Preparing for Baby Classes

For More Information 919-257-8543

Duke Health offers classes to learn about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and baby care. All classes are taught by labor and delivery, postpartum, newborn, and breastfeeding nurses.

Preparing for Baby Classes & Resources

Access class registration, recorded classes, support groups, and connection to local community resources.

Classes on Birth and Newborn Care

First Trimester: Healthy Pregnancy 

This class is for early pregnancy and will cover: 

  • How to keep yourself healthy during the first trimester and beyond 
  • Common discomforts of pregnancy and solutions 

Preparing for Labor and Postpartum Care 

This class will cover: 

  • What to expect during labor 
  • When to come to the hospital 
  • Coping with labor pain (unmedicated/medicated options)
  • What to expect during birth 
  • How to care for yourself after birth 
  • How your support system can help you

Preparing for Cesarean Birth 

This class will cover: 

  • What to expect during a planned cesarean (“c-section”) birth and recovery

Breastfeeding and Pumping 

This class will cover: 

  • The importance of skin-to-skin contact, feeding on-demand, and rooming-in 
  • Milk production, latching, and positioning 
  • Common concerns and solutions in the first weeks 
  • Fitting and using your breast pump 
  • Guidelines for pumping and bottle-feeding

Newborn Care and Safety

This class will cover: 

  • The care baby will receive in the hospital 
  • How you can care for your baby at home 
  • Creating a safe home environment and preventing common injuries to babies 
  • CPR and choking rescue for infants 

CPR & Choking Rescue 

This class will cover: 

  • CPR and choking rescue for adults, children, and infants

More recorded classes are available, including Pelvic Floor Health, High-Risk Pregnancy Care, and classes in Spanish.

Recognized Among the Best Maternity Hospitals in the U.S.

Duke Regional Hospital is recognized among the best hospitals in the U.S. for maternity care by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-2024. The recognition notes our low rates of C-sections in people at low risk for pregnancy complications and other factors. Duke University Hospital's nationally-ranked obstetrics and gynecology program is the highest-ranked program in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025.

Watch Our Birthing Center Tour Videos

Birthing center tours are only offered virtually.
Watch videos that highlight the Duke University Hospital Birthing Center and The Birth Place at Duke Regional Hospital to see our spaces and better understand the experience.

Birthing Center

The Birth Place

Access Classes and Resources

Fill out this form to receive access to class registration and community resources. After submitting the form, a pop-up will provide the link to sign up for classes and access resources. We encourage you to bookmark this link.

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This page was medically reviewed on 04/16/2020