As of November 2026, our offerings for prenatal classes are different than they have been for years...why? Because our dear main childbirth educator, Melissa Anne DuBois, went and got her PhD in Nursing and is now a maternity nursing professor at UMass in Worcester! While we wait for her to finish recording our Awesome Birth Ready and our New Baby and Postpartum Ready classes to be available on-demand, keep reading to find out what we do offer...
There are now two classes offered in-person, and three available on-demand:
IN-PERSON at our office in Northborough, Massachusetts
Breastfeeding Ready
CPR & Choke Saving Skills
ON-DEMAND
Move & Get Comfy for Labor
Breastfeeding Ready
Pump and Bottle Ready
One benefit to offering the on-demand options is that people who are not local to MetroWest/Central Massachusetts can take advantage of our outstanding classes and watch them when it works for your busy schedules. Please consider sharing about these with any friends or family members near and far!
Gamechanger. Unexpected. Informative.
These are words that we often hear used to describe our classes! We are fortunate to have touched the lives of literally thousands of families in our prenatal classes. They say they appreciated the energy, the jokes, the time, the options and the passion that we have for birth and supporting growing families. Our in-person classes are the perfect size to get to know you and provide you with individualized attention as well as answer your questions and stay in touch for continued support! Prenatal classes should be fun...I mean, you ARE having a baby, after all!
ALL birthing people, regardless of your birth plan, will benefit tremendously from prenatal education at Babies in Common!
Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers!)
When should I take prenatal classes?
Ideally, you'd start prenatal class in your second trimester (ideally by week 30 of pregnancy) and end all your classes around week 36, if possible. Of course, we do have people who are starting and finishing classes later than that, but those dates are the ideal dates. And ideally, people would sign up around week 15, to be sure your calendar is open enough to schedule your classes!
For those who plan to breastfeed/pump/lactate: What we recommend, ideally, is that you:
1. take our prenatal Breastfeeding Ready class, with your partner (they'll remember thing you won't and they can see everything, whereas the person nursing a baby can only look down)
2. email any questions, if you take the on-demand class
3. if you hear anything that makes you more concerned and want to do a prenatal consultation, you can schedule that.
4. have your baby and make an appointment for a date within the first week of baby's life
Here is information on our consultations (which includes links to sign up for appointments with us.
Are class fees per person or per couple?
Class fees are for one pregnant person and their non-pregnant birth partner (except for the CPR class, that one is a per person fee, but there is a discount for couples attending together).
What if the baby arrives early or I'm hospitalized due to preterm labor and miss a class?
If your baby arrives early, you'll be refunded based on which classes you have already taken. If you are hospitalized due to preterm labor but healthy enough to still participate in an on-demand class, please do that. Otherwise, let us know and we'll refund you for the classes you are missing.
Move & Get Comfy for Labor
This 3-part on-demand course if for everyone having a baby. Great for first timers or as a refresher course for experienced parents. The first part is watching some online videos we've chosen for you. The second part is chock-full of important information about labor and birth with Melissa Anne DuBois, who is now a maternity professor at UMass Medical School in Worcester...who had two hospital births and one planned home birth herself, in addition to her many years as a labor, deliver, and postpartum nurse who supported her patients to get as close to their dream birth experience as possible.
Part Two is where Melissa and Babies in Common's founder, Jeanette Mesite Frem, were filmed teaching the way that we taught the class when it was offered in-person. There are a couple free previews you are welcome to watch to to get a sense of how this class goes. Ideally, you and your birth partner would be together for Part Two and actually following our instructions and doing the moves during the class! You'll see demonstrations which will allow you to practice numerous labor & birthing positions and learn about practical hands-on comfort measures, techniques & strategies to reduce pain, manage anxiety and provide comfort and relaxation to yourself/the birthing person in labor.
This course is essential for anyone planning an unmedicated birth or anyone wanting pain relief options before an epidural, but also helpful for those planning an epidural and wanting to reduce the length of labor with movement.
Class is held in three parts:
- watch two short birth films (you'll get details on these when you sign up, but they may cost you a few dollars to pay to view them directly from their owners);
- watch the 2-hour on-demand class recorded by Melissa Anne, about labor and birth, ideally with your birth partner; and
- watch the 2+ hours of on-demand video instruction with Melissa Anne and Jeanette, while you actually DO the techniques shown in the videos (you can pretend you are with us!).
$130 per couple.
The birth of your baby is an awesome moment. It’s amazing. Birth just plain ROCKS. It should be a day you rave about, no matter how your baby is born! Find out how you, too, can have that kind of attitude about birthing!
Pump & Bottle Ready
This class is essential for any person planning to introduce a bottle at some point to their baby. Designed for lactating parents who want or need to pump to provide their baby with human milk, whether it be exclusively or only for when separated for work or the occasional night out. Whether you are still pregnant, thinking about introducing a bottle to your baby or planning for your return to work after birth, this class is for you! This is a recorded, 2 hour, on-demand class. $44 per couple (get 15% off if you also take our Breastfeeding Ready class!) Grandparents also are encouraged to take this class.
Breastfeeding Ready
Get breast/chest-feeding and milk-making off to a great start with this essential feeding class taught by a nationally/internationally renowned lactation consultant, parent and professional educator! This class walks you through how to navigate the first month of your baby's life feeling supported and how to manage common lactation struggles. Soothing & preventing sore nipples, how to know when baby is getting enough milk, getting a good latch, hand expression, pumping, choosing breast pumps (with lots of pumps & gear to show!) and how to know when to call in a professional for help are also covered. Learn what feeding products you need (and don’t need) to be successful at reaching your feeding goals. A one session class, either in-person or on-demand.
CPR & Choke Saving Skills
Occasionally, we offer an in-person CPR & Choke Saving Skills course, in Northborough, MA. Anyone is welcome, whether a teenager, aunt or uncle-to-be, grandparent or grandparent-to-be or those expecting babies or who already have children. It is NOT a certification course, but you'll leave feeling empowered to help people! $75 per person.
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Jeanette, who teaches the Breastfeeding Ready and Pump and Bottle Ready classes, and co-teaches the Move & Get Comfy for Labor class.
Amanda, who teaches the CPR & Choke Saving Skills class.
Melissa, who co-teaches the Move & Get Comfy for Labor classes.