Maternity & Prenatal Classes

The birth of a child is one of life’s most precious moments, and Mount Sinai Medical Center has helped thousands of South Florida families ensure their special day is healthy for mother and baby with state-of-the-art obstetric care that is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of childbirth experts. In addition to following the highest safety standards, the care team at Mount Sinai’s labor and delivery unit prioritizes mother and baby’s comfort at every step of a family’s maternity journey.

This commitment to excellence has earned Mount Sinai numerous awards and accolades, including “Best Hospital to Give Birth in Miami-Dade County,” awarded by the readers of South Florida Parenting magazine two years in a row. In addition, Mount Sinai has one of the lowest C-section rates in the region.

Labor and Delivery

Mount Sinai Medical Center is proud to have the lowest primary caesarian section rate in South Florida.

Mount Sinai Medical Center was one of the first hospitals in the region to provide families with a combined labor and delivery experience, where mothers who deliver vaginally can go through the entire childbirth experience in one room. That tradition continues today. In addition, expectant parents at Mount Sinai Medical Center can choose to create a personalized childbirth experience, including access to hypnobirthing for a delivery without the use of pain medication.

For mothers who want to reduce pain during childbirth, Mount Sinai Medical Center’s anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists offer every pain reduction modality available, and our team is among the only in South Florida to utilize nitrous oxide during labor and delivery. Nitrous oxide has been shown to alleviate pain effectively during childbirth with minimal side effects.

Prenatal Classes

At Mount Sinai Medical Center, we want our expectant families to feel comfortable and safe when baby comes and when they take baby home. That’s why we offer a wide array of classes for patients planning to deliver at Mount Sinai, and for the community in general.

• Prenatal Childbirth Education
  Expectant families can participate in our Prenatal Childbirth Education course as a one-day, intensive five-hour class or over the course of three weeks, where you’ll meet for two-and-a-half hours each time. This class uses a Lamaze-based approach to prenatal education with the goal of preparing you for your upcoming labor and birthing experience. Your instructor will cover topics like the stages of labor, common medical interventions, pain medications, epidural anesthesia, nonpharmacological methods for comfort and relaxation (breathing exercises, positive gravity positions, pain alleviating measures, and techniques), and birthing/pushing techniques. For information and pricing, please contact 954.433.CARE (2273) or email MtSinaiChildbirthClass@mcdsonlinedoulas.com.
  
  
• Hypnobirthing Class
  Lean about this unique method of pain medication-free, relaxed, natural childbirth, enhanced by self-hypnosis techniques. For more information, please visit amazingbirthsandbeyond.com.
  
  
• Shalom Baby Class
  Mount Sinai Medical Center offers access to the following as part of Shalom Baby’s seasonal Jewish-inspired childbirth preparation classes for pregnant women (20+ weeks) and their partners:
  • Infant/Child CPR & First Aid.
  • Sessions lead by a certified Doula.
  • Mommy self-care.
  • Presentations from Pediatricians and Sleep Specialists.
  • Breastfeeding education.
  • Postpartum mental health virtual classes.
  • Access to a welcoming new parent community.

  For more information, dates, and session pricing, contact Laura Bernal at Laura@tbsmb.org or 954.274.3615. Please visit https://innovativeschool.org/programs/shalom-baby/ for more details.

• Fear•Less® Childbirth Class
  This unique five-week course teaches mothers and their partners special techniques for managing pain and anxiety during childbirth. With a focus on addressing the most common causes of fear related to pregnancy and childbirth, this class includes special breathing strategies, relaxation, visualization, meditative practice, attention to nutrition, and positive body toning. Your instructor will also address the labor process so participants can understand how their body works to birth their baby. Your instructor will also discuss common medical interventions so you can discuss them with your health care provider. For information and pricing, please call 954.433.CARE (2273) or email MtSinaiChildbirthClass@mcdsonlinedoulas.com.
  
  
• Preparing for Cesarean Birth Class
  We designed this three-hour course for expectant families who want to know more about delivering their baby via C-section. This class covers the cesarean section procedure, what to expect, how the surgery is performed, medical interventions and pain medication utilized, postpartum recovery expectations and tips, addressing fear and instruction on calming techniques for a surgical birth, the partner’s role, and more. For information and pricing, please call 954.433.CARE (2273) or email MtSinaiChildbirthClass@mcdsonlinedoulas.com.
  
  
• Your Amazing Newborn! Class
  This three-hour class introduces important topics about your newborn baby, including common newborn characteristics, behaviors, sleeping patterns, and eating patterns. The course also covers the basics of infant care regarding crib safety, diapering, infant feeding options (basic discussion on breastfeeding and formula feeding), bathing, and general care for the newborn. Your instructor will also discuss common challenges such as colic, reflux, and warning signs of illness (how to reduce the incidence of SIDS, avoid shaken baby syndrome, etc.), along with tips and techniques for calming a newborn. The class will also address delayed cord clamping, umbilical cord blood banking (private and donation), benefits of delaying the first bath, and more. For information and pricing, please call 954.433.CARE (2273) or email MtSinaiChildbirthClass@mcdsonlinedoulas.com.
  
  
• Introduction to Breastfeeding Class
  This three-hour class will teach you up-to-date, evidence-based information to support successful breastfeeding during the first critical weeks. Your instructor will cover topics such as the benefits of breastfeeding, strategies for success, how to avoid complications, breastfeeding techniques and positions for comfort, maternal diet considerations, breast and nipple care, and tips for your partner (such as how they can support breastfeeding without feeling “left out”). We will also discuss the most common challenges and how to avoid them or treat them. You’ll be able to ask questions about breastfeeding, including the all-important, “How do I know my baby is getting enough?” For information and pricing, please call 954.433.CARE (2273) or email
  MtSinaiChildbirthClass@mcdsonlinedoulas.com.
  
  
• Infant Feeding Choices: Pumping, Collection & Storage; Going Back to Work; and Formula Safety
  Anyone who anticipates the need to pump and store breastmilk will benefit from this three-hour class, including parents who will be returning to work. The pumping section of the class covers pumps and equipment; “sizing” your breast pump; milk storage supplies; storing, refrigerating, and freezing breastmilk; where and when to pump; when to start introducing the exclusively breastfed baby to a bottle; when to start pumping; and getting ready to be away from the baby. The bottle-feeding and formula safety section of the class addresses questions surrounding infant formula, such as how to prepare formula, how to bottle-feed, information on formula safety, and how to maintain safe standards when preparing a bottle. For information and pricing, please call 954.433.CARE (2273) or email MtSinaiChildbirthClass@mcdsonlinedoulas.com.
  
  
• Additional Resources
  Mother’s Care Doula Services offers additional information — both in person and virtually — about the following:
  • Birth and postpartum doula services
  • Birth doula services for locations that limit extra in-person support
  • Breastfeeding visits with a lactation specialist
  • Postpartum doula guidance, advice, and tips for families who want on-call virtual assistance from a postpartum and baby specialist (day and nighttime help available)
  • Postpartum doula care for you and your baby, whenever possible (day and nighttime help available).

  For information and pricing, please call 954.433.CARE (2273) or email MtSinaiChildbirthClass@mcdsonlinedoulas.com.