The Philly Family Resource Guide for Expecting Parents
From education to fitness, here’s everything you need to get ready for baby!
It’s amazing how much there is to prepare for such a tiny person. How do you prepare yourself, your body, your home, and your partner for this monumental change? There is so much to get done in just a few months, but luckily we’ve got you covered. Here are some great Philly resources that will help you get ready for baby!
Classes
Jefferson Hospital
111 South 11th St., Philadelphia
Jefferson offers a variety of parenting education classes including Ask the Pediatrician, Breastfeeding, Baby Talk, and more.
Pennsylvania Hospital Solutions for Women
700 Spruce St., Philadelphia
At “Penn Parenting University,” you can learn about how to have a healthy pregnancy, labor techniques, and your role as a new parent.
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia
From your first trimester forward, HUP has classes to help you have a healthy pregnancy, birth, and baby. They even offer a Sibling Class for parents and kids ages 3-10 so they can prepare for their new role and also learn about newborn safety.
Blossoming Bellies
Virtual or at Bok 1901 South 9th Street, Philadelphia
Brittany Sharpe McCollum, a certified childbirth educator and doula, teaches her Blossoming Bellies childbirth preparation classes around town and virtually. In addition to birth classes, she also teaches infant care classes.
Mindful Birth and Parenting
Various locations throughout Philadelphia
These classes incorporate meditation and other mindfulness practices into childbirth prep. See website for schedules and locations.
BellyWise
West Philadelphia
BellyWise offers 4-week healthy childbirth classes as well as infant care classes throughout the year.
Mama Bird Birth at Mama’s Wellness Joint
1100 Pine St., Philadelphia
From your earliest questions about healthy pregnancy, continuing on as you prepare for labor and birth all the way through postpartum wellness, breastfeeding and basic newborn care, each class in this series is designed to give you exactly the information and tools you need, just as you need them. Take all 3 classes, or choose just the ones that fit your needs and schedule.
Doulas
After the Stork
Newborn Care and Parenting Support for your Growing Family
Christine’s Care and Compassion
Christine’s Care & Compassion is a certified birth doula, postpartum doula, lactation counselor, childbirth educator, and newborn care specialist serving the Philadelphia area. She was named the 2019 LOVE Award Winner for Best Doula by the Philly Family Community.
Blossoming Bellies
Birth and postpartum doula services.
In Harmony Birth
Birth and postpartum doula services.
BellyWise
Birth and postpartum doula services.
Prenatal Fitness
Mama’s Wellness Joint
Y2B Fit
Pacific Yoga
Studio 34
Shopping
The Nesting House
606 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia
The Nesting House offers a FREE registry for new and pre-owned items. They will help you decide what you need, select which products are best for you, tell you the benefit of natural products, and help set up your registry. They also have a cloth diaper and babywearing support person to help you choose what works best for your baby. You can even try out the different carriers, including rentals! Best of all, when you’re done using all these great products, The Nesting House also does consignment!
Minnow Lane
2029 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia
This is another great option for natural and organic products for you and your baby. This Fishtown boutique carries all natural, eco-friendly, socially conscious, toys and products made with toxin free renewable and reusable materials.
Safety
Safer Babies
Safer Babies is the leading child proofing expert in the Philadelphia region, with 23 years of happy clients. Their goal is to improve the everyday life of families by increasing safety & decreasing stress. Their most commonly installed items are stairway gates & furniture brackets. Safer Babies has safe custom solutions for most every home hazard. They offer virtual consults, in-home consults & email quotes.
The Home Hero
Home Hero will walk through your entire home, identify issues, and solve every problem with their creativity and experience. They’ll install everything you need to keep your family’s home safe and secure as your baby grows and starts to move.
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce St., Philadelphia
HUP offers a safety class that covers home safety, poison control, medication safety, car seat installation, and tips for childproofing your home. They also hold infant CPR classes (their Pennsy location hosts them too).
Car Seat Checks
Get your car seat installation checked at various locations in the Philadelphia area. Hospitals and fire stations will help you for free!
Feature photo by Noreen Turner Photography.
Jun May 4, 2020
Thank you for this well-collected lists and guides. Does one of these classes have Lamaze, Bradley Method, or BirthForMen birth classes? I have a friend who suggested this type of birth class for a newbie like me. I guess I can find one of the classes from this list to suit my needs as a father who wanted to take part in childbirth.