Ashley Brichter - Birth Smarter
- Greenpoint / Manhattan / Virtual
- birthsmarter.com
Categories
Description
Birthsmarter provides practical wisdom and guidance to new and expectant parents through pregnancy and parenting classes, support groups, and curated resources. You can find their unbiased, inclusive, and award-winning education in-person, live-online, and on-demand. Deeply rooted in education theory and mindful pedagogy, Birthsmarter classes go far beyond the basics of what to expect when you're expecting. If you have questions about group classes or private sessions, our Alternative Pricing Policy or getting insurance reimbursement, do not hesitate to reach out to Ashley directly [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.].
Reviews (28)
ISO: Birthing and lactation classes + lactation consultants
I loved the Birth Smarter childbirth class and their lactation class! They’re both held at The Wild in Williamsburg (or maybe it’s Greenpoint). I learned a lot and really enjoyed it. Highly recommend!Infant CPR and newborn care courses
We LOVED the Birth Smarter classes, and they have a sliding scale/pay what you can philosophy. https://birthsmarter.com/pages/pricingReview from the Spring 2023 Birthing Survey
What month and year was your child born? October 2022 Review: I was disappointed with Birth Smarter. Due to a miscommunication, the instructor ended the course early. I almost said something but figured perhaps I had misremembered and the course was shorter than I thought. When I reached out to the director/owner Ashley about the mistake, she wrote the group of attendees saying that several of us had written to her but not told the instructor that the class was short. She attempted to make it some sort of teachable moment about how we need to advocate for ourselves and speak up when we are delivering at the hospital. It felt victim-shaming and left a bad taste in my mouthReview from the Spring 2023 Birthing Survey
What month and year was your child born? April 2023 Review: On demand videos were great to learn on your own time. They also have live online and I believe in person too. Very evidence-based and low intervention. I was open to unmedicated but not dead set on it and I found this was a really nice balance between woo woo and not (I think they even say something like this in the class itself)Review from the Spring 2023 Birthing Survey
What month and year was your child born? March 2023 Review: Great weekend-long in-person class. Very informative and evidence-based.Review from the Spring 2023 Birthing Survey
What month and year was your child born? September 2023 Review: Very helpful c section classReview from the Spring 2023 Birthing Survey
What month and year was your child born? March 2023 Review: Birth smarter was great. We were glad that we could do the whole thing virtually. The instructor was engaging and had relevant anecdotes to share. The only downside was the length of time it took to complete the course. We both got restless during the sessions, which lasted up to four hours. The course came with a lot of downloadable materials that we both referenced and used after as well.Review from the Spring 2023 Birthing Survey
Childbirth Instructor: Birth Smarter with Jaime What month and year was your child born? August Review: This class was amazing. It was two 6 hour days which seemed insane at first but by the end we felt so informed and confident.Unmedicated birth experience at NYU Langone Tisch
I had an non-epidural birth at NYU, with Spring OB/GYN as my provider. The whole experience is a long story and a mixed bag (including a negative experience with 1 Spring doctor before my actual labor). I ended up being induced at 41 weeks. I strongly believe the reason I didn’t get an epidural was because I had a great doula (https://jaimelewisdoula.com/) and took a great birth class (https://birthsmarter.com/) so I understand how and why medical intervention happens and knew what questions to ask and how to advocate for myself. As well as a great partner who was on board with my desires for our baby’s birthFavorite Birthing Classes?
We loved Birthsmarter and found the class to be really empowering. We did our class on zoom but they also offer in-person classes at The Wild in Greenpoint.Favorite Birthing Classes?
I second birthsmarter! I had such a positive experience with them, and felt really empowered going into my birth.Favorite Birthing Classes?
Birth Smarter! I did their online classes (#pandemicbaby) but they have now started in person.birthing classes
We did a Newborn Care class at Birth Smarter in person at the Wild in Greenpoint and really liked it. I know they also have birth classes and they have in person and online options.Review from the Summer 2022 Birthing Survey
What month and year was your child born? 2022 Review: I cannot recommend Birthsmarter enough. The weekend birth class prepared me and my husband so well and gave me the tools and knowledge to really advocate for myself and my needs during the run up to and during labor. They explain both the cultural/societal aspects of birth as well as the physiological. The instructors were incredibly kind and created an atmosphere where everyone was comfortable sharing and asking questions.Virtual birthing classes advice - Due Feb 2022
Pre-pandemic, we did classes with Ashley at Birth Smarter. We found her classes so incredibly helpful and she built such a wonderful community.Review from the Spring 2022 Birthing Survey
We took a pre-recorded class due to schedule timing. Lots of great approach-able information and resources. Would definitely recommendReview from the Spring 2022 Birthing Survey
We did a bunch of online classes with them (only option during COVID): Childcare class, Birth prep, and post-partum prep.Review from the 2020 Birthing Experience Survey
Did the weekend intensive course and we really enjoyed it. We felt much more informed after and the small class format (6 mothers and partners) helped us to be able to get our individual questions answered and hear about others’ experiences.Birthing Classes
We've been doing the Birth Smarter online and Zoom classes and enjoying them! The leaders are really accessible outside of the class context for questions and discussion.Review from the 2020 Birthing Experience Survey
Overall helpful, but it was virtual so there were zoom connection issues and a lot of the focus was on the biological triggers of birth, what happens, etc. felt like some of the pain management and what to do at the hospital and how to advocate for yourself got rushed at the end.Seeking Infant Care Class Recommendation!
I took the breastfeeding & newborn care class with BirthSmarter. I found it to be very informative. However, most of the focus (like 85%) is on lactation. They do provide video resources on topics they don't cover such as bathing baby and diaper changing. I highly recommend BirthSmarter - their classes (all via zoom) are great and their instructors are awesome!Review from the 2020 Birthing Experience Survey
Her class that centers around physiology of birth was very informative. I also liked that it was only two days, but packed full of knowledge. She also had many resources that was neatly organized on her site, and her collaboration with doulas and other organizations helped me to stay connected to the community.Review from the 2020 Birthing Experience Survey
Ashley was AWESOME! We were fortunate to attend one of the last few in person classes she held in Greenpoint. I imagine the online classes are great as well. She was engaging in presenting the information in an easily digestible way. The class was nearly 6 hours long and neither my husband nor I got bored - the time flew by!! I felt prepared and confident.Review from the 2020 Birthing Experience Survey
We participated in the one-day intensive course at The Wild in Greenpoint (pre-COVID) and can't say enough great things about Ashley and her team of birthing experts. We felt really prepared about what to expect, and we left the class with great resources and checklists that helped us in the final weeks before birth. As life evolves in a virtual setting, they have expanded their offerings and reimagined how to provide the same information, resources and support. Highly recommend to any first-time parents or those seeking additional information!Looking for Online Birthing/Breast Feeding Classes
Birth Smarter is also doing Zoom childbirth classes which I’ve heard good things about, and has pay-what-you-can pricing for those financially-affected by the pandemic. You have to email about the pay-what-you-can pricing.Childbirth Classes?
I'd like to second the recommendation of Birth Smarter. We just took their "one-day childbirth education class" yesterday (the next one isn't until June 7, btw) and it was truly great. They have a bunch of other classes too, including a two-day weekend one that I think is an extended version of what we just took. https://www.birthsmarter.com I'd registered for the class pre-pandemic so it was originally going to be in person. They moved it to Zoom and honestly, it worked really well. It requires you to be engaged and make a point of interacting/participating more than you would in person. But if you do that, it works like a charm! Also, it's pay-what-you-can. So that's a plus.Childbirth Classes?
Sending around another recommendation for Birth Smarter! All the classes are now online and recommended through our Brooklyn-based Doula. Hope this helps!Refresher birth class recommendations for second time parents
If you want in-person, I cannot recommend more highly Ashley Birchter of Birth Smarter. She is so smart and has all sorts of specialized classes and might also cater one to your needs:
