Expecting a baby is a very exciting time in your life! You probably have many questions related to the
birth experience and have many decisions to make as you prepare for your baby. Our Childbirth
Education classes are designed to help you answer those questions and make some of your decisions easier.
To register by phone, please call 1-800-822-3627. A representative is available to take
your call 24-hours a day. Enrollment is limited to those who will be delivering their baby at Tampa General Hospital. We recommend taking classes around the 28th week of pregnancy.
Unless otherwise noted, classes are held at:
Tampa General Hospital
1 Tampa General Circle
Fourth Floor, East Pavilion, Room G433
Tampa, FL 33606
This free 60-minute English language tour is held the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month at 1:00 p.m., the 4th Sunday of each month at 5:30 p.m., and the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, at 6:00 p.m., except holidays.
The tour is designed for women and their partner who are not attending a childbirth class through TGH, but plan to deliver at TGH. Tours meet at the 4th Floor, West Pavilion Security Desk, and registration is required.
This free 60-minute tour is held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, except holidays, at 2:30 p.m. The tour is designed for women and their partner who are not attending a childbirth class through TGH but plan to deliver at TGH. Registration is required to ensure small groups that allow individual attention during the tour. Tour meets on the 4th Floor, West Pavilion at the Security Desk, and registration is required.
SAVE MONEY! Enroll in the following 3 classes for $70 -that’s a $10 savings!
Labor & Birth Preparation, Breastfeeding: The First Experience and Basic Newborn Care.
Labor and Birth Preparation
Becoming a parent is a life-changing event. This comprehensive five-week series of classes prepares expectant mothers and their partner for all aspects of labor, birth and the postpartum experience. A certified instructor will discuss signs of labor, when to go to the hospital, and comfort measures such as breathing, relaxation, massage, visualization, analgesic and anesthesia. Medical options such as induction of labor and cesarean birth are also discussed. A tour of the Women's Center is included in the class. Class should be taken near 28th week of pregnancy.
Cost: $55 per couple Time: 6:30 pm – 9:00 p.m. Tuesdays: February 3 – March 3, May 26 – June 23 Wednesdays: March 11 - April 8 Thursdays: January 8 – February 5, April 16 – May 14 One Saturday Class: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – February 21, April 18, June 13 Two Saturdays in a row: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – January 24 & 31, March 14 & 21, May 9 & 16
Breastfeeding may be natural, but it often does not come naturally. This one-session class will provide you with information on the many aspects of breastfeeding your baby and will include a video presentation and demonstration. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for the first 12 months of life. Our goal is to provide you with the information you need to be informed and empowered. Partners are encouraged to attend.
Cost: $15 per couple Mondays: 6:30 – 9:00 p.m – January 26, March 16, May 18, June 22 Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - February 28, April 4, June 6
New parents need to make many decisions as they care for their newborn. This one-session class will provide the guidance and support needed as parents go through “on-the-job training” during an infant’s first three months of life. Topics covered include infant bathing and dressing, feeding and burping, various ways the infant communicates through crying, sleep patterns, signs of illness, when to call a care provider and the needs and adjustments of becoming a family.
Cost: $15 per couple Mondays: 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. - February 23, April 20, May 11, June 29 Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – January 17, March 28, May 30
This one-session class will review the stages of labor and comfort measures including breathing, relaxation,
massage and visualization techniques. The role of the support person will also be discussed. Your support
person is encouraged to attend.
Cost: $20 or FREE if attended Labor & Birth Preparation Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Mondays: December 15, February 9, April 13, June 15
The Hypnobirthing method is as much of a philosophy of birth as it is a technique for achieving a safe birth. Hypnobirthing teaches you, along with your birth partner, an easier, more comfortable birthing method in a way that mirrors nature. Participants will learn relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques to eliminate fear and tension that can cause long and uncomfortable labor. Cost of this five-week class includes textbook and two relaxation tapes.
Cost: $150 per couple Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. . Thursdays: February 12 – March 12, May 21 – June 18
This 90-minute class is designed for children who will be present at the birth of a sibling and is tailored to be age-appropriate. Children will watch a video of a birth, read a story about the birth process written from a child’s perspective and write a ‘plan’ of how they will help during the birth. The role of big brothers and sisters will be discussed as well as the changes that occur when a new baby joins the family. This class is scheduled by calling (813) 844-8945.
This class is for children two years of age and older. Children are given a brief tour of the Women's Center that includes seeing a new baby in the transitional nursery and they are shown the postpartum rooms where their mothers will be staying. Children are asked to bring a doll or stuffed animal from home that will be used to practice safe holding, diapering and feeding techniques. The older child will focus on the role that a big brother or sister plays in the family. An age appropriate story or video about becoming a big brother or sister will be utilized and each child will receive a graduation certificate.
Cost: $10 per child, $5 each additional child within a family Time: 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sundays: January 25, March 22, May 17
Get ready to hit the ground crawling! Boot Camp for New Dads is a workshop for all new and expectant dads. This program is offered through the Fathers Resource and Networking Center (FRANC) and Tampa General Hospital. Veteran Dads bring their 1-to-6 month-old infants to teach the ‘Rookie Dads’ (soon-to-be-dads) how to hold, diaper and care for their newborns. The challenges and joys of fatherhood are among the topics discussed during this one-session class for men only. This class is held in room F233, 2nd Floor, East Pavilion.
Cost: $20 per ‘Rookie’
(no father is turned away for inability to pay) Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Saturdays: March 7, June 27
The one-session class will provide an overview of car seat safety for rear facing and convertible car seats.
Class will teach you how to avoid the most common mistakes of car seat usage, provide an explanation of
LATCH and how it is used, and review laws about car seat usage in Florida. This class is taught by
certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
Attendees need to have their car seat in their car for the check. Attendess do NOT need to bring the seat to the classroom. If they will be using the free infant car seat that TGH mom's receive at discharge, instructors will have one of those available for the demonstration.
Cost: FREE Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Monday: February 2 Tuesdays: January 20, March 24, April 21, May 19, June 30
Designed for new parents, grandparents or caregivers of an infant or child, this class covers safety and
rescue breathing, choking emergencies and CPR. All instructors are certified through the American Heart
Association.
Cost: $35 per couple, $20 individual Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Fridays: February 6, April 24, June 19
