Free Classes for Families & Expecting Parents in TN & VA

Photo of mother with children

Ballad Health offers prenatal and pregnancy classes throughout the Appalachian Highlands to help new parents navigate the life changes of pregnancy through the arrival of their newborn. These classes help reduce stress and make parents feel more confident, as well as provide a chance to meet other expecting parents and share experiences.

Prenatal classes for expectant parents teach important information about pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and newborn care after delivery.

We also offer classes and support groups for parents of young children, as well as classes for the community that include details on car seat safety and a babysitting course. Take a look at all our class offerings below!

Locations for prenatal classes near you

Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, TN
Niswonger Children’s Hospital in Johnson City, TN
Franklin Woods Community Hospital in Johnson City, TN
Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, TN
Norton Community Hospital in Norton, VA

Free newborn care and birthing classes near you

We’re here to support you and your growing family every step of the way. If you’re expecting a new arrival and want to learn more about childbirth education tools and breastfeeding basics before the due date, you’re in the right place.

Free breastfeeding class

Provides local breastfeeding support to help new moms

This free Breastfeeding 101 class is designed to help new moms understand:

How does breastfeeding work
How to breastfeed a newborn
How breast milk is produced
Proper latching for breastfeeding and what to do when your newborn's not latching
Best breastfeeding positions

Our experienced lactation instructors guide you through breastfeeding by addressing common concerns and providing valuable lactation tips.

Free prenatal and pregnancy support groups for parents

Local support for pregnant women and expecting families

This free pregnancy course covers how to care for your health, self, finances, mind, safety and newborn. You’ll learn the basics of:

How to take care of a newborn
What to expect after pregnancy in our infant care classes

And we don’t just offer knowledge – there’s a package of free diapers for expecting mothers at every class while supplies last.

2025 dates coming soon!

Free birthing classes

Helps expectant parents understand more about childbirth

This one-day free childbirth class will equip you with tips like:

How to have a healthy pregnancy
How to identify signs of potential risks in pregnancy
Which options are available for pain management during labor
Learn about what active labor is and the stages of labor
When to go to the hospital with contractions
What to pack in a go bag for labor

Free parenting classes & support groups

If you’re feeling the stress as a new parent, we have classes and support groups to help.

Car seat safety 101

Teaches new parents how to safely transport their newborn

Getting from place to place shouldn’t be any harder than it needs to be. This course will:

Teach you how to pick a car seat for a newborn
Teach car seat booster requirements and guidelines
When to switch to a forward-facing car seat
Provide car seat recommendations to help you find the safest car seat
Tips for car seat installation

This course is beneficial for both parents and guardians, in addition to any professional that works with education or families.

Free new parent classes

Learn with family fun activities

These educational activities for families are designed to:

Connect you with other parents and families
Hear from guest speakers who will provide advice for new parents
Engage in indoor family activities that you can also do at home

Each session will focus on creating a strong bond with your child by engaging in fun activities, asking open-ended questions and allowing your child to explore and play.

2025 dates coming soon!

Home alone safety for teens and babysitting classes near you

Prepare students in grades six through eight on how to be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting. Led by an instructor, this home-alone course is filled with games and role-playing exercises. Students will learn how to:

Be safe when they’re home alone, watching younger siblings or babysitting.
Handle unsafe situations, like:
- Power outages
- Extreme weather
CPR training for babysitting, as well as other basic first aid and rescue skills

The safety and babysitters course will also teach older children how to screen babysitting jobs, discuss fees with parents and help set them up for success with future employers. This class sometimes has a fee. Contact us for information about grants that can wave the fee.

Contact us

Want to learn more about our classes for parents? Contact us for more information by calling us at (423) 431‑4844 or emailing us at strongstarts@balladhealth.org.