore your labor pain relief options well in advance and make informed choices. The class is designed to focus on three things can help you labor successfully without using medications: knowledge about what to expect, belief in yourself, and physical support and coaching during your labor. This is a class for pregnant women who would like to spend more time preparing for an un-medicated birth. Participants will have the opportunity to practice the comfort measures that can be used for labor. Come prepared to be active!

Eating for Two (online only)

MONTHLY • 2 HOURS • $49

It's true that when you're pregnant you really are eating for two, but one of you is very, very small! In reality, growing a new baby uses up only an extra 300 to 350 calories a day, which is roughly the number of calories in a bagel with cream cheese, two glasses of low-fat milk or an open-face PB&J sandwich. So you can see that you really don't need a whole lot of extra food for that tiny baby! Just a little extra will suffice. What you do need is quality foods, those that are high in nutrients. Eating healthy foods during pregnancy is not a diet – it's just a smart and easy way to be sure you and your baby are getting the vitamins and minerals you both need for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. This class will have you feeling confident about food choices you are making for yourself and your baby. We will learn how to integrate raw foods and  ayurvedic eating into a busy house-hold. There will be plenty of time each week to address and find natural solutions for your individual concerns.

Preparing for Hospital Birth (online only)

MONTHLY • 1.5 HOURS • $49

It's nearly impossible to get a full understanding of standard protocols of labor and delivery until you're actually living it. Most hospitals in our area don't even give actual in-person tours anymore. Expectant families are directed to Youtube videos if they want to have a peek at the room in which their baby will be born. It's true that you can't control every aspect of labor and delivery. Although not every unsavory experience will happen to every mother, becoming informed ahead of time can reduce the shock factor. Instead of focusing on "the perfect birth," build your knowledge of different labor experience and decide how you'd want to deal with the various possibilities.

All About Doulas (online only)

QUARTERLY • 1.5 HOURS • FREE

A doula is trained birth professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during and after childbirth. Quality labor support is an essential component for achieving a rewarding birth experience with many studies showing that women who feel secure during labor have shorter, easier and less complicated births with little to no medical intervention. Additionally, the profound life change of bringing home a new baby can be eased with the support, guidance, and care of an experienced person to help with the transition into parenthood. Working with a doula is an important personal decision. Many families have questions: Why do I need a doula? How do I find the right doula for me? What are some of the benefits of a doula’s assistance? Will a doula take over the role of my partner or family members? This course offers the opportunity to have those questions answered before making a decision about hiring a doula.

Creating a Birth Plan (online only)

QUARTERLY • 1 HOUR • FREE

A birth plan isn't required in order to have a good birth experience but having one is a great idea! A birth plan is essentially a set of guidelines for your baby's birth. It helps let your care provider and the staff at the hospital know what expectations and intentions you have for your birth. It can cover things like who you want with you during labor, what medical procedures you are comfortable with, if you want an epidural or narcotics for labor pain, and if there are special religious or cultural practices you want to have carried out once your baby is born. Creating a birth plan is a multi-part process. First you need to know everything that may happen at your birth. Second, you need information about different approaches to handle what happens. Third, you need to make decisions about your own preferences. And lastly, you need to have the tools to effectively communicate and express those preferences. Often just going through the exercise of organizing your thoughts on paper helps you work out the details of the birth you really want. This class is designed to help you create a personalized plan for your birth including what to expect when delivering at local hospitals and how to select an advocate to ensure your wishes are honored. We'll review various medical and surgical interventions and discuss the available options - and the possible risks - you need to know about to make informed decisions about your care. Finally we will weigh the advantages and disadvantages of difference decisions involved in childbirth and talk about how to facilitate collaborative decision making between you and your care provider.

Breastfeeding Basics (online only)

MONTHLY • 2 HOURS • $49 

Breastfeeding is a natural, but also a learned art that takes time and patience. This 2.5 hour class is designed to support and educate expectant Moms and their partners about the benefits of breastfeeding, and give women the tools they need to successfully begin nursing their newborn. The course includes discussion of:

- the health benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby
- basic anatomy and physiology of the breast
- care of the nursing Mom
- how to read baby’s cues
- how to initiate breastfeeding
- correct positioning and latch
- tips for problem solving
- bonding with your baby
- successfully locating community resources

Taught by our International Board Certified Lactation Consultants and Certified Breastfeeding Educators, this class addresses common questions and/or concerns. We’ll explore all the benefits of breastfeeding for you — and your baby. Learn what to expect during the first few weeks of establishing a happy and healthy breastfeeding relationship with your baby, and much more!

Cloth Diapering 101 (online only)

QUARTERLY • 2 HOURS • $29

Have you considered using cloth diapers? Are you sure you want to use cloth but are confused by all the options? Do you want to know more about washing and using cloth diapers? This workshop is for you! We’ll discuss the benefits of using cloth diapers, washing your own diapers & using a diaper service. Then we’ll show you the different cloth diaper products and how to use each. If you decide to buy cloth diapers, we’ll help you come up with a system to match your budget. This workshop is a great tool to help you wade through the options. This workshop presents an overview of cloth diapers, and is best to take before baby comes.

Myths & Facts about Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) (online only)

QUARTERLY • 1 HOUR  • $49

Vaginal birth is the normal biological consequence of pregnancy, whether or not the mother has a prior cesarean. For mothers who have been through a Cesarean, this class discusses the risks of vaginal birth after cesarean and elective repeat cesarean. It is a wonderful place to share your feelings, heal, and discover what your options are should you want to have a VBAC and find out how to get the support you need. will be discussed. This class is designed so that you can make the healthiest choice possible for you and your baby. 

Art of Babywearing (online only)

QUARTERLY • 2 HOURS

Babywearing has been growing in popularity in recent years but there in nothing new about this practice. Mothers have been carrying their babies and keeping them close for millennia. We will discuss the benefits of babywearing for both the baby and the caregiver. There is a learning curve with any baby product, including baby carriers. It is important to think of babywearing as a skill that can be learned. See a demonstration of the four main types of baby carriers which include adjustable slings with rings (these come padded or unpadded), pouch slings that are not adjustable, asian-style carriers, and wraps that simply tie on. Come to this class to examine and try on the different types, brands and sizes of baby carriers to see which suits you best. See why babywearing will become one of your most important parenting tools! If you have questions about a specific carrier or want to arrange a fitting , we would be happy to schedule a priviate consultation to help you one-on-one.

The Fourth Trimester | Adjusting to Motherhood (online only)

MONTHLY • 2.0 HOURS • $49

Most new mothers feel incredible joy when their newborn is safely snuggled in their arms. However, it is quite common to experience short term challenges after the birth of your baby due to the physical, emotional and lifestyle changes that come with motherhood. Some women eventually figure out how to balance: they learn how to get some sleep, connect with the outside world and become comfortable with their new role. For many women, this balance is not as easy to attain. What are realistic expectations? What are normal sleep habits and patterns for newborns? What does breastfeeding really look like? How do you know you are doing the "right" things as you learn to care for your baby? Michelle Fonte, mom of six and co-founder of The Gathering Place offers this class in the spirit of helping new mothers navigate the terrain of the first months of life with their newborn, learn trust their natural instincts and discover (and embrace) their "new normal". So often we teach women about a healthy pregnancy and labor, but leave them hanging and without any preparation for how to navigate the often very intense postpartum period. This class will take you through the ins and outs of this sacred time, discussing all the things (yes, all of it!) that no one talks about! In it, you’ll learn what to expect from your post birthing body and the emotional and mental changes that occur, including a woman’s changing identity into “mama.” We’ll also cover how to effectively rehabilitate your core and pelvic floor, essentials of nutrition, herbs, and supplements to support your body and breastfeeding, and self care practices to help you find calm, peace, and patience, during an often overwhelming time. This will be three hours of packed full of information, tools, strategies, and tips that will prepare you to have a happy, healthy, and well supported postpartum experience that you will embrace and enjoy. Class is open to all mamas, pregnant and postpartum. Can’t wait to see you there!

All About Pumping (online only)

EVERY QUARTER • 2 HOURS

For some moms the transition back-to-work after baby is a source of anxiety even before the baby arrives. For others, it seems to sneak up on you. Aside from managing the details of where & how your baby will be spend his/her day, wondering how to manage breastfeeding, pumping /bottlefeeding may seem like a big mystery. How will your know if you’re pumping enough? What kind of pump should you buy? How long can you freeze the milk? Does it go bad? Where will you store the milk while you’re at work?…This class is here to provide you with the tools you need to help ease your mind about the details of becoming a breastfeeding mother working outside the home.

Becoming a Father / Non-Birthing Parent (online only)

MONTHLY • 2.0 HOURS • $49

Being prepared to be a new father / non-birthing parent doesn’t just mean decorating the baby’s room and buying loads of stuff, it means opening your mind to the fact that life will inevitably move to a different rhythm once your baby arrives and developing strategies for coping with it. If you are a new dad, you will, for the first time in your existence - become truly responsible for another person. Taught by an experienced father, this course is formatted to address the issues of fathering and parenting…providing the information and support to help non-gestational parents feel more involved and confident in the arena of childbirth and childrearing.

Baby's First Year (online only)

EVERY QUARTER • 2 HOURS

Deciding to homeschool is more than choosing the cirriculum or the books or the subject matter, it is a lifestyle choice. There are no hard and fast rules. There are many styles of homeschooling and you can adapt to one or more styles to suit your family. Families have a wide range of homeschooling approaches available to them including structured "classroom-like" teaching at home, unit studies where children explore a particular topic from all angles, co-op studies with several other families, and child-initiated learning. Additionally your child's learning style has a great impact on your success in homeschooling. In this workshop information about homeschooling in South Florida will be provided including links to guidelines, resources and curricula.  We will also discuss what homeschooling actually looks like, incorporating learning styles and adequately meeting the needs of your children and family as homeschoolers. This class is a follow-up to our Homeschooling 101 workshop. Although attendance at the 101 workshop is not a pre-requisite it is recommended as introductory topics will not be covered.

And Baby Makes Three (online only)

EVERY QUARTER • 2 HOURS

What really changes when you become a parent? Everything does - instantly. The first year of life with a new baby can present significant challenges in a couples’ relationship. Changing dynamics in the mother/father dyad, the refocus of attention to the baby and away from the couple, and increasing marital dissatisfaction are all common issues. This class will provide you with the tools you need to be able to meet these challenges and prepare for the adjustment a new baby will require. You will be given practical advice on how to make the transition to parenthood as smooth as possible. Topics covered will include common concerns in the early weeks postpartum, coping with sleep deprivation, dealing with emotional ups-and-downs, when to ask for help and where to get practical support. The course will focus on communication skills, effective co-parenting techniques to improve interactions with the new baby as well as keeping both partners actively involved in the child rearing process. There will be time for discussion and brainstorming and couples are encouraged to bring their individual concerns and questions . After this class, there will be opportunities for further communication with the instructor. 

Vaccinations A-Z (in person only)

EVERY QUARTER • 2 HOURS

The U.S. government advises that by age 6, children should have vaccinations against 14 diseases, in at least two dozen separate doses. Vaccinations aren’t mandated–but they are strongly recommended by Federal law, and some schools require documentation of them or a good reason (like a religious one) for why they haven’t been completed before they’ll enroll a student. Nationally representative studies published in 2010 and 2011, surveying parents of kids age 6 and younger found that at least 1 in 10 toddlers and preschoolers were lagging behind or not following the recommended vaccination schedule. Parents still have options: refusing some shots, delaying others or abstaining entirely. The workshop is designed to give you a balanced look at pros and cons of vaccination so that you can make an educated decision. The facilitator will discuss each vaccination in the childhood series, providing explanation of the relative disease, how the vaccine is made, possible side effects, benefits and points to assess a child's at-risk level  when considering if the vaccine is necessary and schedule options.

Infant Massage (in person only)

EVERY QUARTER • 2 HOURS

Massage increases bonding between baby and caregiver, helps to relax baby, facilitates optimum quality and quantity of infant sleep cycles and communicates caring through the universal language of touch. Babies love massage, even at an early age. We offer a single two-hour class and a four week series for those parents who want to build additional skills. Classes are 80 minutes in length and designed for caregivers and precrawlers. Over the course of four weeks we will cover connecting with your baby, learning to massage your baby using imagery, baby yoga stretches, intro to Reflexology and the integration of the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of infant massage. Our small group classes ensure that each parent and baby dyad receive personalized attention. Our classes are baby led, which means it's okay for your baby to cry. The group setting allows for parents to share and learn from each other while getting to know their babies better.

Baby-Led Weaning (online only)

EVERY QUARTER • 2 HOURS

It's true. There really is no need to cook food, blend it becomes a puree and then serve it to our little one on a spoon. If your baby is 6+ months and can sit upright unaided, then they are likely capable of handling real food. In a nutshell, baby-led weaning means skipping spoon-feeding purees and letting babies feed themselves finger foods right from the start—at about age 6+ months. Oral motor development is both learned and reflexive. There are developmental windows of readiness for chewing, swallowing, accepting textures and other aspects of feeding. They can eat at their own pace and engage their senses—exploring food through sight, touch, smell, and taste. Babies also develop hand-eye coordination and chewing skills, and are more likely to eat wholesome family meals sooner. Learn how to provide healthy and safe meals for each stage of your baby’s development. We’ll discuss how to make your own baby food, a timeline for introducing new foods and ways to make feeding your baby fun and easy. Learn how to successfully introduce solids and how to develop healthy eating habits for life. Topics discussed include: when is your baby developmentally ready, selecting and preparing food for your baby, which foods to introduce and when, product recommendations to make meal-time easier, how to identify food allergies and Tips and tricks on reading your baby’s food cues, vegetarian diets, and including water in your baby’s routine.

Newborn Sleep 101 (online only)

EVERY QUARTER • 2 HOURS

In the transition from individual to becoming a parent, sleep sometimes takes center stage.  Your baby's sleep habits now dictate how much, or how little sleep you get.  So it’s not a wonder that the most commonly asked questions we hear from parents are about sleep.    “When will my child sleep through the night?”  “My child was sleeping through the night, and now he’s waking up again, what do I do?”  “Do I allow my child to continue sleeping in my bed, or should I transition him to his room?”  “My baby woke up crying, do I allow him to cry it out? Or should I go soothe him?”    Getting your baby settled in and sleeping well isn’t always an easy task. In fact, sometimes it can be quite challenging. The importance of adequate sleep, for both you and your baby, is severely underestimated. You don't have to "cry it out" to encourage healthy sleep habits in your child. This educational workshop is designed to help parents understand and encourage healthy sleep in newborns and what sleep “should” look like in the first year. Taught by a trained and certified sleep consultant, the workshop will cover a baby’s unique sleep patterns of those first 12 months, realistic expectations for sleep based on the baby’s age, and routines that can help establish positive sleep associations and promote good sleep habits. Time for questions and answers is provided. Time for questions and answers is provided.