Prenatal classes and education

If you’re aware of local prenatal classes available in your community that are not listed here, or if any of the information is incorrect, email us at HealthyStart@northernhealth.ca.

Dawson Creek

The Delightful Doula

• General perinatal support and information including private childbirth education classes, individual and couple counselling, and postpartum services.
• Jessica Dillon offers an informed and comfortable space to express concerns, successes, worries or fears around pregnancy, birth and postpartum, and supports families in the many life transitions that occur around a pregnancy or a pregnancy loss.
• Cost: Services range in price, private counselling, private childbirth education, and postpartum services may be covered under some extended health benefits.
• Email: delightfuldoula.tnc@gmail.com
• Phone: 778-678-0664

Fort St. John

Glow and Grow Prenatal Education Services (Facebook page)

• In-person classes about pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum, and newborn care
• Cost: $120 for two seats (pregnant individual and support person)
• Email: glowandgrowprenatal@gmail.com

McBride

McBride Health Unit (also known as the McBride Community Health Building)

• In-person group and individual prenatal classes about pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum, and newborn care. Virtual classes upon request.
• Cost: Free
• Phone: 250-569-2026

Prince George

Be with birth. Childbirth Education and Doula Services

• In-person group, individual sessions, and virtual childbirth, lactation, and postpartum education. Offered by Morgan Glover, prenatal educator and doula certified through Douglas College and Lamaze International
• Virtual group sessions are four weeks (3 hours per week) online via Zoom, available to families across Northern BC
• Cost: $350 for group sessions, includes informational support from the time of registration through birth and beyond
• Email: info@bewithbirth.ca
• Phone: 778-884-5205

Northern Interior Health Unit

• In-person and virtual group prenatal classes
• Cost: $150.00
• For a virtual hospital tour, watch UHNBC Maternity Tour
• Email: pgprenatalclasses@northernhealth.ca
• Phone: 250-645-8997

Quesnel

Breathe, Birth, and Yoga Perinatal Support Services

• Private prenatal education with Lauren Abbott, a DONA certified birth doula, lamaze certified childbirth educator, and prenatal/postnatal yoga instructor
• Cost: $150 for 4 hours of instruction (may be delivered over two 2 hour sessions). Fee can be customized to fit individual needs and may be covered for qualifying families by the Doulas for Aboriginal Families Grant Program
• Email: lauren@breathebirthandyoga.com
• Phone: 250-991-2190

Quesnel Community Health Services

• In-person group prenatal classes
• Cost: Free, no cost to register
• Phone: 250-983-6850

Smithers

Smithers Pregnancy Outreach Program

• Virtual group prenatal classes
• Cost: Free
• Email: smitherspop@domesticpeace.ca
• Phone: 250-847-9477
• Text: 250-847-1178

Terrace

Park Centre (a program of Terrace Child Development Centre)

• In-person childbirth and prenatal education
• Email: b.b@telus.net
• Call: 250-635-1830
• Text: 250-615-2275

SmartParent is a Canadian prenatal and parenting support program that texts information to parents from trusted sources. Text messages are timed to your week of pregnancy or your baby's age and stage of development. You will receive messages with tips and links to support:

• Healthy pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Transition to parenthood
• Baby's growth and development

Enroll in SmartParent

• Text “Northern” to 12323 or visit SmartParent Canada and click “enroll now”
• Free to sign up, standard message and data rates may apply

Learn more

• Contact SmartParent Canada
• Phone: 1-855-871-BABY (2229)
• Social media: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Vaginal birth after c-section: ‘My Next Birth’ decision tool

Are you thinking about options for your next birth after a caesarean delivery? Both vaginal birth and planned caesarean are healthy options. Studies show that 75 per cent of people in BC who have had a C-section are good candidates for a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC).

Perinatal Services BC has an interactive, online tool called My Next Birth for information about repeat C-sections and what the different choices may mean for you, your family, and your health. You will also receive a personalized summary to guide conversations and questions with your health care team.

Learn more

• Birth after caesarean - Perinatal Services BC
• My Next Birth - University of British Columbia
• Types of birth: Vaginal birth after caesarean - BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre
• Vaginal birth after caesarean section - HealthLink BC
• VBAC or planned caesarean section: Interactive tool to help you decide (video) - Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA)

Douglas College

• Virtual group classes to support labour and birthing preparation
• Cost: $200
• Learn more at prenatal and perinatal classes for parents

Fraser Health

• Free online modules to support your breastfeeding/chestfeeding journey
• Learn more at breastfeeding/chestfeeding online modules

La Leche League Canada

• Virtual prenatal breastfeeding class and/or attend a La Leche League Canada (LLLC) meeting in person to meet other nursing parents
• Cost: Free
• To learn more, access the LLLC meeting calendar

Pregnancy HUB

• 12-month virtual program that offers participants unlimited access to local pregnancy outreach program and service referrals; a virtual library full of evidence-based information; a monthly newsletter; and access to virtual events on topics related to pregnancy and early parenting.
• Registration is free to all pregnant, postpartum, and newly parenting people with infants up to 12 months old who are BC residents.
• Learn more at The Pregnancy HUB

Providence Health Care (St. Paul's Hospital)

• Virtual sessions (one-on-one and small group sessions with maximum three couples) focused on labour and birth, postpartum, c-section birth, and breastfeeding classes.
• Cost: $80 for the small group sessions, up to $180 for private one-on-one sessions.
• Content is designed for expectant parents who plan to deliver at St. Paul’s Hospital but are open to all families in BC.
• Learn more about virtual prenatal classes