What Makes Birthsmarter Different?
Friday, September 19, 2025
Take a second and think about the best class you ever took. Think about the best teacher you ever had. Maybe it was in high school or college or over a summer program?
Did you feel curious? Interested? Excited? Changed?
That’s the kind of learning we strive for at Birthsmarter. Because if you’re looking for up-to-date information, you can ask the internet. But if you want to truly prepare for birth, postpartum, and parenting—you need an educator, not just an “expert.”
Since our very first class in 2019, we’ve built Birthsmarter to stand apart from other childbirth education options.
Here’s how we’re truly different:
Our Philosophy
So many childbirth classes begin with a set of assumptions—about faith, gender, or how birth _should_ unfold. At Birthsmarter, we don’t do that.
We are not faith-based. Many classes frame birth as a spiritual rite, rooted in the belief that women are creatures of God and that giving birth is the ultimate feminine calling. For some people, that resonates. For others, it doesn’t. We believe birth is powerful, awe-inspiring, and confidence-boosting—but we won’t assume how you _should_ feel about it.
We are not only teaching “moms.” Preparing for birth is not just for the pregnant person. Most of our students are cis-hetero couples, and in that case, we’re not teaching men simply how to “support mom.” We’re teaching them to show up fully on their own journey into parenthood. We also teach two-mom families, solo parents, surrogate families where the birthing person isn’t the intended parent, and adoptive families. Our classes use language that reflects the real ways families are built, without ranking them in a false hierarchy.
Because of this, Birthsmarter is a safe place for expectant fathers grappling with masculinity, for queer parents seeking community, and for anyone building a family in a way that doesn’t fit the narrow “traditional” mold.
What We Teach
Our curriculum moves far beyond the outdated frameworks you’ll find in most childbirth classes.
We do not teach only one coping mechanism. Some programs teach hypnosis, others teach breathwork, others swear by massage or movement. We know that there are many ways to cope with labor depending on how it unfolds, and we want our students to learn them all.
We also don’t organize birth around the old-fashioned “stages of labor.” Instead, we’ve created a novel, human-centered approach to understanding physiology. It works across all environments and all interventions—hospital or home, medicated or unmedicated. We believe there is no single “right” way to give birth, and our content reflects that.
How We Teach
Birthsmarter isn’t just about _what_ we teach, but _how_ we teach it.
Our classes are built using educational design principles, not just a “content-first” approach. Most childbirth education programs think about what information they want students to know and then stuff it into a slide deck. We flipped the script. Our curriculum is designed to ensure students actually retain what they learn and can call on it in the intensity of labor.
We’ve also intentionally designed for neurodivergent learners—people who may struggle with focus, attention, or processing in traditional lecture formats. Instead of overloading students, we break things down into digestible, memorable frameworks.
Every class includes a custom workbook designed to reinforce and extend learning. Because at the end of the day, information is only valuable if you can actually use it.
Who We Teach
We design our curriculum for what’s universal—not for shared lifestyle factors.
That means Birthsmarter is accessible and relevant whether you’re:
- A cis dad who wants to learn how to show up fully.
- A queer couple navigating family-building in a heteronormative world.
- A surrogate or intended parent figuring out how to share roles.
- A single parent preparing to do this on your own.
- An adoptive parent learning how to support birth and postpartum with respect.
We are committed to teaching in a way that allows every family to feel recognized, respected, and equipped.
Access for All
Childbirth education should not be a luxury.
We teach in every format: in-person, live online, on-demand, and private sessions. Some companies are only in-person, some only online, others only on-demand. We know families need flexibility, so we meet people where they are—in time zones, in schedules, and in learning styles.
We also offer alternative pricing. Families can join a class for as little as $10. We believe high-quality childbirth education should be accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford a premium.
Behind the Scenes
We don’t just talk about values—we run our company by them.
- Fair pay for educators. Our teachers are experts. We pay them a high hourly wage that accounts for prep time, teaching time, and professional development. We invest in their continuing education and observe them throughout the year to ensure quality and consistency.
- Worker protections. We’ve invested in HR and legal infrastructure so our team has access to benefits like paid leave and workers’ compensation—rare in this industry.
- Admin with a human touch. We’re big enough to have an operations team that can help with insurance paperwork and scheduling changes, but small enough that you’ll always talk to a real person who knows you—not a chatbot.
- Focused mission. We don’t try to be everything to everyone. We don’t match you to doulas or text you at 3 a.m. We do what we do best: show up as educators, teaching you how to think critically and make confident decisions.
In Closing
At Birthsmarter, we believe childbirth education should prepare you for more than just labor—it should prepare you for life.
We combine rigorous pedagogy, inclusive curriculum, flexible access, and ethical business practices. We’re here to make sure preparing for birth isn’t something you just “get through.” It’s a chance to transform how you learn, how you think, and how you grow into parenthood.
Find live, virtual & on-demand classes and support groups near you: