With so much to do during those crucial weeks leading up to the birth of a baby, sorting through all the information out there can be overwhelming.

While she was pregnant abroad, having the United Kingdom’s National Childbirth Trust (NCT) support network helped Jessica Hill. When she returned to America, she adapted the NCT framework, which organizes expectant parents by neighborhood and due date, and launched The Parent Collective in 2017.

Connection.

Through the years, The Parent Collective has expanded from Fairfield, CT into 15 locations including Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Houston.

Today, Jessica’s children are 14 and 16 years old, and the relationships she formed with other parents along the way have proven invaluable.

“What my experience with NCT ingrained in me was the importance of prioritizing relationships with people in the same phase of life,” said Jessica. “I became friends with my best friend through this experience. What it really infused in me was that, at every stage of parenting, there are new challenges and worries, so having someone else there that you can talk to builds confidence and alleviates a lot of stress.”

Comraderie.

When the baby comes, you want to know what to do, and feel agency in the process, said Jessica, but sterile, outdated hospital classes aren’t your only option. “They are often unedited, so a class can be six hours in one sitting. You leave feeling bleary-eyed and overwhelmed – and are more anxious as a result,” she said.

The Parent Collective’s prenatal classes however, are hosted by certified nurses or midwives. Since 2021, Christine Hernandez, owner of the Broadway Coffee Co. who is also a birth and post-partum doula, and a mom of two, has been hosting The Parent Collective at the downtown shop. Christine creates a welcoming and familiar environment for small events by swapping out the coffee shop’s tables for cozy armchairs, lighting candles, and offering tea - thereby transforming the space into a warm, intimate setting for expectant parents to connect, learn, and feel supported. This hyperlocal connection can be strengthened outside of class by joining a What’s App group chat.

The Parent Collective April Series will be held Mondays, 6:30pm, at Broadway Coffee Co., 493 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. The Prenatal Yoga Spring Series, held Saturdays, April 1st- May 6th, at 6pm, is designed to be a nurturing and empowering class for moms-to-be in all stages of pregnancy. The New Moms Coffee Club, featuring guest experts, and other activities fostering community and connection at the coffee shop, can be found by visiting www.broadwaycoffee.co/events

Confidence.

Although participants are primarily first-time parents wondering what to expect, those with children already at home are also invited to attend The Parent Collective.

“Sometimes the first time around can feel like a fever dream, or you may not have found friends with children at the same stage. If you’re looking for a different labor experience, or struggled with breastfeeding before, we have the tools for your toolbox that will help you slip back into the role of being new parents again,” said Jessica.

Mindful to emphasize the partner’s role in the process, The Parent Collection answers questions about how to be supportive while mom is breastfeeding or acting as a gatekeeper (by managing visits from family and friends excited to see the baby). They also help to build both parents’ confidence with hands-on diapering demonstrations, soothing, and swaddling techniques.

For more information, go to
www.theparentcollective.com