Greenwich Hospital’s “Tender Beginnings” pregnancy and parenting programs are designed to prepare families for pregnancy, labor, delivery and newborn care.
Classes are offered online and in-person (when available). Courses for mothers, fathers/partners, siblings and grandparents are taught by registered nurses from our Maternal/Child Unit. Many are certified as educators and specialized consultants on the topics they teach.
Class details and registration information are listed below. Please note: rooms, times and classes are subject to change.
Greenwich Hospital’s labor/delivery and postpartum rooms are designed for comfort and equipped with the most advanced technology to provide a safe and attractive setting for childbirth. Currently, our in-person tours are not available. View our Maternity Suite photo tour or call 203-863-3655 for more details.
Get essential information on choosing a pediatrician, the pediatrician’s role in your baby’s care, child development phases and more. A pediatrician and registered nurse will be available to answer your questions. To register, please call 888-357-2409 or register for the class online. Free.
These classes offer first-time parents preparation for childbirth. Prospective parents should register as early as possible. To register, please call 888-357-2409 or register for the class online. Fee.
In this class you and your partner will learn the anatomy of labor and birth, comfort measures, types of birth including vaginal and Cesarean; the role of the support person, pain relief options and much more. Our curriculum provides comprehensive childbirth education that prepares expectant parents to have healthier and more satisfying birth experiences. Engaging video, life-like 3D animation and personal birth stories give parents the knowledge and confidence they need to make informed decisions about labor and birth.
We recommend that Childbirth Education be taken two months prior to your due date. Our childbirth classes are recommended for first time parents, experienced parents, as well as parents preparing for VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). It takes 4 to 6 hours to complete and can be viewed on your PC, phone or tablet. You will have 9 months of access to your class once enrolled.
You will have nine months of access once you log in. Register for the class online.
Our Understanding Breastfeeding curriculum helps improve a mother's success with breastfeeding. Through step-by-step instructions and 3D animation, moms learn how to achieve a deep latch, breastfeeding holds and positions, and how to maintain healthy milk production. This course takes 2-3 hours to compete and follows International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) recommendations and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines.
You will have nine months of access once you log in. Register for the class online.
This class teaches parents about medically-necessary cesarean birth in a way that's interactive, easy to understand and relatable.
Topics covered:
You will have nine months of access once you log in. Register for the class online.
This class is about the joys of fatherhood and the important role that dads have in their children’s lives. The class begins with pregnancy, helping you understand your feelings about having a baby and how you can be involved during pregnancy. Next, it includes packing for the hospital, labor and birth basics, how to be a supportive partner during labor and making the most of your postpartum hospital stay. You’ll also learn about breastfeeding basics and support, how to create a safe sleep environment, along with why babies cry, soothing techniques and bonding. It concludes with your relationship after the baby, importance of good communication, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and paternal postpartum depression as well as understanding developmental milestones and positive discipline.
You will have nine months of access once you log in. Register for the class online.
This is a fun, self-guided class that covers evidence-based changes in birth, breastfeeding, baby care and infant safety. It also provides ways for new grandparents to offer support and assistance to their growing family.
This Infant & Child Safety eClass provides life-saving education for parents and caregivers. Accidents are the leading cause of death in infants and children. This class provides current information about prevention from a variety of safety organizations. Content includes: car safety, safe baby care, safety products, home safety, poisons, and emergency preparedness including infant CPR and first aid.
You will have nine months of access once you log in. Register for the class online.
This online class is designed to build on the information and skills learned in a standard childbirth preparation class. It is intended for those planning a birth with few to no medical interventions. It highlights the philosophy behind natural childbirth and provides a more in-depth practice of comfort measures for labor. Techniques including positioning, massage, breathing, and alternative therapies, such as acupressure, visualization, and mindfulness will be reviewed. Several inspiring birth stories will be shared, and participants will come away with a practice checklist.
This class includes an overview of trimesters along with 3D animation of fetal development, first trimester screening, glucose tolerance test, Group B strep test, nutrition and guidelines for exercise during pregnancy. It also covers how to manage the discomforts of pregnancy, as well as general pregnancy warning signs and signs of preterm labor. Common pregnancy stressors, stress-relief tips, intimate partner violence, support, body image, relationship tips and partner emotions are also covered.
You will have nine months of access once you log in. Register for the class online.
This sibling preparation class teaches parents how to support their child in becoming a big brother or sister, answer tough questions and reduce jealousy. To encourage the sibling-to-be, there are also fun lessons to do together, complete with kid-friendly video clips, coloring pages and other activities.
This online class is designed for parents expecting multiples.
The content includes: Pregnancy, labor and delivery, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery and the first few weeks at home. Engaging videos, 3D animation and personal birth stories will help give parents the knowledge and confidence they need to make informed decisions about their labor and birth. The class takes 3-5 hours to complete and can be viewed on your PC, phone or tablet. You will have 9 months of access to your class once you log in.
You will have nine months of access once you log in. Register for the class online.
This eClass provides comprehensive, evidence-based education about baby care in the first six weeks and beyond. It features real-life stories and provides the latest guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and other trusted organizations, along with the importance of baby cues, early brain growth and bonding. Content includes: newborn traits, newborn behaviors, crying and comforting, feeding, diapering, bathing, newborn health and safety.
You will have nine months of access once you log in. Register for the class online.
A 2-hour class with essential learning for expectant parents including feeding, bathing, cord care, sleep patterns and proper car seat use. To register, please call 888-357-2409 or register for the class online.
A 2-hour class for expectant parents focusing on all aspects of breastfeeding from delivery room to postpartum. Explore breastfeeding issues such as establishing good milk supply, nutrition and pumping. Taught by an RN on our maternity staff who is credentialed as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Held bimonthly. To register, please call 888-357-2409 or register for the class online. Fee.
This hour-long class offers gentle exercises, meaningful poses and thoughtful meditations in the traditions of Kundalini Yoga. Strengthening, stretching, toning and balancing techniques help achieve mind/body/soul harmony during this often intense, emotional and glorious postpartum period. Bond with your baby and meet other moms, too. For new moms and their babies, ages 6 weeks-9 months. To register, please call 888-357-2409 or register for the class online. Fee.
This 4-week course for mothers who have recently given birth addresses the needs of the newborn (under 4 months of age) and the physical and emotional adjustments of parenthood. Topics include: Birth Experience: Adjustment, Love and Sleep; How Do We Learn to Become Parents? Who Was I Before I Became a Mother?, and Self Esteem – Mom and Baby. Facilitated by a postpartum registered nurse. To register, please call 888-357-2409 or register for the class online. Fee
Postpartum massage eases recovery from labor and birth by alleviating muscle strain and soreness and promoting healing. Nurturing touch and support to mothers during the early postpartum period offers emotional relief, too. Physician clearance required. Call 203-863-3222. Fee.
Mothers who deliver at Greenwich Hospital may return 48-72 hours after discharge for a mother/baby assessment. The visit is with a registered nurse on our maternity staff who is credentialed as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Call 203-863-3569. Free.
