6 Best Childbirth Classes Online (& Which is Right For You)

6 Best Childbirth Classes Online

This post may contain affiliate links.

Online Childbirth Classes to Prepare for Labor & Birth

Are you feeling overwhelmed with choices when it comes to childbirth classes online?  It’s great to have options, but it’s also important to feel confident that your time and money aren’t wasted. The best childbirth classes online are an investment that have the potential to change your whole approach to labor and childbirth. 

Just as each mom and partner have unique goals for their birth, each of the childbirth classes online that I’m reviewing offer a different approach to birth prep. Do you want a class for natural birth or an epidural? Are you giving birth in a hospital or in a birth center or home setting?

Ultimately, where you invest your money, time, and birth-prep focus is no small decision! So I’m going to help you narrow the field. Let’s jump into our overview of the very best natural childbirth classes online, and which one is right for you.

Review of the 6 Best Childbirth Classes Online

Online Birth Class Features Kopa Birth Lamaze Birth Boot Camp Prenatal Class for Couples Mama Natural Pain to Power
Prepares mom specifically for natural childbirth
Taught by a certified childbirth educator
Taught by an RN or Midwife
Specializes in hospital birth
Specializes in out-of-hospital birth
Teaches strategies to manage labor pain
Unbiased view of medical interventions
Includes access to a Facebook group
Includes an online course manual
Includes relaxation & guided imagery downloads
Includes comprehensive, stand-alone postpartum care content

Cost:

$195

$84.95

$345

$99

$264

$500

Learn more:

Online Birthing Class #1: Kopa Birth®

The Kopa Birth® online childbirth course is right for you if you want comprehensive preparation for a natural childbirth in a hospital.

Kopa Birth® Summary

Kopa Birth® offers both quality and value when it comes to childbirth classes online.  In addition to having an affordable enrollment fee, Kopa Birth® classes offer practical, hands-on tools and advice for natural birth. A Kopa Birth® education is balanced, comprehensive, and engaging to watch.  

I’m Katie Griffin and I’m a registered nurse, Lamaze-certified educator, and mother of six.  As the lead instructor for the Kopa® Birth online course, I offer both experience and evidence. I’m actually 6-months pregnant during the filming of the class, and you can join me in the hospital during the birth of my baby!

Portions of the class focus specifically on preparing couples for a low-intervention birth in a hospital setting.  This will prepare you to communicate well with your doctor or midwife and to make choices informed about hospital-based interventions. 

Subjects this course covers:

  • The benefits of relaxation in labor
  • Guided imagery
  • The birth process
  • Lamaze-style breathing techniques
  • What to expect in each stage of labor
  • Pushing positions & techniques
  • Natural hospital birth footage
  • Labor positions & sensory techniques
  • Medications, cesareans, and labor inductions
  • Benefits and risks of common hospital labor interventions
  • Birth plans
  • Mock labor experience

The Plus course offers additional classes in the following subjects:

  • Prenatal nutrition
  • Prenatal fitness
  • Hypno-style relaxation triggers
  • Newborn babywearing basics
  • Natural Breastfeeding Course Access
Kopa Plus Online Birthing Classes

Duration

3-7 month online access (varies based on course selection)

Cost

$195-$245

Doctor & Midwife Recommended

When I was pregnant with my first baby (this was back in 2002 before online childbirth classes were a thing), I was planning a natural birth and knew that I wanted to take a class to help me prepare. I scoured online for course reviews and talked to friends who had taken birthing classes, but ultimately I went with the class that was recommended by my midwife. Why? Because I knew she had more experience with natural childbirth than I did, and I trusted her.

One feature of Kopa Birth® is that the course prepares couples for natural birth in a hospital setting.  You’re going to learn about hospital-based interventions, and how to make informed decisions. This feature is highly valued by the many doctors and midwives who regularly refer their patients to Kopa Birth classes.  For example, according to class surveys, in the city of Atlanta alone, over 100 doctors and midwives have referred their clients to our classes. Doctors and Midwives trust their patients with Kopa® Birth classes.

+ Kopa Birth Pros

Affordable, natural birth curriculum, teaches how to have a low-intervention birth in a hospital, mock labor experience, money-back guarantee.

- Kopa Birth Cons

Offers no instruction on home birth or birth center births

The Lamaze E-Learning online childbirth class is right for you if you want shorter, quality classes on a price-sensitive budget.
Free Online Natural Birthing Classes - Lamaze

Lamaze Online Summary

Lamaze childbirth classes online are always a “safe” option; the Lamaze method has definitely been around for a while and is highly trusted by most healthcare providers.  With the Lamaze E-Learning series, you can find an online parent education platform where you can register for classes within any of the five categories; enrollment fees are considerably less due to this format.

Lamaze e-learning classes are purchased individually or as a bundle to cover the following subjects:

Pregnancy

  • How to prepare for pregnancy
  • Sex during pregnancy

Labor & Birth

  • Labor pain management
  • Steps for a safe and healthy birth
  • Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBACC)

Baby & Beyond:

  • Breastfeeding
    • Breastfeeding basics
  • Baby Care
    • Bringing baby home
  • Parenting
    • Parenting together

Duration

1 year online access

Cost

$84.95 for a 3-class bundle, $29.95+ per mini class

+ Lamaze Online Pros

A la carte class menu for a smaller registration fee

- Lamaze Online Cons

Lack of one-on-one connection since there is no instructor

The Birth Boot Camp online birthing class is right for you if you want flexibility and customized class options.
Childbirth classes online 2 - Birth Boot Camp

Birth Boot Camp Summary

As the name suggests, Birth Boot Camp is an interactive course that centers around a military theme.  After registration is complete, you will have access to the childbirth classes online for three months. The “Comprehensive Childbirth Classes” bundle offers 10 classes than run 25 hours long, so give yourself plenty of time to complete the course.  In addition to the online course, you will receive a breastfeeding video and a home study packet, or “field manual”.  The talk-show style format of the classes is entertaining and easy to watch.  The website boasts a simple layout and user-friendly format.

Subjects the "Comprehensive Childbirth Classes" Bundle Covers:

  • Exercises and pelvic floor health
  • Pregnancy nutrition
  • Variations of labor
  • Comfort Measures
  • Birth Plans
  • Parenting a newborn
  • Breastfeeding
  • Relaxation

Or you can purchase mini-courses that cover the following subjects:

  • Hospital birth
  • Birth center or home birth
  • Food and fitness
  • Comfort measures

Duration

3 month online access, 10 classes

Cost

$345 for the most comprehensive course

+ Birth Boot Camp Pros

Extensive breastfeeding help, thematic childbirth education

- Birth Boot Camp Cons

Instructors are childbirth educators, but have little to no medical training

The Online Prenatal Class for Couples is right for you want a basic course similar to a hospital course.
The Online Prenatal Course for Couples childbirth class online

Prenatal Class for Couples Summary

The Online Prenatal Class for Couples was created by a Labor & Delivery Nurse and is designed to help ease moms anxiety of what will happen in the delivery room.  The course is quick and concise, and covers the most common things you’ll need to know if you’re having a normal delivery in the hospital.  The online course includes text, videos, and questions for couples to discuss.  You also have the ability to connect with the instructor to ask questions within the course.

The Online Course covers the following subjects:

  • Common 3rd trimester testing
  • How to know if you’re in labor
  • When to go to the hospital
  • Common hospital procedures
  • Pain management options
  • What to expect in a c-section
  • What happens right after birth
  • What to expect when you go home

The Deluxe Full Course includes:

  • Downloadable e-book/workbook
  • Access to a private facebook group

Duration

9 months online access

Cost

$99-$145

+ Prenatal Class for Couples Pros

Includes lots of thought-provoking questions for couples to discuss throughout the course

- Prenatal Class for Couples Cons

Not enough preparation for someone wanting a natural childbirth

The Mama Natural Birth online course is right for you if you are having a natural birth in a birth center.
Childbirth Classes Online 4 - Mama Natural

Mama Natural Birth Course Summary

Mama Natural birth is a childbirth online class that aims to empower women to have their best, most natural birth. It’s an offshoot of the Mama Natural blog, which features information about natural living. The founder Genevieve is lively and encouraging while her co-host, Maura, is passionate about all things natural birth. The course material is divided into eight classes, with a couple of bonus classes available depending on your subscription.  MotherHealth, a midwifery clinic in Uganda, receives 10% of all profit from Mama Natural childbirth online classes.

The Mama Natural Birth Course covers the following subects:

  • How to avoid interventions in labor
  • Pregnancy nutrition
  • Natural remedies for common pregnancy ailments
  • Exercises to position baby and prepare your body

  • Practical tools to achieve a peaceful birth
  • How to find a labor support team
  • How to pick the best birthing location for you
  • Access to a private facebook group

Duration

One year online access, 8 classes

Cost

$264

+ Mama Natural Birth Course Pros

Facebook community, high focus on natural birth, money-back guarantee

- Mama Natural Birth Course Cons

The course is hosted by a natural-living enthusiast and can be negative about hospitals, doctors, and interventions not viewed as natural. This view extends to instruction on baby care, warning against routines such as the vitamin K shot.

The Pain to Power online childbirth class is right for you if you want to reframe your emotional outlook and find pleasure in birth.
childbirth classes online 5 - Power to Pain

Pain to Power Summary

Pain to Power offers motivating and inspiring childbirth online classes to help couples positively prepare for childbirth. Debra Pascali-Bonaro’s mission is to show women that there is more to childbirth than just pain; there is pleasure and power to be discovered and experienced.  In addition to her 25 years of experience as a birth worker, Debra is also an expert on the subject of orgasmic birth.  Although an orgasmic birth might seem odd concept to wrap your mind around, consider it a course focused on pleasure instead of pain.

Pain to Power online birth course covers the following subjects:

  • Access to “Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret” documentary
  • How to reframe your perceptions of birth
  • Birth hormones
  • Labor support

  • Positive birth stories and videos
  • Comfort techniques in labor (touch, rebozo, acupressure, dance, music, etc.)
  • Communication in labor and how to create a safe, private birthing environment

Duration

1 year online access, 9 classes

Cost

$550

+ Pain to Power Pros

Unlimited email support for 1 year, 6 week postpartum “babymoon” plan, encourages positive emotions about labor

- Pain to Power Cons

Some might feel uncomfortable discussing the subject of orgasmic birth

Although decision-making can sometimes be difficult, don’t procrastinate your preparation!  Allow yourself plenty of time to prepare both physically and mentally for labor and childbirth.  Not only will adequate preparation instill more confidence, but you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you gave the labor and birth experience your all.

Kopa Birth’s online childbirth classes allow you to prepare for a natural childbirth from the comfort of your own home, 24/7. Enroll today in our free online childbirth class to learn more about preparing for a natural hospital birth.

Meet Katie Griffin

I’m a registered nurse, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, and the mother of 7. I help women realize their dream of a natural, intimate, and empowering hospital birth.

You may also like

This post may contain affiliate links. Online Childbirth Classes to Prepare for Labor & Birth Are you feeling overwhelmed with choices when it comes to childbirth classes online? It’s great