Prepare for Pregnancy and Childbirth with Evidence-Based Practice and Jewish Wisdom
Join a supportive community of expectant parents to learn about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood with expert knowledge and spiritual wisdom.
Preparing for parenthood is time situated on a threshold between one stage of life and another. Hava NaBaby supports expectant parents at this liminal moment in their lives. You are invited to join us for one of our classes and become a part of our community.
Our Approach Grows from Three Commitments
Content
Pairing evidence-based childbirth education with Jewish spiritual wisdom to help you prepare
Conversation
Asking big questions about the person and parent you want to be
Community
Connecting you with others on the path to parenthood
Learn about Pregnancy and Childbirth
We help expectant parents confidently work with their medical providers and tap into Jewish spiritual wisdom create possibilities for empowered, safe, and meaningful birth experiences.
EXPECTANT PARENT CLASSES
Core Childbirth Education Class
Empower yourself to be an active participant in your birthing experience. This class provides a supportive space to practically, emotionally, and spiritually prepare for childbirth while connecting you with others and reflecting on the life you want for your growing family. Topics include: Pregnancy, Preparing for Birth, Labor and Delivery, Comfort Measures, Medical Interventions, and Immediate After-Birth.
Refresher Class
This condensed class for experienced parents reviews the core elements of childbirth while focusing on Jewish wisdom and spiritual practice for the upcoming birth. Reflect on parenthood with others on a similar journey.
EXPECTANT PARENT WORKSHOPS
Comfort Measures Workshop
Comfort measures for labor and delivery blends best-practice childbirth education with Jewish tradition, guiding expectant parents to embrace the spiritual power of childbirth, no matter how you hope to give birth.
Intentional Parenting Workshop
Whether first-time or experienced, expectant and new parents are invited to explore Jewish wisdom while asking big questions about the people and parents they want to be and the values they want to cultivate in themselves and their growing family — all in the company of others who share your desire to be intentional parents.
Jewish Pregnancy and Parenthood Workshop
Expectant parents who take childbirth education classes elsewhere dive into relevant Jewish wisdom and spiritual practice including pregnancy prayers, images/verses/music for comfort during labor and delivery, naming, welcome ceremonies, and building a Jewish home.
Expectant Grandparent Workshop
Expectant Jewish grandparents will reflect on their new role and create a “gift basket” of inherited and generative wisdom. This includes family stories, ethical wills, reflective writing, and creative projects (no experience necessary!)
“My husband and I decided to go with Hava NaBaby because it is based in the Jewish faith. My husband is Jewish, I am not, however, we both believe that our son needs to know part of his ancestry. We found the classes to be extremely informative in both the medical aspect as well as the faith based aspect. Thanks to the class, we were prepared and informed for the birth.”
— Kathryne
BIRTH PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Doula and Midwife Training
This workshop is designed for birthing professionals looking to enhance their labor and delivery support by integrating Jewish birthing wisdom and spiritual practice into their clients’ care.
Childbirth Educator Training
Interested in bringing Hava NaBaby to your community? This intensive workshop trains Jewish and childbirth educators in Hava NaBaby’s pedagogy to prepare them to launch Hava NaBaby in their local cities and regions.
Meet Rabbi Miriam, Founder of Hava NaBaby
Rabbi Miriam Cotzin Burg created the first iteration of Hava NaBaby in Chicago in 2006. Soon after giving birth to her first child, she realized that combining “Jewish” and “childbirth education” had the potential to be transformational for many people during this liminal time of life. Since then, she has taught expectant parents in Chicago and Baltimore, where she now lives.
In 2022, she founded Hava NaBaby, a non-profit organization dedicated to meeting people on the path to parenthood with opportunities to learn, connect, and engage with big questions about the people and parents they want to be.
Miriam is a childbirth educator certified by the International Childbirth Education Association and has been a rabbi for more than two decades. Learn more about Hava NaBaby.
TRAINING, CERTIFICATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS
Infuse your birth story with meaning and possibility
Hava NaBaby offerings are an opportunity to build connections and community and honor this liminal moment.
Delight in Jewish wisdom that speaks to this transformational moment in life and empower your family with the agency to author your birth story.
View our calendar for upcoming Jewish childbirth education classes, workshops and training. See dates, learn more and register!