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"We learned many helpful things to combat all of the "old wives tales" and advice from our "know-it-all" friends. [Instructor was] knowledgeable, friendly, non-judgmental, exhibited techniques well, and answered all of our questions." --Class Participant
Home > For Families > Education & Support > Program Registration > Great Starts Class Overviews

Great Starts Class Overviews

Planning for Pregnancy and Early Pregnancy
  • 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 >>

  • Early Pregnancy: Learn about nutrition, exercises, coping with common discomforts, prenatal care, and choosing a birth place.
    full details >> register now >>
Preparation for Childbirth
  • 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. You'll have the chance to re-connect at a birth class reunion, held after all the babies are born. †
    full details >> register now >>

  • Labor & Birth Only: 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. †
    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.  full details >>  register now >>

  • 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. full details >> register now >>

Preparing For and Caring For your New Baby
  • 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. † full details >>  register now  >>

  • 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. †  full details >>  register now  >>

  • Calming Crying and Helping Baby Sleep: Our Happiest Baby on the Block class teaches simple, effective techniques for soothing your baby.  full details >> register now >>

  • Conscious Fathering:  Learn about how to care for babies, and how to be an involved dad. full details >> register now >>

  • Sibling Preparation:  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 >>

  • Adoptive Parenting:  Baby Care for the Adoptive Family. Similar content to newborn care class, but targeted to the needs of adoptive parents: covers how to care for babies up to one year old.
    full details >> register now >>

  • Adoptive Parenting:  Becoming an Adoptive Family. Covers the social and emotional sides of waiting for a baby, then integrating baby into your family.
    full details >> register now >>

  • Parent Consulting:  We also offer one-on-one parent consulting for expectant and new parents who need advice on challenging situations, such as maternity care options, infant sleep issues, calming a crying baby, parenting a high needs baby and adoptive parenting.
    full details >>
Infant Health and Safety Classes

*  Offered in partnership with Children's Hospital.
† Offered in partnership with Northwest Hospital, Stevens Hospital, 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.