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Birthing Center Classes

We are pleased to offer you both in-person and online classes. In-person classes are held at Waterbury Hospital by certified nurses who use their combined decades of experience to help you and your family prepare for birth and caring for yourself and baby.

Note: For a limited time, in-person classes are free of charge.

In-Person Class List and Information

One Sunday a month from 1-6pm Bizzozero conference room

The goal of this one-day class is to provide evidence-based information in a fun, relaxed environment. We will walk (and stretch) through the process of labor and birth in a way that increases confidence and lessons anxiety about the birthing process. Planned C-Section births are also welcome in this class and Bree will tailor the class to meet the needs of the participants.

Some topics include: When to go to the hospital, labor coping techniques (breathing, relaxation, positioning, massage, etc.), the role of the support person, medical interventions, medications, and care of the newborn in the first few hours.

The course is designed to help families feel ready and excited for this life-changing event.

Facilitator: Bree Grealis, CNM, IBCLC
One Sunday a month from 4:30-6:30pm Bizzozero conference room

This class is for those wanting to learn to prepare their body for labor. We will practice positions to encourage baby rotations for a quicker, easier labor. We will also discuss ways to combat the fear of labor. Wear comfortable clothing. Bring a yoga mat if you have one, but there will be a couple extras available.

Facilitator: Bree Grealis, CNM, IBCLC
One Monday a month from 4:30-6pm Family Birthing Waiting room

Join us for our monthly tour of our labor, delivery, and postpartum unit. Immediately following the tour, join us for our breastfeeding basics class. Breastfeeding may be natural, but it isn't always easy. This class will cover basics such as establishing a supply, latching baby, signs of sufficient intake, and more. Support persons are welcome to attend.

Facilitator: Lauren Fruehan, BS, IBCLC or Kayla Commendatore, RN, CLC
It can seem impossible to make breastfeeding work when you have to return to work or school. There are a lot of questions you may have on your mind. This class will help you develop a plan to continue your breastfeeding journey while returning to work or school. This class is held periodically throughout the year.

Facilitator: Lauren Fruehan, BS, IBCLC
One Wednesday a month from 4:30-6:30pm Bizzozero conference room

This class will help the family become more comfortable with newborn care in the first few days and weeks including soothing a crying baby, baths, skin care, feeding, newborn massage and when to call the provider.

Facilitator: Bree Grealis, CNM, IBCLC or Kayla Commendatore, RN, CLC

Meet Our Instructors

Bree Grealis, MSN

Bree is a Certified Nurse-Midwife and a Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She loves helping families prepare for the toughest job we ever love: parenthood. Bree has two children of her own and has been participating in labor/birth and postpartum care of moms and babies for over 20 years beginning in the Peace Corps in Nepal and including jobs in Colorado, Arizona, California, and the US Virgin Islands. She brings her experience and love for the expectant family into her classes. Her goal is to help people grow their families feeling informed and confident, despite the bumpy road that is labor, childbirth and parenthood.

Lauren Fruehan, BS, IBCLC

Lauren is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant as well as a Red Cross CPR/FA and Babysitting Instructor. Most recently, she added Adult Mental Health First Aid Instructor to her skill set. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Maternal Child Health. Lauren's journey with lactation came from her own struggles in feeding her children and not finding sufficient lactation support. This led her to become certified in this field in 2015 at which time she started her own private practice seeing lactation clients in Florida. She is now Waterbury Hospital's full-time lactation consultant who also runs the education and support groups. She has been teaching nurses and parents for 8+ years. Outside of lactation she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, baking, running and music.

Kayla Commendatore, IBCLC, RN

Kayla is a labor and delivery nurse and a Certified Lactation Counselor. She is passionate about providing families with the best prenatal, birthing and postpartum experience she possibly can. Her goal is to provide the birthing person and their supporters with the best preparation to make their experience a positive one. She lives in CT with her husband, three young children and two dogs.