You invested in your education before and it always paid off. The pay-off has never mattered as much as it does right now. Buddha Belly classes help you get prepared and confident to make empowered choices on your birth and baby journey.
Tampa Bay Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Care Classes and Support Groups
For all of our classes we offer a range of options to meet your needs including: in-person group classes, virtual private classes and private in-home classes. Click on the classes below to learn more or register!
Birth Essentials
This 4.5 hour class equips you with an understanding of the physiology of labor and birth and the tools to make you more comfortable. Through evidence (and humor), we’ll explore the emotional and physical experience of giving birth.
Preparing for Birth
This four-week group childbirth class sets you up for success as you prepare for labor and birth. In a relaxed and comfortable setting, evidence is presented, options are discussed, and personal philosophies are developed.
Newborn Care Class
Our hands-on Newborn Care Class helps you feel prepared and confident caring for your baby from the very beginning. You’ll learn about feeding, infant sleep, bathing, newborn health and safety, and practice essential skills with life-sized weighted dolls, including holding, swaddling, diapering, and soothing.
Breastfeeding Your Baby
This 3 hour breastfeeding class prepares you for your infant feeding journey by arming you with the fact based information that leads to your success.
Infant CPR
Learn the life saving skills of Infant CPR in order to assure the safety of your baby. Skills are taught in a dynamic group environment using the American Heart Association’s technique.
Pelvic Floor Yoga
Join us for a gentle 45-minute pelvic floor yoga class designed to help you reconnect with your body, supporting pelvic health, core strength, and deep relaxation.
Private Birth Classes
All Buddha Belly classes are available in the privacy of one’s own home at a mutually convenient scheduled date and time.
Our Classes Fill Up!
Our in-person classes have a limited number of attendees (capacity is 6 - 10 couples depending on the class). Additionally we have private class offerings so that we can meet the needs of different families in our community. Contact us if you have any questions.
Why Should You Take a Childbirth and Baby Care Class?
More than knowledge being power, knowledge is literally the key that unlocks empowerment. As you embark upon your birth and early parenting journey the two things that do more to set you up for success than anything else are support and education.
In life we often tell ourselves that we can't do something because we don't know how to do it. Having a baby and caring for one are things that parents must do whether they know how to do it or not. And... you will get through it.
But at Buddha Belly Doulas we don't want you to "just get through it." We want you to feel confident and in control. We want you to have the information that leads you to the ways that you choose to birth and parent your baby. We want you to base this on facts, and personal philosophies and classes like our birthing classes, newborn care classes, and breastfeeding class set you up to do exactly that!
Why Families Recommend Buddha Belly Doulas Again & Again...
Meet our Growing Team of Birth & Baby Educators
Amanda Ruiz
Certified Childbirth Educator & Certified Lactation Counselor
Amanda Ruiz brings warmth, humor, and real-world experience to every class. Inspired by her own birth journey, she is passionate about helping families feel informed, confident, and supported. A longtime Tampa resident and mother of two, Amanda loves creating welcoming spaces where parents can learn and connect.
Paige Diaz
Certified Labor Doula, Postpartum & Infant Care Doula
Paige Diaz has spent more than a decade caring for children as a nanny, childcare provider, and doula. Her own experience as a NICU mom inspired her commitment to supporting families through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. She is trained in birth, postpartum, birth education, and lactation support, bringing warmth, compassion, and a natural ability to connect with families.
Justine Brown
Client Care Director, Certified Childbirth Educator & Doula
Justine believes communities thrive when parents are supported from the very beginning. A Tampa Bay native, certified childbirth educator, and Client Care Director at Buddha Belly Doulas, she combines her Public Health background with a genuine passion for helping families navigate pregnancy, birth, and life with a new baby.
Josette Sanchez
Certified Labor Doula, Advanced Postpartum & Infant Care Doula, Lactation Counselor, Placenta Specialist and Childbirth Educator
Inspired by her own journey into motherhood, Josette is dedicated to helping families feel supported and confident as they welcome a new baby. Warm, patient, and empathetic, Josette brings both compassion and reliability to every family she serves.
Melissa Planzo
Certified Labor Doula, Advanced Postpartum & Infant Care Doula, Lactation Counselor, Placenta Specialist and Childbirth Educator
With more than 24 years of parenting experience, Melissa brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge to her work supporting mothers and babies. Melissa is known for her compassionate, encouraging, and dependable nature. Melissa enjoys helping breastfeeding families and loves spending time with her family, traveling, and exploring the outdoors.
Bianca Taylor
Advanced Postpartum & Infant Care Doula, Postpartum Placenta Specialist, Certified Labor Doula
With more than 10 years of experience caring for infants and children, Bianca provides compassionate, knowledgeable support to growing families. She has experience supporting premature infants, twins, children with special needs, and feeding challenges. Bianca is known for her calm presence, patience, and dedication to helping families thrive.
Maleena Henry
Advanced Postpartum & Infant Care Doula
Maleena has a passion for supporting families during the early weeks with a new baby. Compassionate, dependable, and eager to continue learning, she is also pursuing certification in lactation counseling. When she's not working, Maleena enjoys saltwater fishing, ballroom dancing, and spending time outdoors.
Dinah Cooper
RN, Adult & Infant CPR Instructor
Dinah Cooper, RN, brings more than 44 years of nursing experience, including pediatrics, pediatric and adult ICU. A longtime American Heart Association instructor, she has trained healthcare professionals since the 1980s. Known for making complex topics easy to understand, Dinah is passionate about helping others build confidence in lifesaving CPR skills.
Sujata Martin
Pelvic Floor Yoga Instructor & Pelvic Floor Therapist
Sujata Martin is a Pelvic Health Occupational Therapist, yoga instructor, and founder of Pelvic Soul. She is passionate about helping individuals feel strong, confident, and connected to their bodies. Sujata specializes in trauma-informed pelvic care and was recognized with the New York State Occupational Therapy Association's Merit in Practice Award.