Resource Directory
Recommended Childbirth Educators
Support and Discussion groups
Childbirth Education
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“Childbirth education can bring birth back to the basics and help you let go of fear (really). The end result is a safer, more empowered birth.” - Judith Lothian, in the 2011 Guide to a Healthy Birth by Choice in Childbirth.
We highly recommend that all clients attend a childbirth education class. The following list represents local childbirth education classes that our clients have found useful in their birth preparation. Please look at the websites for more information, including scheduling and pricing information.
A note about pricing:
Childbirth education classes typically cost between $175 and $400. Some insurance plans offer full or partial coverage for childbirth education classes. Check your insurance benefits manual, or call the number provided for a list of acceptable classes. These classes are generally held at hospitals, so it’s important to make sure they are available and relevant to parents who are planning an unmedicated, out-of-hospital birth. A hospital-based class may be a good option for those who are concerned about the cost of childbirth education, or for those who want to attend a CBE class in a language other than English.
There are a few free or discounted classes for expecting parents with limited financial means- see class descriptions below. If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for out-of-pocket health care expenses, you can use your FSA to cover childbirth education and doula services.
Free and Low-Cost Childbirth Classes
Healthy Start Brooklyn Childbirth Classes
Free childbirth education classes for parents who qualify for Medicaid and WIC. Classes are held at the BMS Genesis Brownsville Multi-Service Family Health Center on Tuesdays from noon to 2 PM, and at the East New York Diagnostic and Treatment Center on Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 PM.
Call Shantel Tull at 718-637-5244 or email stull@health.nyc.gov.
SUNY Downstate Expectant Family Education
https://www.downstate.edu/communityhealth/expectantfamilyeducation.html
Free childbirth education classes open to all expecting parents.
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North Central Bronx Expectant Family Education
Free Lamaze classes and more!
This group offers childbirth education, in addition to doula services, workshops, and discussion groups.
New York Hospital- Queens
NYHC offers a Prepared Childbirth class. At $150 for a day-long intensive course ($75 for Medicaid patients), this class is more affordable than many NYC-area CBE classes. Call (718) 670-1156 for more information.
This course covers multiple birthing options, including out-of-hospital births. Reduced rates are available based on financial need.
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Recommended Childbirth Educators
Sara Kramer teaches HypnoBirthing classes in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn, as well as in Long Island City and Kew Gardens. Her five-part class emphasizes self-hypnosis, relaxation, preparing the mind and body for labor, and building a supportive birth team.
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Emily Cohen-Moreira is a doula, certified lactation consultant, and childbirth educator. Emily used to teach BBC’s popular Birthing Preparation course, which we unfortunately had to discontinue due to space constraints. Emily’s wonderful class is now offered at Church Avenue Yoga and Bodywork, in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn. This class is designed for expectant parents planning a low-intervention or out-of-hospital birth. Emily also offers private classes for expecting and new parents, and can tailor classes to each family’s individual needs.
The Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology offers a variety of classes for new and expecting parents, including Lamaze and Hypnobirthing childbirth education classes. For a list of classes, view the web link above. For more information, call (212) 523-6222 and leave a message.
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Tricia Philips of Wonder Woman Childbirth leads a 5-week childbirth education class in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn for couples planning home, hospital, or birthing center deliveries. She also offers private classes and refreshers for experienced parents.
Private a group CBE with an emphasis on natural coping techniques. Sliding scale available.
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Lena DeGloma offers doula services, massage, and CBE.
Classes to suit a variety of schedules and family styles.
Hypnobabies NYC
Tamara Srdanovic teaches a 6-week group hypnobirthing course and offers private sessions.
These classes are taught at 8 Locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Mindful Birth NY (Bradley Method)
Mary Esther Malloy-Hopwood is a doula, CBE, and CLC.
Expecting NYC’s Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting Series
Expecting NYC offers mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting classes, doula trainings and services, lactation support, and massage therapy!
Lisa Greaves Taylor of Birth Matters, NYC, offers childbirth education classes in Astoria, Queens. Lisa was recently named Childbirth Educator of the Year by the Childbirth Education Association of Metropolitan New York.
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Doulas
“When a doula is present during and after childbirth, [clients] report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for medical intervention, and less postpartum depression.” DONA website, Doula Facts
We believe that for a Brooklyn Birthing Center birth, doulas are particularly useful in the early stages of labor. A doula can assist you one-on-one with any emotional, physical, or information support that you might need at home. Once in the active phases of labor, a doula becomes part of the BBC birth team, helping to maintain the continuity of care and reinforce the careful nurturing of a client in labor.
In order to find the best doula for you, we suggest interviewing at least 3 doulas to ensure that they have the skills, experience, and energy that you want for your birth. Please also note that some doulas offer their services beforeand during a birth, while others specialize in working with families postpartum. Some doulas also offer childbirth education, lactation support, or placenta encapsulation. Please explore the websites listed below or contact the doulas directly to learn more.
There are a number of doula groups that offer free or low-cost services. If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for out-of-pocket health care expenses, you can use your FSA to cover childbirth education and doula services.
Free and Low-Cost Doula Services
There are several organizations that match low-cost or volunteer doulas with eligible families. Some of these doulas are experienced, while others are relatively new doulas who are working toward certification. To find a low-cost or volunteer doula, please visit the links below.
The Doula Project matches highly-trained (but often relatively new) volunteer doulas with families making less than $30,000 / year.
This group offers doula services, childbirth education, workshops, and discussion groups. Doula services are free to expecting moms age 19 and under. Sliding scale options are available to expecting moms age 20 and up.
By My Side Birth Support Program
Free doula services for WIC-eligible clients in zip codes:
11207, 11208, 11212, 11216, 11221, 11233
Call Gabriela Ammann at 718-637-5231 or e-mail gammann@health.nyc.gov.
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By My Side is part of Healthy Start Brooklyn, which also offers a number of free classes open to anyone: childbirth education, Dancing Thru Pregnancy, Move It Mama Fitness, newborn care, infant safety & CPR, parenting, and fatherhood. For information about classes, call Shantel Tull at 718-637-5244 or email stull@health.nyc.gov.
Free and Low-Cost Doula Directory
This online directory can help you find a doula who can work with your budget.
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Doula Groups and Directories
This group includes labor and postpartum doulas, placenta encapsulators, and childbirth educators.
Birth Day Presence offers doula services and childbirth education.
The collective includes both labor and postpartum doulas.
Expecting NYC offers mindfulness-based childbirth and parenting classes, doula trainings and services, lactation support, and massage therapy!
Free and Low-Cost Doula Directory, Metropolitan Doula Group, and DoulaMatch.net allow you to find doulas in your area and price range.
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Recommended Individual Doulas
Myla is a highly experienced doula, childbirth education, and Certified Lactation Counselor. Prior to becoming a DONA-certified doula in 2010, she worked as an assistant to a home birth midwife and helped to open a birthing center in Uganda!
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Emily Cohen-Moreira teaches childbirth education and prenatal lactation classes in New Jersey and New York. She is also a doula and Certified Lactation Counselor!
Maggie is a longtime BBC Birth Assistant and former Clinic Manager. She is a DONA-trained doula and a Certified Lactation Counselor, and placenta encapsulator!
Wendy is a birth doula, postpartum doula, and placenta encapsulation specialist. She has worked with many BBC clients.
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Grace is a birth doula, postpartum doula, Certified Lactation Counselor, and holistic health coach. She offers a wide range of services for new and expecting parents. Some of her especially unique offerings include: meeting new parents when they are ready to leave the birthing facility and helping them settle in at home, in-home “New Parent, New Baby” consultations for parents and other family members, and “Ready to Go Back to Work” consultations.
Lena DeGloma offers doula services, massage, and CBE.
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Home Visiting Programs
This program pairs visiting nurses with expectant first-time parents. Eligible parents receive home visits beginning in pregnancy and continuing through the child’s second birthday.
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Lactation Support
TLC midwifery Service
On-Site Lactation Consultants
Lactation consultants are available by appointment at Brooklyn Birthing Center. You do not have to be a client of TLC midwifery Service to be seen by our lactation consultants. Please call our office at 3479410186 to schedule your appointment.
One of our staff IBCLCs, Jennifer Leopold, also works with The First Latch. She and her colleagues offer individual lactation education and support as well as classes and peer support groups.
La Leche League has chapters in all boroughs and throughout the greater metro area. Check here for some local Brooklyn meetings.
Uptown Village Co-op Breastfeeding Support Group
This is a support group for parents in Washington Heights.
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Expecting NYC Lactation Services
Expecting NYC’s IBCLC offers home visits for new parents.
New York Lactation Consultant Association
This directory lists IBCLCs who offer home visits.
This service connects new parent with a lactation specialist. Parents can fill out a request form on the website or text 347-688-5070 to initiate a conversation.
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LGBTQ Resources
Gender-Inclusive Pregnancy Guide
This collaborative resource includes information for all genders about pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.
This site discusses the need for inclusive midwifery care.
Support and Discussion Groups
In addition to the groups listed below, there are many neighborhood-based e-mail listservs and Facebook groups for parents in NYC. These groups are often a great place to buy and sell gently-used baby items, solicit daycare recommendations, and meet new parent friends. There are also many listservs and groups for parents that share something in common- there are culturally-based groups, groups for dads, groups for single moms, groups for queer parents, groups for adoptive families, groups for parents of twins, groups for parents of kids with special needs, and much more. To find a group that meets your needs, visit the Yahoo Groups homepage and search by location and interest (example: “flatbush family” or “brooklyn parents of twins”). Try searching Google Groups, Facebook, and Meetup.com, too!
Ancient Song offers doula services, workshops, and discussion groups for new and expecting parents.
This center offers a range of programs for new and expecting parents. Unique offerings include a “new mom package,” a new moms group, a new dads group, and individual and couples therapy. Some insurance plans are accepted; services not covered by insurance are billed on a sliding scale.
This group is free and meets at the Leonard Library in Williamsburg.
Located in Greenwich Village, Love Child offers prenatal yoga, massage, acupuncture, and and new parent support groups.
Mindful parenting offers workshops support groups for new and expecting parents in Fort Greene / Clinton Hill.
Carriage House Birth is a hub for perinatal education and support services in Greenpoint. Visit their website for information about Mother’s Circle meetings.
Bronx Parents Group
This group meets at Margheritas Mexican Cuisine on 161st Street. E-mail bronxparents161@gmail.com for information.
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Chiropractors
Park Slope Chiropractic Family Wellness Center
This practices specializes in working with prenatal clients, including the Webster technique, which is used to encourage breech babies to turn.
Based in Park Slope, this practice offers services for prenatal clients, including the Webster technique, which is used to encourage breech babies to turn. They also offer a Birth Worker’s Wellness Happy Hour!
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Bradley Lipton, DC, CSCS
(212) 686-4040
213 Madison Avenue, Suite 1B, NY, NY
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415 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
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285 Middle Country Road Suite LL6
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Acupuncture
Third Root Community Health Center
Third Root is a cooperatively-run health center in Ditmas Park. They offer acupuncture, massage, yoga, herbal medicine, and more.
Mona Eldahry is a doula and acupuncturist. You can learn more about Mona’s doula work and acupuncture practice on her website.
Located in Greenwich Village, Love Child offers prenatal yoga, massage, acupuncture, and and new parent support groups.
Naturopathy, Nutrition, and Herbalism
Doctor Patricia Pimentel Selassie is a Naturopathic Doctor offering nutrition, homeopathy, and other lifestyle interventions in Brownsville.
Doctor Millie Lytle is a Naturopathic Doctor and nutritionist working in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn and the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan.
Harriet’s Apothecary is a healing village led by the brilliance and wisdom of Black Cis Women, Queer and Trans healers, artists, health professionals, magicians, activists and ancestors.
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Massage
Third Root Community Health Center
Third Root is a cooperatively-run health center in Ditmas Park. They offer acupuncture, massage, yoga, herbal medicine, and more.
Lena DeGloma offers doula services, massage, and CBE.
Amy Baker, LMT, is a former BBC patient! She offers bodywork for moms and babies.
Located in Greenwich Village, Love Child offers prenatal yoga, massage, acupuncture, and and new parent support groups.
Expecting NYC offers pre-conception, prenatal, and postpartum massage.
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Physical Therapy
Renew PT specializes in postpartum pelvic floor restoration.
MRPT specializes in prenatal and postpartum concerns. Free postpartum exercise classes are offered periodically!
MetroSports Med Physical Therapy
MetroSports specializes in pelvic floor restoration and other common postpartum issues.
Shift Integrative Medicine offers a wide range of physical and occupational therapy services. Staff physical therapists specialize in common prenatal and postpartum issues.
Michele Zezima is a Long Island City-based doctor of physical therapy specializing in prenatal and postpartum issues.
Lindsey Vestal is an occupational therapist specializing in pelvic floor rehabilitation. She offers home visits!
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WIC Program
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a program that helps families access healthy food, nutrition counseling, lactation support, and supplies. You can apply for WIC in New York if:
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You are a New York state resident
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You are pregnant or have a child under 5
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You have Medicaid or meet other income guidelines
Please follow this link to learn more.
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