You’re looking at a birth class, and the prices seem pretty steep. What’s the average cost of a class, are there classes out there that are quality, but at a lower cost? The average price is $187, but the quality really varies, so keep reading to find out which class might be best for you!
As a note, I’ve taught birth classes for my hospital, taken care of thousands of patients and helped millions of moms online get ready for birth, so I think I’m a petty good resource for this. I am also a nurse, and a wife of a teacher — so I get making each dollar count!
I also want to state that I believe birth classes to be worth it. I think you can find a reasonably-priced class that will really prepare you for your birth.
How Much Do Birthing Classes Cost in 2024?
A basic class in 2023 costs, on average, $167.
I have been tracking birth class pricing since 2001 and I noted this year a LOT of the companies were no longer offering their classes, or had taken them in person (and I find that the in-person class much is much more than online classes overall). In 2024 I needed to add some new options to track. I googled “online birth classes” and opened about 20 tabs. That’s the results you see here.
The Online Prenatal Class for Couples starts at under $100…. which is pretty amazing.
Fun facts, the average cost for a birth class taught by an RN or a Certified Nurse Midwife was $210, and the average cost for a “deluxe” birth class (that usually comes with additional info like Infant CPR, breastfeeding etc) was $307 (the Bump to Bassinet Bundle is over 30% cheaper than that).
In Person or Online Classes?
All of these types of classes are offered in a variety of ways. There are 3 ways you most often see:
In Person Classes: I taught these for my hospital, and these types of classes are still available. You’ll want to research and book them as soon into your pregnancy as possible as they fill up quickly. Places to look for these are:
- Local Doulas
- Hospitals
- Birthing Centers
- Larger obstetrics practices
Timed Virtual Classes: These are done online, but happen at a specific time. So, you can watch them at home — but it still needs to fit your schedule.
On Demand Virtual Classes: These are taught online and can be accessed whenever you need to. These classes have the most availability and couples prefer being able to watch them when it works for them. However, there can be less interaction in these types of classes.
What to expect in a birthing class
When you’re taking a birthing class, you can expect to learn about a variety of topics related to labor and delivery. Some common topics that are covered in birthing classes include:
- The stages of labor and what to expect during each stage.
- Pain management options and techniques, including medication, breathing and relaxation techniques.
- How to effectively use positions and movement during labor to manage pain and promote progress.
- The role of the husband or partner during labor and delivery.
- Medical interventions that may be used during labor, such as epidurals, cesarean, or assisted deliveries (forceps or vacuums)
- Some classes may include breastfeeding and newborn care basics.
How to pick the right birthing class for you
When you’re trying to decide which birthing class to take, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.
First, consider what about birth is making you the most concerned? Are you worried about the pain, hospital practices or making good choices? You’ll want to find a class that speaks to your concerns. From the options above — do any of those address what types of concerns you have? That gives you a good starting point.
Second, what type of an instructor do you want? Do you want a doula, or someone with more medical experience.
And obviously, with this article, the cost of a class is definitely worth considering.
Pro Tip: If the class you’re considering has a free version, that can be a great way to see if that teacher is a good fit for you. The Free Beginning Prenatal Class is a great place to start.
How have birth classes been priced traditionally?
Hospitals often sponsor classes as advertisement for the hospital, making them cheaper. However, there is the aspect of the timed class and needing to find parking, the classroom, etc. Not to mention the cost of those hard chairs. 🙂
When I taught for my hospital there were specific things they wanted me to talk about, and not talk about. It is normal for them to encourage parents to follow their most cost-effective plan, maybe not the plan that is right for the family — so that is something to think about hospital classes.
The cost of online birthing classes can vary greatly depending on the quality, amount of resources and instruction, level of interactivity and personal support, and length of access to the materials.
Some basic classes are completely free, while other more comprehensive programs may be much more (in the $500 range — more for in-person personal classes).
I started my birth class pricing research in 2021. The average cost of the low-cost version of a class (that didn’t come with extra consults or classes) was about $130 — with most classes ranging from $50 to $300 dollars.
However, the lower-end classes tend to be:
- Split up into multiple parts (annoying, right)
- Billed in subscription models (who’s going to remember to cancel with a newborn?)
- Taught by people with less experience.
In mid 2022 I re-did the study and found them to be around $167.
In early 2023 I did it again and the average was $187. Of significant note is that a good # of these companies no longer offer birth classes.
Now in 2024 the average cost of the online classes I could find was $181 — a small decrease! Many classes had gone out of business so I had to bring in a good number or classes to get an average.
These prices are for a “basic” class (the kind sold here for $89). They varied in price from $84.95 (for Lamaze classes which mainly focused on pain and breastfeeding), up to $279.
If you’re looking for more — things like baby care, breastfeeding and more — the average price was $307. My own “bundle” class includes:
- Infant care
- Baby sleep
- Healthcare Communication Tips
- Nutrition
- Breastfeeding
- Induction tips
- Deep dive into the Arrive trial
- (and more coming frequently)
As a note: Class topics outside of my own expert area are taught by another vetted expert (examples, baby sleep, breastfeeding and nutrition are taught by other experts).
Rising Costs of Birth Classes
Birth classes have definitely increased in price since I started tracking in 2021. There is an exponential rise in the cost associated with hosting your classes, along with marketing them. Also, people are generally “taught” to price them high because they are “worth it” (even if they are not).
Most of these people are also taking high-priced marketing classes and may be running advertisements which really increases the cost (I’d guess these types of cost double the cost of your course).
Cheapest Birth Class Options
Most often the cheapest birth classes are with hospitals. Sometimes they have grants which support them, or doctors help pay for them (and may have impact on the material taught). However, in-person classes require gas, possibly parking or babysitting fees to get to the class. So, make sure you understand the full cost and decide if it’s right for you.
You can also consider getting your birth class paid for by your insurance << that post explains how easy it can be if your insurance covers it (more and more are — you just want to make sure you follow their guidelines).
The Online Prenatal Class for Couples is created by one of the most experienced and up-to-date prenatal educators on the internet. You can trust her 20 years of bedside labor and delivery nursing, combined with thousands of educated articles can take you from worried to prepared in just a few hours.
Online Prenatal class for Couples Coupon Code:
Save 10% on The Online Prenatal Class for Couples with coupon code PREGNURSE
What’s included in a typical birthing class fee
The cost of birthing classes can vary depending on the type and length of the class, as well as the location. However, most birthing class fees will include the following:
· Instruction from a certified childbirth instructor or licensed medical professional
· A workbook or other class materials.
· Access to online resources.
· A certificate of completion.
Also, something to keep in mind — with the cost of birth classes.
Some birth classes split up instruction into smaller classes like:
- Cesarean birth
- VBAC instruction
- Pain management techniques
- Provider communication
Obviously, these smaller classes may be less-expensive, but it will be important to make sure you’re getting the well-rounded birth education you need. When you add up the cost of the smaller classes, it may be more than a full class offered somewhere else.
Pro Tip: Cesarean Sections happen in about 1/3 of all births, and even if you’re not planning on one — I do recommend every couple spend SOME time learning about what might go on if they end up there. It is an important part of your birth education.
Why are birth classes so long?
The question is a LONG birth class really better than the shorter ones?
Birthing classes really vary in length, with some taking as long as 15 hours, and some that are closer to 2-4 hours.
Personally, many of the birthing instructors at our hospital took about 9 hours to teach a birth class, but that same material only took me about 5 hours to finish. It really depends on the instructor, and the pace of their teaching.
When I started teaching my own classes I cut out the fluff and got it down to about 3 hours for the basics.
Don’t think that just because a birth class has more videos/longer instruction you’ll be more prepared — it could just be a slower pace of the instructor (and possibly some needless time spent).
If you’re taking an online class, you’ll likely have access to the materials for a longer period of time, so you can complete them at your own pace.
Look for an instructor that mainly teaches you about facts and techniques, and less time is spent on personal opinion or ideas of what birth should look like.
What’s the bottom line on birth class costs?
No matter which type of birthing class you decide to take, you can expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $450 on average. The cost will depend on factors like the length of the class, the location, and the instructor’s experience. However, many hospitals and birthing centers offer low-cost classes, so be sure to check with your provider to see what’s available in your area.
Taking a birthing class is a great way to prepare for labor and delivery. But with the cost of classes being a decent investment — make sure you look at the class you’re considering and make sure it’s a good fit.
Birth Class Costs FAQ’s
I recommend you pick your class around 20 weeks, and start it by 25’ish weeks. With full steam as you head into your third trimester, trying to be done by 34’ish weeks. The benefit of online classes is being able to review the material at your leisure.
I recommend someone who’s seen many types of birth including “natural” (I hate that word but I hope you know what I mean), induction and cesarean. You’re never sure what your birth will bring so being prepared for whatever comes is best! Most often this is a Nurse or a Certified Nurse Midwife.
The Online Prenatal Class for Couples is priced for couples to be able to afford them. It has all the information you need to prepare for your birth, and is available whenever you are on a state-of-the-art-platform.
If you’d like to see if Hilary is a good fit for you, check out the free class first!
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
A nurse since 1997, she has worked in various fields including pediatrics, geriatrics & hospice. She has 20 years of labor and delivery experience in the San Jose, CA and Phoenix, AZ areas.
As an evidence-based prenatal educator Hilary has delivered thousands of babies and has educated hundreds of thousands of parents from a diverse patient population to help them have a confident birth.
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