St. Peter’s Health offers FREE classes taught by a variety of specialists and professionals to help parents and caregivers with all preparations, expectations and details surrounding a new baby. All the classes are offered to parents/caregivers and their partners (please no kids).
- Classes are free
- Registration is required for all classes
- Attendance is suggested during third trimester
Registration is required for all classes and most classes will be held virtually and in-person. Unable to make the classes? Individual appointments are available with most specialists. Contact numbers for class leaders and specialists are provided below so you can schedule an individual appointment. Please note that insurance/co-payments may apply to services for individual appointments.
Emmi Programs
Emmi programs are web-based presentations that take complex medical information and make it easy for you and your family to understand. You can view these programs online for free and share them with your friends and family.
The 21 Emmi programs that are available cover a wide range of topics, including the classes listed below, and offer a great alternative to in-person learning.
Prepared Parenting Class Schedule
Please see the individual class lists below for details. Instructions/links with information for each class will be emailed once registration is complete.
Women and Children’s Unit Tour
The video below introduces the Women’s and Children’s Unit, along with labor and delivery rooms, and answers some common questions.
Tours are offered on the 2nd Monday, 3rd Saturday and 4th Sunday of each month with group limitations. Please call the WAC unit at 406-444-2208 for more information. Click here for dates and to sign up!
Infant CPR
This class can be supplemented with the Heartsaver/First Aid HeartCode course that includes certification, which has an associated cost and requires online pre-work before a skills demonstration.
Unable to attend? Please call 406-444-2128 or 406-444-2375 to learn more about CPR certification.
View and register for Infant CPR classes through our events page
Childbirth Education - 1st and 2nd Wednesdays and Sundays from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Every Month
This two-part in-person class is taught by St. Peter’s obstetrics nurses and covers a variety of labor topics including signs and symptoms of labor, breathing and relaxation skills, pain management options, the coach’s role during labor and C-sections.
- January 5 & 12, 2025
- February 5 & 12, 2025
- March 5 & 12, 2025
- April 6 & 13, 2025
- May 7 & 14, 2025
- June 4 & 11, 2025
- July 6 & 13, 2025
- August 6 & 13, 2025
- September 3 & 10, 2025
- October 5 & 12, 2025
- November 5 & 12, 2025
- December 3 & 10, 2025
Click here to sign up! Unable to attend? Please email Bray Holmes at BBholmes@sphealth.org. Please call Labor and Delivery at 406-444-2208 with any questions.
Breastfeeding Basics - Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
This class is led by St. Peter’s Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). The lactation consultant discusses the benefits of breast milk, the anatomy and physiology of lactation, the elements that promote successful feedings, determining adequate milk intake and how to return to work while breastfeeding.
- January 15, 2025
- March 19, 2025
- May 21, 2025
- July 16, 2025
- September 17, 2025
- November 20, 2025
Unable to attend? Please email Bray Holmes at BBholmes@sphealth.org or schedule an individual appointment with Melissa Zimmerman, FNP, IBCLC by calling 406-457-4180.
Postpartum Recovery - Wednesdays from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Join a Women’s Health Physical Therapist and a Maternal Mental Health Specialist for a 2-hour class to discuss useful tips and education to remedy discomforts and guard against pain and dysfunction during and after pregnancy and also prepare for any perinatal mood or anxiety disorders such as postpartum depression.
- January 29, 2025
- April 30, 2025
- July 30, 2025
- October 29, 2025
Unable to attend? Schedule an appointment with the Women’s Health Physical Therapist by calling 406-444-2340 or schedule with the Maternal Mental Health Specialist by calling 406-441-5107.
Car Seat Safety Class
This one-hour class is led by a certified child passenger safety technician. There is time at the end of class for installations as needed.
This class helps parents learn the basics of:
- Choosing the right seat for your child and your budget.
- Proper seat installation, including which position to use, the correct angle and how to secure the seat.
- Appropriately fitting your child to the seat, as this is more complex than simply following the height, weight and age guidelines on the packaging.
Bring your safety seat to class! While installation is a part of the end of class, time will be available at the end to schedule an installation session with the instructor for a later date if needed or if you do not have a car seat with you.
Note: Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies (HMHB) can provide car seats upon request through Lewis and Clark Public Health. Please make your request at least 2-3 weeks before the class to ensure availability.
Child Car Seat Safety - Wednesdays from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
This 2-hour virtual class is led by a certified child passenger safety technician and helps parents learn the basics of choosing the right seat for your child and your budget; proper seat installation and positioning, angle and how to secure; and appropriately fitting your child to the seat. Child car seat installation can be scheduled individually with an instructor as installation is not part of the class.
- February 9, 2022 https://events.sphealth.org/events/4801
- May 11, 2022 https://events.sphealth.org/events/4802
- August 10, 2022 https://events.sphealth.org/events/4803
- November 9, 2022 https://events.sphealth.org/events/4804
Unable to attend or need assistance with car seat installation? Contact Tracie at 406-324-1072 or tkiesel@helenaschools.org.