Birth, Breastfeeding & Baby Essentials: In-Person (1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12/25)

In Birth, Breastfeeding & Baby Essentials: In-Person, a four-class series, Meriter’s team of dedicated educators will help expectant parents prepare for labor, birth, breastfeeding and infant/newborn care.

The first half of the series will talk about contractions and other signs of labor, when to call your provider, and when to go to the hospital. We will also explain medications used for labor, cesarean birth, and other medical procedures. We will cover comfort and relaxation techniques, the role of your support person, and decision-making for a confident birth. For your comfort during relaxation practice, please bring 2 pillows and a blanket or mat to the first class.

The second half of the series will cover your baby’s first hours in the hospital through their first few weeks at home. Your instructor will talk about infant sleep and communication cues. We will discuss the basics of infant care, car seat safety, and when to seek medical advice. You will learn how milk is made, how to learn your baby’s feeding cues, how and when to latch your baby to the breast, and how to make breastfeeding comfortable. New parents will be given tips and resources to support their new role and their recovery.

Note: Please choose only one series - Birth, Breastfeeding & Baby Essentials OR Mind, Birth & Baby Essentials. The important information for childbirth, infant care and breastfeeding will be covered in both series.

To add to your learning, you will receive three InJoy app cards: “Understanding Birth", “Understanding Breastfeeding”, and “Understanding Your Newborn”. The information found here is available to you for 18-months.

Please note, this is not an infant CPR class. Infant CPR classes can be found at https://www.cheswi.org/upcoming-courses or Red Cross Training.

This class series will meet at the Jeff Levy Education Center, 2180 W. Beltline Hwy, Madison, WI

Wednesdays 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12/25), 6:00-8:30 p.m.

Some important information about attending this in-person class (or group):

Any time you are around other people, you may be exposed to illness.

Please only choose in-person classes or groups if you meet all of the following: 

• You are comfortable with the risk of being exposed to illness, and
• You are up to date with your vaccinations, and
• You do not have an illness that makes it easier for you to get sick (immunocompromised)

You may not attend class in-person if:

• You test positive for COVID within 10 days of class, or
• You have been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID or the Flu within 10 days of class, or
• You have cold or flu symptoms like a fever, stuffiness, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, headache, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, body aches or chills.

Please note that masking at the Jeff Levy Education Center is optional but strongly encouraged, especially when in crowded spaces where 6’ distancing cannot be maintained.

Please take our classes between weeks 24 and 35 of your pregnancy.

Class Cost

$140.00 (Cost includes the registrant plus one adult support person – due to class content and partner specific activities)

Accepted credit cards: Visa, MasterCard & Discover

A week before the class, registrants will get an email with:

• some handouts for your class
• directions to our location

Along with this class series, we recommend:

Breastfeeding: Home, Pump and Work - Virtual

Meriter Baby Hour - New Parent Group

Read more about these classes at Childbirth & Parenting Classes in Madison, WI (unitypoint.org)

Refund Policy

For a full refund, registrants must contact us a week or more before the class. If we must cancel a class, the registrant will be given the chance to reschedule to another class date. If the registrant cannot reschedule, a refund will be given.

If you have any questions or need to cancel or change your class, please reach out to the Family Health Education Department at (608) 417-8446 or email: MSN_FamilyHealth@unitypoint.org.