Baby in bassinette in metro atlanta georgia

Birth & Beyond

A Virtual Class to prepare you for childbirth, parenting, and breastfeeding. Led by a midwife, postpartum doula, and IBCLC.

Having quality prenatal education with informative content is the best way to be fully prepared for the birth & delivery of your new baby. …But I’m willing to bet you already know that. (because you’re here). Whether you’ve just recently found out you’re pregnant or you’re in the home stretch, you already know that a quality, evidence-based class is the key to making labor smoother, postpartum recovery faster, and breastfeeding more successful.

But…we do what most everyone does: turn to the vast internet for education & answers. Let’s just call google -based education what it is: unreliable & hard. Can you do it on your own, yes of course!

But you don’t have to.

When it comes to prenatal education…

pregnant mom holding belly in fulton county atlanta georgia
The Atlanta Postpartum Doula flower graphic
  • You want evidence-based education

    and every month you worry if you’re really ready to give birth as you scroll YouTube for free classes or ask another question on a Facebook Group.

  • You want less information overload

    and value minimalistic education through priority-based learning on the topics of labor, birth, postpartum, breastfeeding, and infant care.

  • You loveee feeling well prepared

    and you secretly want to take ALL the prenatal classes—you just don’t want your schedule constantly booked out with classes your entire pregnancy.

And if you’re being honest with yourself

(and me), you know you want a prenatal class to solve all those problems. And then some. 😉

parent hands holding baby in dekalb county georgia

So…what’s holding you back?

You’ve got enough questions to fill an Amazon warehouse… and no one to help you answer them.

✅ What type of birth plan will I need?

✅ How do I recover postpartum?

✅ What if I have zero experience with infants?

✅ How do I make my breastfeeding goal attainable?

✅ How do we incorporate our new baby into our lives?

The challenging part?

Dr. Google, good ole’ YouTube, and those free blogs full of information aren’t really doing it for you. And sooner or later… Your head starts filling up with a few easily believable (but totally untrue) thoughts trying to sabotage your dreamy birth & parenting experience. (I’ve been there too, friend…)

postpartum doula and childbirth educator holding baby doll in gwinnett county georgia

Take a load off

Birth & Beyond is an expert-led, all-in-one prenatal class to ease your worries so you can feel completely prepared & balanced for birth….and beyond!

Led by three of the TOP birth professionals in the Atlanta, Georgia area, you’ll be more than equipped to CONFIDENTLY usher in this beautiful time of your lives.

woman hands on laptop in forsyth county georgia

Inside the Class

Birth & Beyond is a prenatal class facilitated in-person & online for expecting families who want a time convenient, yet comprehensive prenatal education.

Taught by a practicing midwife, a certified postpartum doula, AND an IBCLC you’ll feel more than fully prepared, balanced, & supported for labor, delivery, & postpartum.

Not to mention….between the three of us we collectively have 20+ years experience as mothers. We understand the realities & we’re here to walk the journey with you.

The Atlanta Postpartum Doula stars graphic

In this class, we focus on the most important education you need to know in order to:

Feel well-prepared for any kind of labor & birth

01.


Recover with intention after labor & birth

02.


Know exactly how to care for your baby w/ Newborn Care 101

03.


Learn Postpartum Doula-approved Soothing Techniques for better sleep

04.


Develop skills to seamlessly adapt to the 4th Trimester as a family

05.


Begin your breastfeeding journey with confidence

06.


Smoothly transition into parenthood with a team of experts nearby

07.


The Atlanta Postpartum Doula flower graphic

Birth, Babies, & Breastfeeding

What you’ll learn in the 3-part Class:

childbirth education

{$597 value}

You’ll Learn:

• Terminology/Physiology of birth

• Birth prep (starting at 36 weeks)

• How to choose your birth team

• What’s a doula/what’s a midwife

• Stages of labor

• How partner can be supportive, etc

• When to head to hospital

postpartum recovery +

newborn care {$397 value}

You’ll Learn:

•How to heal from birth (vaginal or c-section)

• What recovery will look like after labor/birth

• Realities of recovery

• Practical infant care (bathing, clipping nails, diapering)

• Biological newborn sleep education

• Infant Soothing techniques

breastfeeding 101

{$497 value}

You’ll Learn:

• Prenatal preparations

• Mindset

• Myths & Misconceptions

• Day 1 do’s and don’ts

• Positioning and latch technique

• Hand expression demo

• Good vs bad latch

• How to know baby getting enough

Education

Plus, you’ll also learn…


• What to expect upon admission

• Pain management & Pushing

• Waterbirth information

• Immediate postpartum - what to expect, choices, possible complications, tearing

• What to expect for baby’s care

• Induction of labor - what to expect, why we typically try to avoid, legit reasons to have an induction

• If cesarean is necessary

• Management of expectations

• Positive affirmations

• Recommended websites for evidence-based info

• Possible interventions

• Transition phase

• Normal Output

• The infamous Top up trap

• All about Second night syndrome

• What to do if Baby won’t latch

• Medical reasons for supplementation and how to protect milk supply

• What to do if baby goes to the Nicu

-Red Flags to seek help

• …and so much more!

wet leaves

This CBE Class is offered in two ways:

1) 2-week series: in-person & online

2) Classes only - on demand & self paced

That’s not all you get though

Bonus Classes & Resources

We want you to be completely prepared so we’re adding in these BONUS classes:


newborn baby in parent hand

Birth Plan Workshop {$197 value}

A video class teaching you what to put on your birth plan any how to navigate a hospital or home birth. Includes a Birth Preferences checklist you can easily print out to hand to your providers.

  • By having a clear vision of your ideal birth, roadblocks are less likely to occur. This class sets the ground work for your entire pregnancy.

birthing mom in birth tub with doula and midwife in atlanta georgia

Top 8 Tips for Achieving Unmedicated Birth {$297 value}

This class helps you have the unmedicated birth you are planning for.

Postpartum Planning Class graphic for The Atlanta Postpartum Doula

The Postpartum Planning Class {$197 value}

This class helps you create your ideal postpartum experience you desire.

  • ◦ Feel joy and connection with your newborn and your partner.

    ◦ Feel well rested and energized during the 4th Trimester.

    Feel prepared and know what to expect for the first weeks postpartum.

    Hold memories of happiness when you think of your postpartum since you took this class and prepared!

4th trimester adjustment class papers for The Atlanta Postpartum Doula

4th Trimester Adjustment {$197 value}

This class teaches you what the realities of what life with a newborn is like & how to adjust to it as a family in a cohesive way.

  • Strategizing sleep, work, and recovery

    ◦ Discussing return to work options

    ◦ Strategizing childcare options

    ◦ How to create your village & support team

pumping parent in pumping bra and pumps in atlanta georgia

Pumping 101 {$297 value}

  • You’ll learn:

    ◦ A comparison of the different types of pumps

    ◦ How to choose the right pump for your specific situation

    ◦ Resources to obtain a pump via insurance

    ◦ When to start pumping

    ◦ How to pump basics

    ◦ Special situations

    ◦ How to correctly size for flanges

    ◦ Milk storage guidelines

    ◦ How to clean & maintain pump parts

    ◦ How to develop a back to work/school pumping plan

papers for The Atlanta Postpartum Doula childbirth education class

Resources & Handouts {$97 value}

  • Alongside your classes you’ll receive a Google Drive Folder of how-to handouts, journals, checklists, and visual images….

    so you don’t have to remember everything from the class because…….#pregnancybrain is a real thing 😉

    To name a few you’ll get:
    A birth plan template, hospital bag checklist, pregnancy office visit guide, labor positions, postpartum products checklist, & baby registry checklist.

Meet the Experts guiding you:

Melissa Fernandez of The Atlanta Postpartum Doula

Meet Melissa Fernandez!

I’m a retired Cirque du Soleil Acrobat & Certified Postpartum Doula & Level 2 Expansion Principle Practitioner. Using my decades plus expertise in recovering, I educate and support families to heal faster after labor, birth, & during postpartum.

As a doula, I guide families to optimal wellness by blending intuitive modalities into the modern world we live in. I tap into the emotional, physical, & energetic components of birth, labor, & postpartum to provide you with a healing, nourishing, and positive parenting experience.

My mission is to Revolutionize Postpartum in America. For me, that begins with postpartum education becoming a high priority in the prenatal stage so that as a collective we learn to honor the sacredness of what it brings forth.

I’m here to reduce the overwhelm for you and help you feel centered, grounded, and balanced.

Lynn midwife and childbirth educator in Georgia

Meet Lynn!

I’m so glad you are here. I am currently practicing as a midwife in Roswell, GA and I have 4 children - 13, 10, 8, and 2.

My career as a nurse began in the NICU, then I moved to L&D and postpartum. I went back to midwifery school because I wanted to make a bigger impact.

Here I am again striving to do the same! I am so excited to help you along your labor and postpartum journey and ease your transition to motherhood.

Leslie RN IBCLC in metro Atlanta Georgia
The Atlanta Postpartum Doula flower graphic

Meet Leslie!

I’m a Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, based in Douglasville, Georgia, just outside of Atlanta.

I have supported pregnant and postpartum families for over 15 years in the perinatal space. My passion for birth and lactation began with, my own personal experiences, birthing and breastfeeding three children, including twins.

Leslie currently owns and operates Mother Nurture Maternity, a private practice where I provide breastfeeding support anywhere from prenatally to toddlerhood and beyond, postpartum doula/concierge nurse support, and IBCLC mentorship.

I am committed to providing quality and equitable lactation services and resources to the community, especially those purposively marginalized. I consider it a great honor and privilege to support individuals and families during the perinatal period as an advocate, facilitator, and clinician in GA and beyond.

The Atlanta Postpartum Doula flower graphic

And our favorite perk of this class…

you won’t be doing it alone.

You get FREE access to The Prenatal Lounge!

Melissa Fernandez of The Atlanta Postpartum Doula on computer for postpartum support circle

The Prenatal Lounge

Housed inside a private Voxer group chat, The Prenatal Lounge is a private space to ask those burning questions you want answered during your short prenatal visits. With immediate access in audio, text, & short video —> you get to ask direct questions to Lynn, Melissa, & Leslie for the duration of your pregnancy!

It’s like having access to a midwife, postpartum doula, & IBCLC….anytime. Normally $97/month, you get it completely FREE when you sign up for a Birth & Beyond Class.

*Note: The Lounge is paused for renovations until further notice

Going through fears about labor or worried about tearing during birth & want support as you move through it?

By receiving guidance, compassionate understanding, immediate personalized responses at your fingertips, AND direct access to your experts….

You’ll be more than fully supported inside The Prenatal Lounge. Access begins the date you register for any class.

pregnant mom holding belly in atlanta georgia

What Members are saying about the Class:

5 star google review for The Atlanta Postpartum Doula
The Atlanta Postpartum Doula flower graphic

Frequently Asked Questions

  • On demand classes are immediate access.

    In-person class dates:
    April 14 & 28, 2024; Sundays, 2-4pm EST
    July 14 & 28, 2024; Sundays, 2-4pm EST

    Please inquiry here if you have questions about further class times or desire a private class:
    melissa@theatlantappd.com

  • April 2024 class is held at First Peek Boutique in Peachtree Corners, GA.
    July 2024 class will be held in Roswell, GA

  • We meet twice in person to cover labor positions, comfort measures, newborn care basics like swaddling, breastfeeding basics like flange fittings.

    We request that you review the relevant material before the in-person class.

    Class 1: Childbirth Ed & pelvic floor pt
    Class 2: Postpartum recovery, newborn care basics, breastfeeding

  • We recommend you join during your first trimester! This allows you ample time to digest the information, ask questions to your experts as they come up, and prepare accordingly.

  • Yes, absolutely! We are here for you at any stage.

  • You get access to the self-paced classes upon signing up. You'll have access to the content for life.

  • Yes there is a split pay option you can choose from at checkout. If you need more options please reach out to melissa@theatlantappd.com

  • You may be partially refunded if no Voxer support, in any amount, has been started. To respect the time and value of our experts, once Voxer conversations have been utilized, only a partial refund of 25% will be honored. Once live classes have started, no refund will be given.

  • Yes we encourage partners and/or your support people to attend!

  • No, not at this time. *coming soon though!

postpartum doula holding hands with pregnant mom

I’d like you to visualize & imagine

what it would feel like when you:

⚡️ Have a team of experts at your fingertips to answer those small, but mighty important questions you have.

⚡️ Are able to fully enjoy your pregnancy because you aren’t overwhelm or worried.

⚡️Never have to use google again during your pregnancy.

⚡️Are completely prepared for a nourished prenatal & postpartum experience.

flowers and leaves

Ready to feel less stress, less overwhelm, and more joy because you’ve finally decided to say ‘yes’ to a comprehensive prenatal class?

This is your official invitation to The Birth & Beyond Class:

Come on in…we’d love to have you!

Choose your learning style & book your class today!

on-demand classes only

One time of $97

Immediate access to ALL classes & content

15+ Accompanying Resources & Handouts

BONUS: Access to 5 self-paced classes

in-person class

One time of $297

In-person Live Class Series in hybrid format

All class content

15+ Accompanying Resources & Handouts

BONUS: Access to 5 self-paced classes