Choosing an online birthing class can be a difficult decision. There are a lot of classes out there, but the quality can vary widely. Even some of the best online birth classes may be better for certain mamas than others. And some birth classes are (let’s face it) just long and boring.
It’s no secret that we think the Mama Natural Birth Course is the best online birthing class out there. Midwife Maura and I set out to create a course that is lively, brisk, informative, and, best of all, fun! And over the past five years, we’ve helped thousands of women have their best, most natural births. (Don’t take our word for it. See what hundreds of them have to say.)
However, as much as we love our course, we want you to make the best decision for you and baby, and that means finding the class that works best for you.
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve done our best to create a comprehensive, accurate comparison of our childbirth course to some other online birthing classes.
Choose a class below to see how Mama Natural compares, or scroll to the bottom for a complete comparison chart of all the classes we covered.
Best Online Birthing Classes Comparisons
Birth Boot Camp is a military-themed childbirth education course that offers parents a variety of different online birthing class options. Click for full Comparison.
Kopa Birth began as a local natural childbirth class in Atlanta, GA, and has since expanded to include online childbirth classes as well. Click for full Comparison.
Recognizable brand in the childbirth world offers “slideshow” style online education. Click for full Comparison.
Moms on Top is a more expensive video-based childbirth education course that also blends in live phone and/or video chats. Click for full Comparison.
SupportingHer focuses on the support people who assist the mama during labor, including dad or partner. Click for full Comparison.
Hypnobabies Self-Study Course is an audio-based course covering birthing hypnosis techniques. Click for full Comparison.
Online Birthing Classes Comparison Chart
Here’s a complete “at-a-glance” comparison of all the best online birthing classes.
| Class Specifics |
Mama Natural |
Birth Boot Camp Comprehensive |
Kopa Prepared Plus |
Lamaze Class |
Moms on Top |
SupportingHer Birth Course |
HypnoBabies Self Study |
| Course Length |
8 classes / 10 hours |
10 classes / 25 hours |
8 classes / 12 hours |
Varies by class, typically 1 hour+ per class |
Varies by class, typically 4 classes / 8 hours |
2 hours |
6 weeks of classes / 18 hours |
| Course Access |
1 year |
1 year |
7 months |
1 year |
Scheduled, some videos can be downloaded for continued referral |
10 months |
Lifetime |
| Instructor |
Genevieve Howland & Maura Winkler, CNM, IBCLC |
Donna Ryan & Hailie Wolfe, Doula |
Katie Griffin, RN, LCCE |
Varies by class |
Gail Janicola, Childbirth Educator |
Alice Turner, Doula |
Kerry Tuschhoff, HCHI, CHt, CI |
| Taught by a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) |
✓ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Format |
HD video-based, hands-on |
HD video-based |
HD video-based, hands-on |
HD video, slideshow, interactive images |
HD video-based or live streamed |
HD video-based |
Audio |
| Approach |
Conversational, informative, “talk show style,” evidence-based |
Military-themed, based on in-person classes |
Clinical, evidence-based for hospital births |
Informative, evidence-based |
Informative, personalized |
Laid back, informative |
Calming, meditative |
| Printable Worksheets |
✓ |
|
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
| Real Natural Birth Footage |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
|
| Community Group Moderated By Certified Doula |
✓ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Pricing |
$264 |
$345 |
$245 |
$30+ |
$349 |
$59 |
$219.95 hard copy/$179.95 digital |
| Audio Tracks |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
✓ |
| Section for Dad |
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
|
✓ |
✓ |
| VBAC Training |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Class Available |
|
|
|
| Breastfeeding Training |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Class Available |
✓ |
|
|
| Accepts FSA/HSA |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
|
|
|
| Donate 10% to Charity |
✓ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Physical Bonus via Mail |
✓ |
Optional printed workbook for an additional fee |
|
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|
|
| Extras |
Mama Natural Affirmations App and physical copies, Prenatal workout video, Natural Birth Playbook, and more |
Online workbooks |
Meal plans, prenatal fitness tips, babywearing advice |
Email support via instructor, Class discussion board |
Four 30-minute live videos or phone consultations included with Gai |
3 labor cheat sheet handouts |
Workbooks sent via mail with handouts, free online support group, access to home study supervisor for Q&A |
| 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee |
✓ |
|
✓ |
|
|
✓ |
Non-refundable |
As you can see, you have several good online birth class options to choose from, which is amazing! We are happy and hopeful that more people are getting on board with childbirth education.
As you can also see, The Mama Natural Birth Course stands apart in many key areas. If you’re planning a natural hospital, birth center, or home birth, we think it’s the best birth class you can choose.
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How to Compare Online Birthing Classes
When evaluating a birthing class, we think it’s important to consider all of the following factors:
Course Length
There are two primary components to course length: the total number of classes and the total course duration. Some courses have fewer, longer sessions, while others spread the content over more sessions to break things up. The key here is your learning style. Are you more of a sponge who likes to suck up a bunch of knowledge at once, or do you prefer to learn at your own pace? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if too much knowledge is being thrown at you at once.
At Mama Natural, we believe we offer the best of both worlds by combining a plethora of knowledge into easy-to-follow, enjoyable segments. We know there’s a lot to learn, so we don’t want to bog you down with lengthy sessions.
That said, if you need to cram and get all your education in a weekend, you could do so with Mama Natural.
Instructors
First and foremost, Mamas need to examine an instructor’s credentials before tuning in. You and baby’s health are important, and you need to trust the advice being given to you. Some online birthing classes are taught by certified childbirth educators, while others may not be. It’s important to do your homework.
We’re proud to say that Mama Natural Birth Course is the only online birthing class that is taught by a Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM). Additionally, Midwife Maura is an IBCLC-certified lactation consultant.
Teaching Approach
There’s nothing worse than a boring instructor. Instruction can range from clinical to conversational. You want to seek out the type of instructor that works for you, as teaching styles vary by instructor from predominantly charts and medical simulations, to hands-on, approachable instruction.
We believe that learning should be fun, and with so much information waiting for you, we aim to make your online childbirth class as enjoyable as it is informative. We keep the mood upbeat with the Mama Natural Birth Course, preventing the dreaded brain fog that can come from information overload.
Course Access
We believe you should be allowed to learn at your own pace, which is why Mama Natural Birth Course students get access for one full year. Not only is this helpful while you’re learning, but it allows you to refer back for a refresher as needed. Heck, you might even want to re-watch everything to take more notes.
Several other online birthing classes allow access for up to a year, though 7-10 months is more common. Shorter accessibility windows may force you to cram your learning, which can impact retention. Worst of all, you’re barred from referring back.
Community Group
Some mamas prefer to have a group connection despite the distance learning of an online birthing course. This connects you with mamas-to-be learning the same material and offers a sounding board if you have a question.
The Mama Natural Birth Course includes a members-only community group that is moderated by a certified doula, maintaining a positive, facts-first environment of learning and connection.
Section for Dad
Partners are often left out of online birthing courses, and we aren’t quite sure why. Partners are in this just as much as mamas and educating them is just as important (hello! they’re your support). That’s why The Mama Natural Birth Course features sections just for partners.
Accepts FSA/HSA
If you have benefits, we think you should be able to use them, which is why the Mama Natural Birth Course accepts FSA/HSA payments. For mamas with these benefits, this can save you out-of-pocket costs in a time when you need it most. This is rare in online birthing courses but incredibly beneficial.
30 Day Money-Back Guarantee
Online birthing courses aren’t a one-size-fits-all deal. They come in all different styles, and mamas may find that one course really doesn’t jibe with them after purchase. We totally get that, which is why the Mama Natural Birth Course offers a 30 Day Money-Back Guarantee. In our humble opinion, the best online birthing courses offer this assurance, allowing you to make an educated decision about what works for you and baby.
You have enough to worry about, mamas. Canceling a course within a narrow time frame that doesn’t work for you shouldn’t be added to your stress load.
Closing Thoughts On The Best Online Birthing Class For You
You may have been told that childbirth is scary, excruciating, something out of your control.
That it’s a medical condition instead of a natural biological process.
Or that you’ll need interventions like labor induction and pain medication.
But Mama Natural is here to tell you the truth about your childbirth.
You can do this.
It will be one of the most challenging and powerful things you will ever do. You will grow in ways that you never knew possible. You will emerge a stronger and more confident woman — no matter how your birth unfolds.
Seriously, you can do this. And we can help.
The Mama Natural Birth Course will help you achieve the birth of your dreams and give your baby the best start in life.
Thousands of our students have gone on to have life-transforming natural childbirths.
And, since we donate 10% of our profits to charity, our students have helped us help thousands of moms in the developing world gain access to lifesaving midwifery care.
Click here to learn more about our best-selling childbirth education course.
And, no matter which course you choose, we wish you and your baby the best!
The Mama Natural Birth Course
