Prenatal/Birthing Classes - There are options!!!

When I was pregnant with Carter Kris and I registered for a 6 week prenatal course offered through Alberta Health Services. While this class was pretty good in terms to the who, what, where, when etc etc of having a baby I thought that these were the only classes available within the city of Edmonton.. (hindsight right?!?!)  
Whether you want to attend a large group, smaller group, or even a one on one there are are options. My hope is that this list will be a starting point for you and that you as a soon to be parent get the best information for you! (be it with your first, second, or twentieth child)
Happy searching! 

North
Mommy Connections Edmonton North 
http://www.mommyconnections.ca/edmonton-north/

South 
Full Circle Birth Collective
http://www.fullcirclebirthcollective.com/
587.521.2717

Mommy Connections Edmonton South
http://www.mommyconnections.ca/edmonton-south/

Primary Care Network South
www.edmontonsouthsidepcn.ca
780.395.2626

West 
Baby Bump Doula & Birth Services
780.918.9359
http://www.babybumpdoula.com/

Lucina Centre 
http://www.lucinacentre.ca/wellness/wellness
780.481.8446

Mommy Connections Edmonton West
http://www.mommyconnections.ca/edmonton-west/

Gentle Touch Doula Services 
780.440.6105
http://www.gentletouchdoula.com/

Sacred Births Edmonton
780.953.73-037
www.sacredbirthsedmonton.com 

St.Albert 
Mommy Connections St.Albert 
http://www.mommyconnections.ca/st-albert/

Spruce Grove/Stony Plain
Mommy Connections Spruce Grove 
http://www.mommyconnections.ca/spruce-grove/

Sherwood Park 
Mommy Connections Sherwood Park 
http://www.mommyconnections.ca/sherwood-park/

Leduc
Mommy Connections Leduc 
http://www.mommyconnections.ca/leduc/


Do you know Doula's or other places that offer pre-natal classes? 
Please share them with me so I can update this list. 

Maternity leave in Alberta

The nursery has been decorated, you are nesting, done work and it's time to figure out your Maternity EI benefits. However, the process of applying for Maternity EI benefits in Alberta may be overwhelming. Hopefully after reading this post you will have a pretty good idea of how and where to go - and will have successfully applied for your EI benefits. 

In Alberta you are entitled to 52 weeks off of work for Maternity leave from your place of employment.  **Some situations are different and could depend on if a position is a contract or if there are different agreements made.**

If you are not sure what your rights are- or if you feel that your rights are being infringed upon you can always call labor standards (anonymously if need be) @ 1.877.427.3731

Do you Qualify:

In order to qualify for Maternity benefits you must have worked at least 600 hours of employment and have paid into EI benefits. You are eligible to apply and take your Maternity leave starting on your 8^th week before your due date.   

Maternity benefits are the first 15 weeks of your year off, the following weeks are technically refereed to as Parental leave and you or your partner is eligible to take the Parental leave.

Putting in an Application:

On your last day of work is technically when you should apply for Maternity benefits. Applying too early could effect your weeks that you are entitled to.

• If you are receiving the full Maternity and Parental benefits you will only need to apply once which is at the beginning.
• If your partner is applying for parental leave they will have to apply for it
• Parental leave can be the entire 35 weeks or it can be taken for less time, to a minimum of 2 weeks.

You can apply for your Maternity benefits here

Your work will either give you a Record of Employment (ROE) or if you are lucky they will submit your ROE on your behalf. This will be on your last day before going on leave (ideally)  

If you have to submit the ROE yourself you will need to go to a Service Canada Branch to drop it off or send it via mail.

You can find the location closest to you here

Maternity benefits payments:

Your benefits are only paid out for 50 of your 52 weeks that you have off. That means you will not receive your benefits right away, as there is a 2-week waiting period. You however should have received your login information to log onto the Service Canada website to check and see how the processing of your Maternity benefits are proceeding. 

**If it has been over 2 weeks, call and inquire. With my second child it took a month for my benefits to be deposited into my account, and it was due to some miniscule piece of information that was quickly entered within seconds. **

(The great thing is that my money was deposited into my account within 24hours)

If you have questions you can call this number - 1.800.206.7218

**HINT** Try calling first thing in the morning when they open. So many people call this number that they generally don’t even have enough room for people to wait on hold.

You will receive 55% of your of insurable earnings up to a maximum of $514 per week.

MAKE SURE THEY ARE TAKING TAXES OFF OF YOUR EI BENEFITS!!!

I unfortunately didn’t catch this during my first Maternity leave and I ended up owing in taxes, which is a big deal when you are only receiving 55% of your regular wage.

Hopefully this post has been informative and has helped you along the process of applying for your benefits.  If this post was helpful to you, please leave a comment. Thanks for reading and congrats to you :)

Until next time
~Christine~

*The information that is included in this post has been taken from the Service Canada webite and also  taken from my personal experiences. If there is anything that I have missed please let me know and it will be added* 

Prenatal/Postnatal Exercising in the City of Edmonton & Surrounding Areas

On Facebook I am in so many mommy pages, groups, etc.. and I have noticed a common topic lately.
Where is a good place to go for Prenatal/Postnatal exercise classes??
After some email's and a little bit of Google I have been able to compile a pretty good list of options for you and your belly!! 
So here they are.. 
(If I missed some please let me know and I will definitely add it to the list)
Also if you like what you read please subscribe to my blog :)


North Edmonton
Momentum Health & Wellness 
Rachel offers 2nd and 3rd trimester specific classes, as well as classes for Postnatal. 
All participants must register for the classes
For more information contact Rachel @ Momentum Health & Wellness 
780.265.2279
rachelle@momentumhealthandwellness.ca
http://momentumhealthandwellness.ca

Castledowns YMCA offer's Strollerobics Mondays & Wednesdays
To find out more or to register for one of these classes you can call 780.476.9622

Clearview Rec Center 
Offers a variety of drop in and registered classes such as Prenatal Yoga, Strollercize, 
and Boot Camp with Baby. 
Register online through the City of Edmonton website https://ereg.edmonton.ca, 
call 311 or at the location of the classes. 

South Edmonton
Hot Mama Health & Fitness (2 locations South West & South East) 
2 convenient south side locations for prenatal and beyond! 
View schedules and register at the website 
www.hotmamahealthandfitness.ca

Surfset
Offers a Mom & Baby class an children of all ages are welcome! 
You can register for one class or recurring classes online!! 
All information is on their website. 
http://www.surfsetfitness-edm.com

Intellidance with Pamela McTavish

Classes held at Dance Unlimited

4935 55 Ave. Suite #201

To find out more or to register contact Pam at
pammct@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/IntellidancebyPamelaMcTavish

JAdore Dance offers some great Postnatal options. 

Intellidance Babies, Pump & Groove Mama, and Salsa Mama. 
For more information contact them at:
780.701.4942
https://jadoredance.com

Yoga Within Inc. offers prenatal Yoga twice a week. 
To find our more or to register for a class contact Melanie at: 

(780) 450-YOGA (9642)

www.yogawithin.ca
mel@yogawithin.ca

Redefining Eve offers Prenatal Fitness, Prenatal Reformer Pilates, as well as Postnatal Reformer Pilates
To find out more or to register for one of these classes contact them at: 
780.487.0704
http://www.redefiningeve.com/

info@redefiningeve.com

The Meadows Community 
Offers drop in classes for Strollersize and Boot Camp w/ Baby and pre registered Prenatal Yoga 
Register online through the City of Edmonton website https://ereg.edmonton.ca, 
call 311 or at the location of the classes. 

Terwilliger 
Offers preregistered Prenatal Yoga and Baby and Me Ballet. 
Other programs also available for drop in. 
Register online through the City of Edmonton website https://ereg.edmonton.ca, 
call 311 or at the location of the classes. 

West Edmonton
Hot Mama Health & Fitness
2 convenient south side locations for prenatal and beyond! 
View schedules and register at the website 
www.hotmamahealthandfitness.ca

Lucina Center
Offered through Woman's Balanced Health they offer Prenatal Yoga and Mom & Baby Yoga. 
To find out more or to register you can contact them at: 
780.481.8446 or visit their website http://womensbalancehealth.ca

Donna @ West Edmonton Christian Assembly Church
Donna offers some great boot camps and Storollercise options for your Postnatal needs. 
Her classes are also kid friends. 
You can find out her schedule and more about her classes on her blog: 

http://donnafit.blogspot.ca/

Prana Yoga offers so many options. 

Yoga for Pregnancy, Mom & Baby Yoga, and even a kids Yoga class that on some days is coordinated with the Mom & Baby Yoga classes! 
For more information contact Prana Yoga at:

780.761.2226
yoga@pranayogastudio.ca
http://www.pranayogastudio.ca/winter-schedule/

Willian Lutsky YMCA offer's Strollerobics. 
To find out more or to register fora class call: 
780.439.9622

Downtown 
Body by Bennet offers pre-natal & post-natal classes in the downtown core. 
For more information check out 
http://bodybybennett.com/small-group-training-schedule/

Sherwood Park
Hot Mama Health & Fitness
2 convenient south side locations for prenatal and beyond! 
View schedules and register at the website 
www.hotmamahealthandfitness.ca

Millenium Place offers a few prenatal and postnatal classes such as prenatal yoga, Baby worx H20, Baby worx, as well a pre/post natal fitness class. 
For more information or to register call 780.416.3300


St.Albert
Hot Mama Health & Fitness
2 convenient south side locations for prenatal and beyond! 
View schedules and register at the website 
www.hotmamahealthandfitness.ca

Servus Place offers several options for prenatal and postnatal classes.
From prenatal yoga to postnatal pilates there is a class for everyone. 
To find out more you can call 780.418.6088 or view the classes online.
http://servusplace.ca/index.php/program/adult-programs/prenatal
http://servusplace.ca/index.php/program/adult-programs/post-natal

Wellness Within at the Enjoy Center has a prenatal yoga class starting soon!
To get the details and to register check out this link. 
http://www.wellness-within.ca/yoga_st_albert.html


Spruce Grove
Hot Mama Health & Fitness
2 convenient south side locations for prenatal and beyond! 
View schedules and register at the website 
www.hotmamahealthandfitness.ca

Trans-Alta Tri Leisure Centre offers a great assortment of classes. 
Fit Mums, Prenatal Yoga, Spin with Baby, You and Me Baby, Cardio Kick with Baby, and also Cha-Cha Baby. 
To find out more or to register for one (or all) of these classes you can contact the Trans-Alta Tri Leisure Centre here: 
780.960.5080
http://www.trileisure.com/programs.php?sid=341&gid=43&ss_id=53


Leduc
Hot Mama Health & Fitness
2 convenient south side locations for prenatal and beyond! 
View schedules and register at the website 
www.hotmamahealthandfitness.ca

Hot in Leduc 
Pre-natal Yoga on Sundays
Call 780-986-5588
http://hotinleduc.ca

Leduc Recreation Center 
Pre-natal aqua fit, Baby weights (post natal aqua fit), and strollercize! 
Register at http://www.leduc.ca/LRC.htm 

Until next time beautiful bellies past, present, and future!!
~Christine~