Newborn
Edmonton prenatal class with Labour Day Prenatals
Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs out there. It doesn’t come with a college or university degree, and no instruction manual could ever hold the solutions and answers to all of your specific needs and questions. Each child is unique. Each parent is unique. This is not a one size fits all situation! But—we can all learn, at least a little, from other people’s experiences, stories and expertise.
I’m a mother of twins. I had what is considered a high-risk pregnancy. I’ve experienced the joys and the stress of being a parent for a little over a decade. I’ve discovered unconditional love—a love so powerful it can’t be compared to any other form of love. I’ve also discovered the unknown. How do you do this? How do you react to that? How do you prevent this from happening? How do you manage all of that?
Over the years, I’ve tried many things and asked around more than once for advice when I needed it. There are so many resources out there, and many I’ve never used because I didn’t know they existed. So, I’ve done some research and decided to introduce you to a few of them to help you navigate the ups and downs of parenthood, from the prenatal stage to postpartum and beyond. Most of the resources I’ll present in the blog will be local to the Edmonton community—for soon-to-be parents, new parents or seasoned parents.
Prenatal class in Edmonton
Let’s start with prenatal classes! Last Saturday, I had the pleasure to attend an in-person prenatal class in Edmonton at the South Side Women’s Health Centre near the Grey Nuns Hospital. It was taught by Labour Day Prenatals, an Edmonton business created by two labour and delivery nurses, Ashley and Bea. They offer personalized, in-home and group prenatal classes for women, couples and partners in Edmonton, Sherwood Park and surrounding areas. They are very friendly and knowledgeable. You can tell they love what they do and care about the people they work with. And as a side note, I loved the props they used during their prenatal class to illustrate the various topics they were talking about!
I’ll let Bea and Ashley tell you more about themselves and their services in the following interview.
An interview with Labour Day Prenatals
Can you tell me about your business? What do you do and why?
Labour Day Prenatals is the brainchild and labour of love of two labour and delivery nurses who want everyone to get the prenatal education they deserve. Our goal as registered nurses is to tailor your class directly to your needs and questions, to give you evidence-based information, and to be accessible throughout your pregnancy. Pregnancy is complex. We hope to support mothers/couples/families during and after their pregnancies with our variety of care services. We began by just wanting to ensure that EVERYONE had access to a tailored, friendly, factual prenatal class. After we began teaching, clients would make comments about other services they would like/appreciate.
Over the past four years, we have added services from qualified individuals including a variety of lactation consultants, postpartum registered nursing, a registered dietician (specializing in diabetes as well as healthy introduction of solids into your child’s diet), and a registered massage therapist (coming to your home to relieve pain and stress for both you and your partner, during and after pregnancy). We want to give parents a reputable place to find a relevant, accurate, and safe class, where no questions are off limits, and the goal is ALWAYS a well-informed, confident, healthy family.
What differentiates you from other people who offer similar services?
As we began to expand our business, we have learned that similar services exist in Edmonton, not to mention all over Canada. We love that we are a small business. EVERY client matters. EVERY class has to be our BEST class, because we know that every pregnancy is different, and every family unit is different. Whether the pregnant mother is young, a little older, or has medical conditions; whether the family is blended, adopted, or surrogate; whether they have 20 nieces and nephews or have never held a baby, we give them information at their level, and focus on what they feel they need to know.
We also believe that striving to have excellence in each of our offered services sets us apart from other prenatal providers. We have well-educated, registered contractors who treat our clients exceptionally well, and represent our brand beautifully. Each of our instructors/contractors is an expert in their area, so provide the best possible services and information.
What’s your favorite part about your work?
We love the variety of individuals and families that we get to meet! Amazing people from all walks of life, with varied careers and interests, who constantly remind us how special life is, and how wonderful the addition of a baby can be to a family unit. We love what we do!
What’s the hardest part?
One of the most difficult things has been just beginning and learning how to run a business. We both have two degrees, worked throughout school, started nursing full time, but felt like there was something more we could learn and do to be fulfilled. Beginning a business definitely was a steep learning curve, and we have made mistakes along the way. As we have grown though, we have learned the importance of hard work, maintaining focus on what we would like for our end
goal, and listening to our clients’ needs to build a bigger and better company.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to give to expecting parents?
Our most important piece of advice is to ask for help when you need it. Whether it’s the need for education and a prenatal class while you are pregnant, needing help with breastfeeding, needing help with emotional support, or mental health support services. There is ALWAYS someone who will listen, and if they/we cannot help you, we will find you someone who can help. No one needs to feel alone in this scary journey of raising a little human. We want to be an informational safety net for parents, so please just reach out if you have questions or need help.
How to connect with Labour Day Prenatals
You can find out more about Labour Day Prenatals and book a prenatal class in or around Edmonton on their website. Don’t forget to follow them on Instagram or Facebook—they share a lot of valuable information!
Does your business benefit parents and children?
Do you own a business serving parents and families in the greatest Edmonton area? I’d love to find out how your services benefit our community!
I'm Marie-Pierre, an easygoing mother of two and a documentary family photographer. I believe we can all learn and grow from other people's experiences. Real life stories help us relate to each other, open our minds and feel better about ourselves.
this blog is a collection of featured client stories, tips, and articles on various family related topics. I hope you will find some inspiration!
