Great Starts Classes

Great Starts classes cover everything from planning for pregnancy through taking care of your new baby.  Great Starts Class comparison chart >>

Classes Offered:

The Great Starts Birth & Parenting Preparation Series †:
Our most comprehensive class, most recommended for first-time parents. Combines the information from Labor & Birth, Newborn Care, and Breastfeeding classes in a multi-week format that gives you the opportunity to ask all your questions, learn lots of helpful tools for birth and parenting, practice the skills you learn, and connect with other new families. The series is offered in several different formats: 4 Saturdays, 7 weeknights, 8-week series with Penny Simkin, or 8-week Lamaze® series. full details >> class search by type >> class search by location >>


Baby Care for the Adopting Family.
All the basics of how to care for an adopted baby, up to about one year of age, including issues unique to adopted babies.
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Babysafe*:
Learn about baby's development, and how to stay one step ahead of baby in creating a safe environment for baby to explore. We discuss injury prevention and treatment.
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Becoming Parents Program:
Research shows that children do the very best in life when their parents have made their couple relationship a priority. The Becoming Parents Program equips expecting and new-parent couples with skills, information, and support for strong relationships and the best parenthood experience possible, thereby creating a strong and resilient nest in which their children can thrive.
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Better Birth Refresher:
For experienced parents. Interactive and customized to meet the needs of class members, focused on the information you most need to prepare for this birth. Includes info on VBAC.
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Breastfeeding:
Learn how to nurse, when to feed, how to know baby is getting plenty of milk, how to prevent and cope with challenges, and info on pumping. Class is included in the Great Starts series, or can be taken on its own. †
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CPR: Infant & Child*:
A "Heartsavers" certification class. Covers CPR and choking rescue.
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CPR for Babysitters*:
Covers CPR and choking rescue. For youth, age 11 - 15.
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Diapering Choices 101: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.
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Early Pregnancy:
Learn about nutrition, exercises, coping with common discomforts, prenatal care, and choosing a birth place.
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Expecting Multiples
This is a comprehensive series of 7 separate childbirth classes for families who are expecting twins and triplets. Topics include pregnancy, labor, preventing preterm birth, birth, breastfeeding, newborn care and parenting. Plan to start the series in your second trimester.
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Happiest Baby on the Block:
Our class teaches simple, effective techniques for soothing your baby, calming crying and helping baby sleep.
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Hypnobirthing® Childbirth Preparation:
HypnoBirthing® teaches that by removing fear and tension, severe pain does not have to accompany labor. Learn guided imagery which helps you visualize and plan your birth. This five week series covers preparation for birth, newborn care, and basic breast-feeding information.  full details >> register now >>


Labor & Birth Mini-series:
The essential information about what to expect: how labor begins, what labor and birth are like, ways to cope with labor pain, and information about medical procedures. †
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Lamaze® Childbirth Preparation: The Lamaze series is structured around the Lamaze 6 Care Practices to Promote Normal Birth, also known as the Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices. This eight week series covers preparation for labor and birth, newborn care, and breast-feeding. full details >> register now >>


Life with Baby
This class helps prepare parents for adjusting to the first year after baby's birth. Topics include developing routines, getting sleep, returning to work, strengthening the couple relationship, finding a supportive network, and other topics of relevance to new parents.
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Newborn Care:
Learn all the basics of caring for your baby in the first weeks of life: physical care, comforting, bonding, sleep issues and support resources. This class is included in the Great Starts series, or can be taken on its own. †
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Planning for Pregnancy: A Holistic Approach:
Learn about ways to enhance your fertility, how to improve your health prior to pregnancy, and options for maternity care in the Seattle area.  full details >> register now >>


Preventing Preterm Birth
This class is essential for anyone at risk for preterm labor, including families who have a history of preterm delivery or are expecting multiples. Topics include how to respond to signs of problems that could lead to premature birth and about the needs of preterm infants.
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Sibling Preparation for Kids:
Helps your child learn about birth, babies, how babies behave and grow, how your family will change, and life as a big brother or sister. For kids ages 2.5 and up.  full details >> register now >>


Sibling Preparation for Parents:
Learn concrete ideas about what you can do during pregnancy to prepare your child for the baby, and how you can help smooth over the challenges of the first few weeks and months with a new family member in the house. full details >> register now >>


Working with Labor Pain:
A workshop which focuses on pain coping skills, and hands-on practice of labor support. Appropriate for first-time or experienced parents, especially those planning a birth without pain medication.
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* Offered in partnership with Children's Hospital.
† Offered in the community and in partnership with Northwest Hospital, Stevens Hospital, Valley, and Group Health Cooperative. All classes are taught in a non-biased, research-based manner, and all classes are open to all students, no matter where they plan to give birth to their baby, including those who are choosing to birth at home or in a birth center.