Frequently Asked Questions
+ Why take a class?
Becoming a new parent is exciting but it can also be a time of uncertainty. Childbirth education classes are your first step to empowering yourself as new parents. There are a lot of unknowns throughout pregnancy, birth, and the early days of bringing home a newborn. Childbirth education classes give you the tools that you need to confidently navigate these challenges. When you are trying to soothe a baby at 2AM, you will want to have the tips and tricks from certified educators to make your life easier!
+ How is Birthly different?
It’s important to understand your options. We believe that we offer the most comprehensive classes in the most convenient location.
+ Who are the instructors?
Birthly classes are taught by childbirth educators who are certified through nationally recognized programs. They often are the same educators that teach hospital-based and other in-person prenatal education classes. Birthly educators have years of experience working with families, fulfilling both their prenatal and postpartum needs. For more information on our instructors, see their biographies here.
+ What classes are available?
We currently offer five classes: 1) Early Pregnancy, 2) Prenatal Education, 3) Coping and Comfort, 4) Breastfeeding 101, and 5) Newborn Care. See detailed course information here. We are always thinking about how to be more helpful to you, so look out for updates on new classes!
+ How do we sign-up?
Follow these steps:
1. Visit our “Book A Class” page and select your class.
2. Check out.
- You will receive a confirmation email, sign-in instructions, as well as class reminders as we approach the date of your class in your email inbox.
- Sign up for an account so when you sign up for your next class, there's no need to fill in your information again.
3. Sign-in to your class on a laptop (recommended), tablet, or mobile device.
- Kick-back, relax, and enjoy quality childbirth education from the comfort of your own home!
As always, if you have any questions or issues throughout the process, let us know here and we are happy to help within 24 hours.
+ What happens after class?
Feel free to email us any questions you have about your class at any point and our educators are happy to point you in the right direction. Obviously, for any emergencies or any medical questions, please contact your healthcare provider instead as we do not provide medical advice.
+ What is your story?
There are a million questions that arise from the moment you start planning for pregnancy to hearing the precious first cries of your little one. While there is no way to eliminate every uncertainty in the process, we think it pays to be equipped with up-to-date information and a framework with which you approach childbirth. This way, you could make informed choices when the time comes.
Living in the age of digital information makes everything simpler but more complicated all at the same time. The issue lies within not only the sheer amount of information available, but also the reliability of its sources. You wouldn’t go trekking across the Sahara desert without an experienced guide, so why should you be expected to navigate this life-changing journey on your own? We think you can benefit tremendously from the knowledge and experience of a certified childbirth educator.
We also believe that your zip code shouldn’t limit your access to quality instructors and interactive learning. That’s why we designed a live online platform, which you can access from literally anywhere. From comprehensive prenatal bootcamps to tailored bite-sized courses, we want you to anticipate the arrival of your baby with confidence.
Meet some of our instructors.
Eden Bertrang
Eden is a Certified Cooperative Childbirth Educator through the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York. She is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and a DONA-certified Birth Doula. She has been supporting NYC families through pregnancy and early parenting for over a decade. Eden is passionate about teaching because she believes parents have the right to make informed decisions about their births. She is a graduate of McGill University, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in Latin American & Caribbean Studies and Women’s Health. In 2008, she completed the Midwifery Assistant Training workshop with Ina May Gaskin at The Farm and in 2010, traveled to Senegal to volunteer in a maternity clinic. Eden has also worked as a clinical assistant in a family health practice that specializes in women’s health, and has offered family planning and childbirth preparation workshops in hospitals, doctors’ offices and homeless shelters. She and her family currently divide their time between Montreal and NYC.
Vanessa Janek
Vanessa is a Certified Childbirth Educator through the Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association and a licensed Registered Nurse. She currently volunteers as a breastfeeding peer support counselor and has earned designation as a Certified Breastfeeding Specialist in her work toward becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She is passionate about orienting expectant families to their options in birth, facilitating bonding in the postpartum and newborn period, and offering tools to support the social and emotional transition to parenthood. Vanessa is a graduate of Wheaton College in Massachusetts and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northeastern University, later working in both perinatal and pediatric settings. She is a mother of two strong daughters and lives in coastal Connecticut with her husband and their very lazy cat.
Leigh Kader
Propelled by the birth of her first child in 2008 to explore a career change, Leigh is a Certified Cooperative Childbirth Educator with and sits on the Board of Directors of the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York. Leigh is also a birth and postpartum doula, having completed training with the Doulas of North America. She has attended well over 150 births. Leigh knows firsthand the benefits of comprehensive childbirth education, as well as the presence of continuous emotional and physical support during childbirth. Experienced at supporting laboring families in a variety of birthing facilities, from hospitals, birthing centers to home births, Leigh appreciates that childbirth is an intensely personal experience that each family defines differently. Through comprehensive prenatal education, her goal is to help birthing families attain as positive a birth experience as possible.
Jennette Selig
Jenny is a parent, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and lactation educator/counselor who has worked with over 100 families in the New York City metropolitan area, where she lives, and across the United States. Certified by Doula Trainings International and the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York, Jennette approaches babies, parents, and families as individuals and as unique teams. Working and volunteering as a full-spectrum doula and lactation support person, Jennette supports families at every stage in their reproductive journey. She is passionate about the concepts of radical hospitality and unconditional accompaniment, and sees her work as an educator and doula in that light. Her frequent, in-home contact with parents and newborns in the first 3-4 months of their lives together enhances her dedication to customized, individualized care and education. She can’t wait to strategize with you -- and to share information, tips, and tricks your family can use.