All childbirth, parenting and new baby classes at Northwest Hospital are offered on the Northwest Hospital campus by Great Starts. Pre-registration is required. Full payment is due at registration. Medical coupons can be used for the Seven Week Series, Four Week Series and Labor & Birth Only classes. To register online, click on the link below each class, or call Great Starts at 206-789-0883.
Seven Week Series
This series of classes meets on seven weeknights, and includes:
- Preparing for labor and birth, including stages of labor, emotional and physical challenges during labor, how a support person can comfort the laboring mother, hospital routines, possible interventions and postpartum recovery
- Newborn care class
- Breastfeeding
- Reunion after all the babies are born
Cost: $180 per pair, or ProviderOne card
Register Now
Four Week Series
This series of classes meets on four Saturdays and includes:
- Preparing for labor and birth, including stages of labor, emotional and physical challenges during labor, how a support person can comfort the laboring mother, hospital routines, possible interventions and postpartum recovery
- Newborn care class
- Breastfeeding
- Reunion after all the babies are born
Cost: $180 per pair, or ProviderOne card
Register Now
Labor & Birth Mini-Series – Saturday Series
This class is for parents who need a class to fit their busy schedule. The same labor and birth material that is covered in the full series, is consolidated into two Saturday mornings. This class does not include newborn care or breastfeeding.
Cost: $125 per pair (mother and a support person), or ProviderOne card
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Newborn Care Class
An important class for first-time parents, this course focuses on caring for the baby during the first few months of life. Topics include newborn characteristics, daily care, infant cues, sleep, health and illness, diapering, cord care, sleep and feeding habits, colic relief and changes that occur in newborn babies.
Cost: $30 per family
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Breastfeeding Basics
This class is designed to educate parents on proper feeding techniques and positioning, how often to feed, preventing and coping with common challenges and how partners can support breastfeeding mothers.
Cost: $30 per family
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Life with Baby
This class helps prepare parents for adjusting to the first year after baby's birth. Includes information on developing routines, getting sleep, returning to work, strengthening the couple relationship, finding a supportive network, and other topics of relevance to new parents.
Cost: $30 per pair
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Becoming Parents Program
This class equips expecting and new-parent couples with skills, information, and support for having the best parenthood experience possible. Learn how to parent effectively as a team and keep your couple relationship thriving after the arrival of a new baby. Class meets weekly for 6 weeks.
Cost: $380 per couple ($285 if also registered for a full childbirth prep series)
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Babysafe
This three-hour weeknight course is taught by a certified CPR instructor. Topics include infant development, SIDS risk reduction, injury prevention and care of common injuries. Infant choking rescue and infant CPR is demonstrated and practiced. This class does not include a certification card.
Cost: $40 per pair
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Conscious Fathering
For expectant or new fathers, this class provides information to help fathers feel more involved and confident in birth and child-rearing. Topics include how to connect from day one, keeping the baby as comfortable as possible and how to cope when “everything goes wrong,” plus how to meet the baby’s basic needs, as well as developing your own definition of the kind of father you want to be and determining how you want to interact with your child.
Cost: $30 per pair
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Sibling Preparation
This class prepares children for the birth of a new family member.
It is appropriate for children, ages 2-1/2 to 6 years of age, accompanied by a parent. The class is taught to the children, with parents listening in. Information is presented at a young child's learning level.
Topics include information about pregnancy, birth, how newborns behave, and some of the ways that family life is affected by new babies.
Cost: $20 per pair
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Happiest Baby on the Block
This class is for expectant parents, and parents of young infants*, who would like to learn techniques for calming and soothing a baby.
This class is based on the highly effective, 5 step approach to calming crying, and encouraging sleep, pioneered by Dr. Harvey Karp in his best-selling book and DVD. You will learn step-by-step how to help your baby sleep better and how to soothe even the fussiest baby in minutes...even seconds!
*This class can be taken before baby's birth, or anytime in the first two months. (Techniques are most effective for babies in their "fourth trimester" - the first three months of life.)
It's OK to bring your baby to class! And it's OK if they cry during class - gives us a chance to see the techniques in action!
Cost: $50 per family
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Cloth Diapering
These are not your Grandma's diapers! This class is for expectant and new parents* who want to learn about healthier, eco-conscious and cost-saving ways to diaper your baby. In this class, you will learn all you need to begin using modern cloth or hybrid diapering systems. You will have the chance to see, feel and practice with dozens of kinds of cloth diapers, learn to differentiate between styles, and figure out which diaper is best for your lifestyle.
Cost: $20 per person
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For any questions that are not answered here, or to register, please email greatstarts@parenttrust.org or call Great Starts at 206-789-0883.
