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Online Classes
New Parents Circle
with Ellen Kunkle, MMC Childbirth Education

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)
with Brooke Cottman, MMC Childbirth Education

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!
Breastfeeding Class
with Candace Crocker BSN RN IBCLC, LincolnHealth Childbirth Education

Our classes reflect Lincoln Hospital's dedication to our philosophy of family-centered care. Classes are taught by an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant from the family birth center who will bring her knowledge and experience to her teaching. We will review how milk is made, why breastfeeding is so important, feeding cues and positions and so much more. We use short videos and discussion to ensure you and your baby are off to a great start! Also covered is prenatal colostrum harvesting as well as hand expression, pumping and storage of breastmilk. The class is informal and allows for open discussion. Please call the Lincoln Hospital Family Birth Center for questions at: 207.563.4536
Bring Your Own Car Seat (2025)
with Jami Gilbert, MMC Childbirth Education

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.
Childbirth Education One-Day Express In Person (2025)
with Certified Educator, MMC Childbirth Education

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.
Infant Care Basics
with Erin Kirkpatrick, Mid Coast Maternity

In this 3 hour virtual course, we talk about how to care for your newborn when you bring them home, what to expect during the first few months, and how to be well prepared. Topics include:
- Sleep habits
- Laying a strong sleep foundation
- Bottle and formula feeding (separate breastfeeding class)
- Diapering & Digestion
- Soothing techniques
- Safety Guidelines
- Common ailments
- Postpartum Coping and Preparation
We recommend taking this between 30-35 weeks if possible. Only one parent needs to register, but all can attend. Please join us to build your confidence in caring for your newborn!
You will receive an email from the instructor with a zoom link 1 week prior to the scheduled class.
Will run
Newborn Sleep (0-3 mos): Setting the Foundations (2025)
with Jenna Marion, MMC Childbirth Education

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.
This newborn sleep shaping class is for pregnant persons at any gestation and new parents with babies up to 12 weeks. During this class parents will learn how to set the foundations in the newborn period for healthy infant sleep. Topics discussed will include what to expect in the fourth trimester, newborn soothing strategies, the science behind sleep, developmental milestones, how to create a sleep conducive environment, how to encourage independent sleep, how and when to stop swaddling and realistic expectations regarding night wakings and feedings. We will also discuss planning for going back to work and transitioning to daycare.
Non-birthing partners are encouraged to attend.
This class is currently offered virtually via Zoom. After you are regisitered, you will receive an email with information as to how to participate in class.
You will also receive FREE ACCESS to a recorded version of Infant Sleep 101: Surviving the 4-Month Sleep Regression & Beyond.
If you have any questions please contact Jenna Marion directly at jenna.marion@mainehealth.org.
Breastfeeding Class
with Kimberley Paradee BSN RN CLC, LincolnHealth Childbirth Education

Our classes reflect Lincoln Hospital's dedication to our philosophy of family-centered care. This class is taught by Kimberley Paradee, a Registered Nurse and Certified Lactation Counselor and Certified Nurse Midwife, Julie Virgin, from the family birth center who will bring their knowledge and experience to their teaching. We will review how breastmilk is made, why breastfeeding is so important, feeding cues and positions and so much more. We use short videos and discussion to ensure you and your baby are off to a great start! The class is informal and allows for open discussion. Please call the Lincoln Hospital Family Birth Center for questions at: 207.563.4536