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MMC Childbirth Education



Our Classes

New Parents Circle

Free

with Ellen Kunkle

Calendar Current session started Jan 2, 2025 at 10 am, runs for 52 weeks

Come together to share the story of your parenting journey and receive support and inspiration from other new parents.

Discussion topics include sleep, feeding, nurturing yourself, and relationship changes. This group is flexible to address your own needs and concerns. This group is facilitated by a childbirth educator who is also a trained doula and breastfeeding counselor.

This group meets in person (with a hybrid Zoom option, too) at the MaineHealth Medical Building, 5 Bucknam Rd, Falmouth. (Ground floor, lots of parking!)

This group meets every Thursday morning from 10am - 12pm. Please register here. When you register you will receive the zoom link to log in.

 

The group is free but registration is required. Join anytime throughout the year. New members are always welcome!

Breastfeeding Support Group (2025)

Free

with Brooke Cottman

Calendar Current session started Jan 7, 2025 at 9:30 am, runs for 52 weeks

This free peer support group is a great opportunity to meet other new breastfeeding parents in your community, share experiences, and receive postpartum and newborn care information and support. A lactation consultant facilitates the group and can answer your questions.

Please register here to receive log-in or call-in information for this weekly group which meets on Tuesdays 9:30am - 11:30am.

This group meets in person (with a hybrid Zoom option, too) at the MaineHealth Medical Building, 5 Bucknam Rd, Falmouth. (Ground floor, lots of parking!)

FREE but registration is required to receive Zoom info. Join anytime throughout the year. New members are always welcome!

Childbirth Education One-Day Express In Person (2025)

$150

with Certified Educator

Calendar Current session started Jul 13, 2025 at 9 am
11 additional sessions through Dec 20, 2025

The registration fee includes costs for the registrant and one support person. To avoid duplicate charges, please register only ONE participant per class. A receipt will be provided for insurance reimbursement purposes. Reimbursement is subject to individual insurance plans, refer to your plan for additional information.

If you cannot afford the registration fee due to financial hardship, please contact childbirth education at childbirtheducation@mainehealth.org .

Rescheduling or canceling your class registration can be done by contacting childbirtheducation@mainehealth.org. Refunds for class cancelations include a 10% processing fee. No refunds will be given after class begins.

We are offering this class in person. Classes are held at the Dana Center Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland. You will receive directions to parking and the classroom once you have registered.

The One-Day Express Course covers all of the same information as the Childbirth Education weekly evening series in one full day.

Recommended for all first-time pregnant people and their birth partners, this class is designed to provide you and your labor partner with the information, skills, and resources to prepare you for the birth of your baby.

  • Introduction to Labor & Delivery You can expect to learn the stages and phases of labor, what to expect physically and emotionally, the importance of labor support, and more. You will also see birth videos.
  • Practical Skills and Comfort Measures You will learn comfort measures such as relaxation, breathing, and positions that you can use both at home and while at the hospital. Even mothers planning to use medication for pain relief will utilize skills to manage labor prior to and in conjunction with the use of medication.
  • Medications and Interventions Be an active participant in the decisions that affect you and your baby. Learn about induction of labor, unplanned cesareans, vacuum, fetal monitoring and more. Whether you are planning on using pain medications, or just want to understand the available options, you will take home the information you need to make informed decisions about pain relief.

We recommend attending this class between the 28th and 32nd week of pregnancy.

 

Giving Birth after a Previous Cesarean - Contact for Dates (2025)

$30

with Lena Strange

Calendar Next session starts Jul 14, 2025 at 8 pm, runs for 1 week
4 additional sessions through Nov 4, 2025

* To schedule a class please email your contact information to the instructor, lena.strange@mainehealth.org and the instructor will get back to you.

The registration fee includes costs for the registrant and one support person. To avoid duplicate charges, please register only ONE participant per class. A receipt will be provided for insurance reimbursement purposes. Reimbursement is subject to individual insurance plans, refer to your plan for additional information.

If you cannot afford the registration fee due to financial hardship, please contact childbirth education at childbirtheducation@mainehealth.org .

Rescheduling or canceling your class registration can be done by contacting lena.strange@mainehealth.org. Refunds for class cancelations include a 10% processing fee.  No refunds will be given after class begins.

This is a one hour, private online class with a Labor & Delivery nurse to discuss options after a previous cesarean delivery.  Designed for individuals and their partners who are considering a Trial of Labor After a Cesarean (TOLAC), please talk with your provider before registering this class to see if a TOLAC is an option for you.

We will take time to discuss your previous birth experience, define what is most important to you as you consider options for this pregnancy, and what you can do to increase your chances of a vaginal delivery if you choose to labor this time. 

You will learn how to prepare for a TOLAC at MMC, and understand strategies to prepare for both a vaginal and repeat caesarean birth if needed.

We recommend attending this class during the second trimester of pregnancy.

 

 

Baby Basics (2025)

$40

with Certified Educator

Calendar Next available session starts Jul 15, 2025 at 6 pm
5 additional sessions through Dec 2, 2025

The registration fee includes costs for the registrant and one support person. To avoid duplicate charges, please register only ONE participant per class. A receipt will be provided for insurance reimbursement purposes. Reimbursement is subject to individual insurance plans, refer to your plan for additional information.

 A receipt will be issued which can be utilized to submit to your insurance company. Reimbursement is dependent upon individual plans, refer to your plan for additional information.

If you cannot afford the registration fee due to financial hardship, please contact childbirth education at childbirtheducation@mainehealth.org .

Rescheduling or canceling your class registration can be done by contacting childbirtheducation@mainehealth.org . Refunds for class cancelations include a 10% processing fee. No refunds will be given after class begins.

We are offering this class online. After you are registered, a few days before the class starts you will receive an email with the link to participate in the class. 

Expectant first time parents can learn about common newborn needs and behaviors and how to prepare for bringing baby home. This class includes information about how to care for and comfort a newborn, feeding, safe sleep and other ways to keep your baby safe, and tips on how to make this newborn period an easier transition for you.

We recommend attending this class between the 32nd and 36th week of pregnancy.

 

 

Tour of the Family Birth Center (2025)

$10
Calendar Next available session starts Jul 17, 2025 at 5 pm
62 additional sessions through Dec 28, 2025

PLEASE NOTE THIS $10 FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE:

*The $10 fee is for 2 people to attend the tour. To avoid duplicate charges register one person only. 

*Please only register for 1 tour to ensure that there is room for everyone who would like to attend a tour.  Do not register for multiple tours, thank you!

* There is always a chance that all of the rooms are full and we are unable to view one

After you are registered you will receive details of where to meet, etc. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you soon!

*Please note for our Winter tours: If the weather forecasts unsafe driving conditions, the tour will be cancelled. Be sure to check your email! We will do our best to reschedule you tour. If where you are coming from has bad weather, please reschedule a tour with us!

 

Bring Your Own Car Seat (2025)

Free

with Jami Gilbert

Calendar Next available session starts Jul 17, 2025 at 6 pm
5 additional sessions through Dec 18, 2025

We are offering this class online. After you are registered, shortly before the class starts you will receive an email with information as to how to participate in the class. Thank you for understanding.

Proper car seat use saves lives! Many parents are shocked to find out that car seats are usually used incorrectly.

This class will teach you how to install and use your car seat correctly.

After this course, parents will be confident and prepared to use infant car seats.

We will talk about safety in and around cars and the do’s and don’ts for infant safety in regards to the car seat. 

You will also learn when to transition your child to another seat and how to keep your child safe as he or she grows.

Registrants are asked to bring their car seats with to the class, including the car seat base for hands-on practice.

We recommend attending this class anytime before the 37th week of pregnancy.

 This class will be held virtually. You will receive an email with the link to join the class the day before class is held.  If you have any questions please contact Jami Gilbert at Jami.Gilbert@mainehealth.org or (207) 662 1572.

 

Breastfeeding Basics In Person (2025)

$50

with Certified Educator

Calendar Next available session starts Jul 19, 2025 at 4 pm
8 additional sessions through Dec 18, 2025

Registration fee covers the cost of registrant and one support person. Please register only ONE participant for a class so that you will not be charged twice. A receipt will be issued which can be utilized to submit to your insurance company. Reimbursement is dependent upon individual plans, refer to your plan for additional information.

If you cannot afford the registration fee due to financial hardship, please contact childbirth education at childbirtheducation@mainehealth.org. 

Rescheduling or canceling your class registration can be done by contacting childbirtheducation@mainehealth.org. Refunds for class cancelations include a 10% processing fee. No refunds will be given after class begins.

We are offering this class in person. Classes are held at the Dana Center Maine Medical Center, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland. You will receive directions to parking and the classroom once you have registered.

This class covers the benefits of breastfeeding, different breastfeeding techniques and positions, how to make enough milk, and local community and professional resources. Attending this class before your baby’s birth will help you meet your breastfeeding goals. 

We recommend attending this class between the 32nd and 36th week of pregnancy.

 





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