Settling in with Baby

In this hands on newborn care workshop, you’ll learn everything you need to care for babies 6 weeks and under. Cut down on midnight Google searches (“What’s wrong with my baby?” “Is this normal?” “Why does my newborn’s poop look weird?”) and tackle infant care like a pro.

Dates and booking

Please select the class location you are interested in to be taken to the booking calendar.

Berkeley location

Layfayette location

Course Breakdown

This course is hands on! We bring dolls and supplies, so you’re truly prepared.

Health concerns
Keeping baby safe
Appearance
Feeding cues
Bottles and Formula
Causes of SIDS

Distress/Soothing
Sleep
Bathing
Diapering
Swaddling
Supplies

Includes a copy of Settling in With Baby, a book co-written by your instructor, Heidi Kate.

Meet the Instructors

Throughout her entire life, Heidi has been a reassuring voice to others. A leader and supporter, a woman and a friend. Heidi earned an associate degree from Northern Arizona University in Environmental Sciences and a Dual Masters from the University of California Berkeley in Urban Planning/Environmental Sciences. After working for several years and earning a high-level management position in the solar power industry, Heidi had a life-changing realization. She became a mom and immediately realized that support is a fundamental need during pregnancy, labor and birth.
Heidi left her degree and career to pursue becoming a professional, certified doula. Heidi knew that with her passion for providing support, her commitment to education, and her ability to encourage and reassure others, becoming a doula was an obvious choice. It was almost as if the position was created specifically for her!
Heidi is certified to teach HypnoBirthing and Lamaze Childbirth classes. She has trained as a birth doula through DONA, CAPPA, Cornerstone, ProDoula, and Dynamo Doula. Her additional focus of study includes Spinning Babies and Evidence Based Birth. Heidi has also earned her Master rebozo credentials and placenta certification.
With a passion for vaginal birth after cesarean section, Heidi has supported and celebrated more than 50 clients as they reached this powerful goal. Her deepest desire is for her clients to know that they are cared for, that they can feel confident in their choices, and that they have the information they need when they need it.
Heidi married into a 4th generation Bay Area family and has resided there for the past 13 years. Together she and her husband raise their three children. When Heidi is not working, she loves spending time with her extended family, living an eco-friendly lifestyle, reading, watching BBC period dramas and doing seasonal canning.

Keira comes to the birth world after a career in public health and social services research, evaluation, and consulting. That work also focused on supporting people as they navigate life transitions, social challenges, and the systems and institutions that support us as we all move through these moments. She has a passion for deep learning and listening, connecting to people, building communities, and being an advocate and a resource.
Keira is also a parent to two young people who are heading off to college, which inspired a search for change and a return to pursuing a passion for women’s health and empowered birth. She is grateful for the support, opportunities, and connections made during her own pregnancy, birth, and early child-rearing years. She now enjoys helping others find the connections, information and support they need to build their confidence, make decisions, grow, and thrive as they build their family.
Keira has a Masters in Public Health. She trained as a birth, postpartum, and full spectrum doula with Cornerstone. She is also a certified Cornerstone and Hypnobirthing Childbirth Educator. She also just started additional training as a lactation counselor!
When not teaching, learning, supporting births or helping families postpartum, Keira is a mountain bike coach for the Berkeley High School team, grows veggies and keeps chickens in her backyard, sings and dances with MoTor Dance, and gets into the mountainous backcountry (on ski wheels, or on foot) as often as she can with her partner, two kids and friends.

Save 15% by adding a package!

Our most popular classes, paired with our most popular workshops. Save on both by buying together!

Purchase the package, then use the emailed code to schedule our most popular classes and workshops at a discount.

1-Day Immersive Package

Our Immersive Package includes our 1-Day Childbirth Immersive, our Newborn Care class, and Breastfeeding 101. You will walk away knowing everything you need to know in preparation for your birth and postpartum experience.

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All Workshop Package

Our All Workshop Package includes our Comfort Measures class, our Newborn Care class, and Breastfeeding 101. This is perfect for soon to be parents who want to learn more about optimizing the birth and postpartum period.

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Childbirth Prep Package 1

Our Childbirth Prep Package includes our 5-Week Childbirth Education Series and our Newborn Care class. You will walk away knowing everything you need to know in preparation for your birth and newborn care experience.

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HypnoBirthing Package 1

Our HypnoBirthing Package includes our 5-Week HypnoBirthing Series and our Newborn care class. You will walk away knowing everything you need to know in preparation for your birth and newborn care experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

This workshop covers two people, so make sure to bring them along.
This class is hands on. Please wear clothes you can comfortably stand, sit, and kneel in.
We have tea and snacks in our space, but some people also like to bring their own snacks and a waterbottle.
Overall, bring your positive attitudes and curiosity! We're excited to have you with us.
This workshop is priced as "per couple", or for two people per sign up. If you would like to sign up as an individual, please contact us! It's easy and we're happy to help.
This class is geared towards parents, as the cost is per couple. If you are expecting or currently parenting, it's a good class for you!
We also love having grandparents, family, friends, or babysitters attend this class to gain knowledge. Please message us for an individual sign up! You are welcome here.
For the health and safety of our students, Brilliant Births requires COVID-19 vaccination. Proof may be requested. Masks are not required but welcomed.
We know plans change! After sign up, you may cancel up to 7 days before your class and receive 75% percent of the cost back. Cancellations within 7 days of a scheduled class cannot be refunded.
We aim to fill our classes, but if there are less than three sign-ups for a class, it will be canceled, rescheduled, or moved to Zoom. If the dates of the reschedule or Zoom don't work with your needs, you will be issued a full refund.
Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, the format may change from in-person classes to virtual classes if required by public health guidelines or at Brilliant Birth's discretion. No change in fee will be issued, and no refunds will be given outside of the allotted cancellation policy.