Childbirth & Parent Education at Wesson Women & Infants'

Baystate Medical Center offers a variety of classes for new parents, grandparents, and babysitters. You can also view our Virtual Tour of the Wesson Women & Infants' Unit, join parent groups, and sign up for breastfeeding classes and groups.

Express bundles include additional parent and breastfeeding classes (Infant Care, Prenatal Breastfeeding, and Baby's Home! - Now What?). Please remember to choose your dates for the additional classes before you finish registering.

NOTE: Please check with your insurance company as some companies will reimburse you for childbirth classes. If you have Health New England, Be Healthy insurance we can bill them directly with no cost to you. If you have MA state insurance there is a large discount for the childbirth education bundle. Both Be Health and MA state insurances should register by calling the parent education office directly at the number below. You should enroll in your fourth month of pregnancy for a childbirth education program, even though you will not begin the course until your sixth month. To register, please select classes below and register online.

If you have questions, please call 413-794-5515 or join in below!

Childbirth Questions and Answer Hour- Ask a Parent Educator

Virtual meeting via the Zoom platform on scheduled Sundays from 6-7pm, click the register button to view dates.

Having a baby? Questions about labor & delivery? Postpartum care? Want to know which Childbirth classes to attend? Please join us at any time during the hour for a free Q&A with a Certified Parent Educator. To sign up, please click the Register button below.

Pregnancy and Childbirth

Virtual Childbirth Education Bundle - $165

This class is a bundle of 4 two hour sessions held live with a Parent Education Instructor that can be taken from your own living room. Learn in a virtual classroom while having your questions answered in real time. You will also automatically be registered for our part 2 of breastfeeding, to be taken after baby is born, closest to your due date.

You’ll learn about:

Class 1

Stages of labor and delivery
Basic comfort techniques

Class 2

Medications
Medical interventions
Cesarean Sections

Class 3

Infant care

Class 4

Prenatal Breastfeeding

The Basics-Breathing, Massage and Positions for Labor Virtual class - $25

Learn helpful breathing patterns, massage & relaxation techniques and a variety of comfort positions useful during labor in this unique virtual class. This class is ideal for those looking to have a natural birth and it's also perfect as a refresher class for those having a 2nd baby.

*Class not available at this time

Online Preparation for Childbirth - $80

Our online childbirth class is ideal for those who enjoy learning on their own and at their own pace. It is great for expectant parents who can’t attend an on-site childbirth class due to work schedules, time constraints, or medical conditions. This class does not include any face-to-face time with a Parent Educator.

The eight-chapter program will help you:

Understand pregnancy – what’s happening to your body, discomforts, warning signs, nutrition, exercise, and more
Learn about labor – preparing for birth, pre-labor signs, onset of labor, 3D animation of labor process, and more
See how the stages of labor unfold – watch amazing real-life birth stories
Discover helpful comfort techniques – breathing, relaxation, massage, visualization, focal points, hydrotherapy, labor and pushing positions, advice for partners, and more

You can demo this class.

Spanish Online Preparation for Childbirth - $80

This course has all the same valuable information as our English class above but for our Spanish speaking parents-to-be.

Virtual Prenatal Breastfeeding Class - $30

Receive the most current information on breastfeeding, including helpful tips and techniques using the Zoom meeting platform from the comfort of your own home.

One Day Childbirth Education Express Bundle - $165

This one day class, held on Saturdays from 9 am-4 pm (45 minutes for lunch). This bundled event also includes three additional classes: Infant Care, Prenatal Breastfeeding and Postnatal Newborn Behavior and Feeding.

*Class not available at this time

You’ll learn about:

Stages of labor and delivery
Basic comfort techniques
Medications
Medical interventions
Postpartum care

Two Day Childbirth Education Bundle - $165

A two-day class held over two consecutive weeks from 9:00am-3:00pm. The first class consists of labor, delivery and postpartum. The second class will cover Infant Care and Prenatal Breastfeeding. This bundle class also includes a free virtual postpartum class, Baby's Home! - Now What? Virtual class.

*Limited series at this time

You'll learn about:

Stages of labor and delivery
Basic comfort techniques
Medications
Medical interventions
Postpartum care

Four Day Childbirth Education Bundle - $165

Four classes held over two consecutive weeks from 5:30pm-8:00pm. (Sunday, Monday, Sunday, Monday)The first class consists of pregnancy, labor and delivery, the second class presents medical interventions, Cesarean section and postpartum. The third class will cover Infant Care and the fourth class covers Prenatal Breastfeeding. This bundle class also includes a free virtual postpartum class, Baby's Home! - Now What? Virtual class

You'll learn about:

Stages of labor and delivery
Basic comfort techniques
Medications
Medical interventions
Postpartum care

Basic Breathing and Positions for Labor - $25

This class is ideal for parents who want a more in-depth knowledge of advanced comfort and support techniques for labor and delivery. This information is not covered in the Preparation for Childbirth and Childbirth Education Express classes due to time constraints.

*Class not available at this time

Practice time for relaxation, guided imagery, natural pain management and breathing techniques (Lamaze) are just a few of the topics covered.

Maternity Tour - Free

Join us for a brief overview in the Lundy Boardroom on Wesson Ground floor followed by a 45 minute tour of the birthing areas including:

Women's Evaluation and Treatment Unit
Labor and Delivery/Postpartum unit
C-Section Postpartum unit
NICU/CCN area (not inside the nurseries)

Online Multiples Childbirth Education Class - $80

Our Multiples Childbirth Education class is a class that is taken in the comfort of your own home. This class is ideal for expectant parents who want education that is specific for families expecting twins or triplets in their second trimester of pregnancy.

Infant and Child Care

Virtual Infant Care Class - $35

This unique virtual class will take place on an evening from 6 – 8 pm.

Topics include: creating and maintaining a loving bond, diapering and bathing, taking baby's temperature, comforting techniques, infant feeding cues, sleep patterns, normal infant appearance and behavior, and when to call the physician.

This class will be held on the Zoom meeting platform

Infant Care Class - $35

This prenatal class teaches you how to care for and understand your new baby.

*Class not available at this time

You will learn about:

Creating and maintaining a loving bond
Diapering and bathing
Taking baby's temperature
Comforting techniques
Infant feeding cues
Sleep patterns
Normal infant appearance and behavior
When to call the physician

Virtual Keeping Baby Safe - $40

We all want happy, healthy children. As parents, we can help make this happen by using safe practices in everyday living.

In this virtual class we will touch on topics such as:

Car Safety
Safe Sleep practices
Poison prevention
Baby-proofing your home
Choking/First aid practices until first responders arrive
and many more.....

*Class not available at this time

Keeping Baby Safe - $40

This face to face class teaches parents how to keep your baby safe.

You'll learn about:

Infant CPR
First aid for choking
Poison prevention
Baby-proofing your home
Car seat safety

Baby's Home! - Now What? Virtual class - Free

Taken after you deliver, this class provides postpartum support for new parents and provides information on newborn behavior in the first few weeks of your infant’s life.

You’ll learn about:

Feeding cues for breast and bottle feeding
Infant sleep patterns
Comforting a crying infant
Returning to work
Continued support for breastfeeding moms
Pumping techniques
Storage of breast milk.

Online Sibling Preparation class - $35

After completing this unique class, you will be able to:

Use age-appropriate language to talk to your child about babies and birth
Include your child in preparing, welcoming and caring for baby
Teach your child how to be a Super and Safe Sibling
Includes videos and activities to do with your child

Grandparents Class - $25

This class, for grandparents-to-be and new grandparents, provides information about current labor and delivery, infant feeding and safety practices. Discussion on the role of grandparents and a tour of the birthing center is included.

*Class not available at this time

Babysitters Academy - $75 per child/ $30 additional sibling

Designed for young adults ages 11 1/2 to 15 and includes: baby care, first aid, fire safety, home security, accident prevention & CPR