The Parent Collective is a new take on parenting classes that is designed to not only provide information you need to get through delivery and have a successful transition home with your new little one, but also to offer the added benefits of a new social network to lean on long after the classes have ended. I created this program after having experienced something similar in the UK. My early days home were filled with friends and support and in speaking with friends back home, I was shocked to hear how lonely and isolated they felt, without much in the way of community long after their babies were born. The Parent Collective aims to change that!

As expectant parents, we are all so vulnerable, excited, terrified about the changes that are about to happen to us and that vulnerability makes us open to connections with people who are going through the same things.  It’s hard to make friends as adults, as evidenced by the onslaught of mommy-tinder apps designed to help connect us as new parents. But with pregnancy as the common thread, it’s so much easier. Through education, we help couples develop their modern day village — a support network of couples that will help each other through illness, loneliness, marital problems, and the run of the mill baby drama. They will also provide each other with companionship during those sometimes endless and monotonous days with a newborn. That was definitely my experience living an ocean away from family when I had my kids. Some of my best friends to this day are from my prenatal class experience.

Here are some tips to encourage healthy sleep. Develop a sleep routine for the whole family, for example a bath followed by changing into jammies, reading a book, singing a lullaby and doing a feeding. When implementing a routine, stick to it — consistency is key! Create a good sleep environment with low light, less stimulation and a calming vibe. Naps are also important because sleep begets sleep, so avoid over-tiring your baby. When the baby is about 3 months, put them down when they’re drowsy and they’ll learn to put themselves to sleep. When your are night feeding, stay in the room baby is sleeping in, change their diaper first and avoid turning on lights or anything stimulating.

That things have a tendency to work themselves out. I obsessed over milestones with my first son – worrying that he wasn’t achieving this or that and after watching him grow up, I realized I was so preoccupied that I didn’t enjoy my time with him as much as I should have. With my second, (which is always the way!) I was much more relaxed.

What was I glad someone told me right before delivering via cesarean?  My mom told me right before going to the hospital that I would still look 6 months pregnant walking out of the hospital and thank goodness she did!  I would have been totally freaked out had I not known – and these are the things no one talks about!

Often partners are on the sidelines for most of the pregnancy. While it is a hugely impactful life change for them too, they aren’t as directly connected because it isn’t happening to them physically. Through our classes, we aim to involve them and empower them to understand the many roles they will play both during labor and in those first days home with baby. They are their partner’s advocate during birth, the gatekeeper managing guests when they are getting settled at home, and the baby’s soother, especially if mom is breastfeeding. We have found some of our biggest advocates of The Parent Collective have been initially reluctant dads. They need friends going through a similar experience too!