From pregnancy to life with a newborn.

I'M PREGNANT

I HAVE A NEW BABY

"Being a new parent can sometimes feel isolating. The Labour Dept. provides a haven to feel less alone in that experience. Every time I leave I always feel more connected to my fellow mamas."

Upcoming Events

Thu, Aug 14
Understanding Newborn Sleep with The Bedtime Coach
Webinar
JOIN
Webinar
For expectant parents and parents of newborns who want to feel confident and prepared before their baby arrives. This session is designed to equip you with everything you need to know about newborn sleep.
Sat, Sep 06
Prepped to Parent September Saturday Mornings
NIO House
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NIO House, Leidsestraat 32-34, 1017 EN Amsterdam, Netherlands
Created by parents, for parents, Prepped to Parent offers expert-led classes to boost confidence and build a supportive community. Learn essential insights many couples wish they knew before welcoming their newborns.
Thu, Sep 11
Understanding Newborn Sleep with The Bedtime Coach
Webinar
JOIN
Webinar
For expectant parents and parents of newborns who want to feel confident and prepared before their baby arrives. This session is designed to equip you with everything you need to know about newborn sleep.
Sat, Oct 04
Prepped to Parent October Weekend Intensive
Equals Amsterdam
JOIN
Equals Amsterdam, Raamgracht 6, 1011 HZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Made by parents, for parents. A weekend-intensive course designed to boost your confidence and grow your community as you embark on your journey toward parenthood. Taught by English-speaking experts! Topics: birth, breastfeeding, baby medical basics, mental health, postpartum AND MORE!
Thu, Oct 09
Understanding Newborn Sleep with The Bedtime Coach
Webinar
JOIN
Webinar
For expectant parents and parents of newborns who want to feel confident and prepared before their baby arrives. This session is designed to equip you with everything you need to know about newborn sleep.
Wed, Nov 12
Prepped to Parent November / December Evenings
Equals Amsterdam
JOIN
Equals Amsterdam, Raamgracht 6, 1011 HZ Amsterdam, Netherlands
Created by parents, for parents. This 4-part prenatal course is designed to support expecting couples in Amsterdam with expert-led, English-speaking classes that boost your confidence and build your local community. Taught by experienced doulas, midwives, and baby care professionals!

Prepped to Parent

Join Prepped to Parent, Amsterdam's #1 program for English-speaking pregnant couples. Topics include birth, breastfeeding, baby medical basics, postpartum, mental health and more!

JOIN THE NEXT GROUP

Mom's the word

A weekly digest from the internet of pregnancy, postpartum & motherhood.

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We get a lot of questions during Prepped to Parent!
Not just the cute onesies kind of questions…
The real ones.
The ones that keep you up at night.
The ones people are often too afraid or embarrassed to ask.

This is what we talk about in Prepped to Parent:
the honest, raw, practical conversations about birth, postpartum, mental health, relationships, navigating the Dutch system and more!

Fall groups are filling up → Come get prepared. For real.

What questions are on your mind?

Expecting a baby?

We’re The Labour Dept, and we support new and expectant parents through the messy, beautiful, and overwhelming early months of parenthood.

Our Prepped to Parent groups are a space to get real, ask questions, and feel genuinely prepared not just for labour, but for life with a newborn.

👶 Newborn care basics (feeding, sleep, soothing, and more)
🧠 Mental health & emotional shifts in early parenthood
🤱 Infant feeding (breast, bottle, combo — no judgment)
😴 Sleep expectations & coping with exhaustion
💞 Navigating your relationship & support system
🧻 Postpartum recovery (yes, we talk about it all!)
🧩 Building routines & tuning into your baby
🌍 Your parenting values & what kind of parent you want to be
🤝 Finding support & building community
💬 Real talk, not just textbook advice

Led by experienced educators (who are also parents), you’ll learn what to expect, how to cope, and where to find support — all while building community with other people due around the same time.

🗓️ Fall groups are now open for parents expecting between October and February.
👶 Learn more and grab your spot: www.thelabourdept.com/prepped-to-parent
(Yes, it fills up fast.)

#PreppedToParent #NewParentSupport #ParenthoodPrep #TheLabourDept #BirthAndBeyond #DueThisFall

So much energy goes into labour plans, hospital bags, and the big day itself. But what about the days, weeks, and months after?

The truth is: birth is just the beginning.
Parenthood brings questions, changes, and challenges no one really prepares you for… unless they do.

Our Prepped to Parent groups are designed for exactly that. To help you feel informed, grounded, and supported as you step into life with a newborn.

Led by real experts and rooted in real talk, we cover everything from feeding to sleep to relationships and recovery. Plus you get access to a brilliant online portal and a community that actually gets it.

🍂 Fall groups are now open! Tap the link in bio to grab your spot or share with someone expecting. ❤️

#PreppedToParent #TheLabourDept #PrenatalClasses #ParenthoodPreparation #DueIn2024 #DueIn2025 #NewParentSupport #PostpartumSupport #RealTalkParents

Now commencing 6 weeks of bring your kid to work day… 😭

But you also got…
✔️Clarity and Confidence
✔️A Real-Life Taste of Nourishing Postpartum Food
✔️Tools to Set Boundaries and Ask for Support
✔️New pals!
✔️Expert Guidance Without the Overwhelm

Just a few babes, babies and bumps in the 🌞

Oh, hello!

Welcome to being pregnant in Amsterdam👏

We’re The Labour Dept. and we run Prepped to Parent a monthly in person pregnancy course where you can learn all about birth, postpartum, caring for your new baby and you. PLUS, you get to meet really cool people along the way.

Find your group via the 🔗 in our bio 💋

Suns out BUMPS OUT! We’re teaming up with @hellodoula.nl for our preggo hang in the park tomorrow at 11:00. See you there?

P.S tasty treats provided by @arizen.foods

Looking for somewhere to chill out? Made a little list for you! 🌞 🧊 🫠 🍦

Moments from @thelabourdept picnic beautifully captured by @luagrimalt.

It’s true! Especially for us expat mamas. Making friends in your 30s is so hard, but a baby- gives you the perfect excuse to swap numbers.

Am I right?

Ouffff girl, i GET it!

Your pregnant, your body has totally changed, your hormones are wilddddd 🎢

BUT

If there is one thing i know, its that you will find yourself again. Will you be different? Absolutely! Will you eventually get back to knowing who you are 💯

Hang in there 💋

Due Aug–Nov? This one’s for you.

Our July Weekend Intensive is two full days of honest, expert-led prep for birth, postpartum, and early parenthood. Real information, real community, no fluff.

🗓️ July 5–6
📍 @equals.nl Amsterdam
🎟️ Ticket for two. Lunch included
👩‍🏫 @justine.the.doula @drnaomipsychologist @internationallactationsupport @mothers_transition @beebornedoula @doularitag @thebedtimecoach

Let’s get you prepped to parent.

Well that was really the best. Huge thank you to everyone who joined our picnic today! Check the link in our bio to join more upcoming community events ♥️

☀️ Summer is HERE and so are the events you’ve been waiting for!

🌿⁠ Whether you’re expecting, postpartum, or just need a lil TLC, we’ve got you covered.

🧺 Picnic Hang
👶 Baby Sensory in the Park with @wowfamilycenterpijp
💬 Mama Hang
🤰 Preggo Hang with @hellodoula.nl Doula!
🎓 Prepped to Parent Weekend Intensive

JOIN us for sunshine, support, and serious community vibes.

📍Spaces fill fast save your spot on our website today!

#MamaHang #BabySensory #PreggoHang #PreppedToParent #AmsterdamMoms #ParentingCommunity #PregnantAbroad #ExpatPregnancy #ExpatMama #PregnantInEurope #ExpatsAndBabies #ExpectingAbroad #PregnancyJourneyOverseas #InternationalMama #GlobalParenting #PregnantAndFarFromHome

But there are things that can make it feel less overwhelming:
💡 knowing what to expect
👯‍♀️ having people to go through it with
💛 feeling confident in your choices

That’s what Prepped to Parent is all about.
Not fixing the hard, just helping you feel more ready for it.

Next weekend intensive is in July for couples due between August and November. Come join us.

#PreppedToParent #PregnancyPrep #ExpatParents #HonestParenting #BabyOnTheWay #ParentingIsHard

Nothing better then a great review ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

🎥 A peek inside Prepped to Parent Weekend Intensive 👶💬
Real parents. Real reviews. Real prep.

✨ Ready to feel the same way?
Join us this July in Amsterdam for two days of expert-led classes, honest convos, and community-building. All designed for expat parents-to-be.

🗓️ Weekend Intensive: July 5&6
💬 In English | 🥗 Lunch included | 💡 Evidence-based info | 👶 Space is limited! Only 2 spots left

#PreppedToParent #ExpectingInAmsterdam #BirthClass #WeekendIntensive #PregnancyPrep #ExpatParents

Missed @thelabourdept shop? We’ve popped up for a limited time with a few of our fav items @wowfamilycenterpijp. Go in for a coffee or a class and have a lil shop while you’re there 💋

🧺June 16th 🕶️☀️
Can’t wait for our next picnic hang with you all 💋
☀️ Bellies! Babies! Mamas! Papas! Come spend the morning in the with us.

📷 analogue photo by @luagrimalt

Mama Hang tomorrow 12:15-2:15 @wowfamilycenter

See you there!

Let’s do it!

Our summer / fall Prepped to Parent groups are filling up fast!

See you there?

Is the workplace a space to talk about boundaries? It might be comfortable but it is 100% needed!

Yesterday @drnaomipsychologist and I had the privilege of helping parents @pvhcorp set better boundaries at work and at home.

Thank you so much to all the amazing parents who joined us 👍🏻

Feels a bit vulnerable to share, but here goes. A few places, things I find a but tricky while navigating this time.

♥️ Biking past daycares and seeing new parents drop their minis off
♥️ Ikea, filled with so many pregnant couples
♥️ Anything sibling related, including the latest @nytimes article about the “power” of siblings

Anyone else?

This time last week!
Pregnant? Join us for the next Prepped to Parent Weekend Intensive in July

As a small business owner, I spend a lot of time looking at the numbers. But damn, they can be HARD. Running a small, logistics heavy biz is no joke. And in this annoying hustle, grind, girl boss garbage, the pressure is INTENSE.

It’s easy to forget we did the damn thing. We exist.

We built this community from nothing.

So thank you to everyone who has helped us make my dream come true ♥️

Thank you so so much to all the amazing parents who have joined Prepped to Parent. We feel so grateful to share this time with you ♥️

I love these hours before the Prepped to Patent Weekend begins. It’s a time when I pump up the tunes and get everything ready. Can’t wait to see what magic 🪄 happens here this weekend.

TW Maternal Mental Health

I don’t have many photos from my pregnancy with Max.

My mental health was too rocky for selfies, marernity shoots, or just to get out of the house. I felt so scared. So anxious. So alone. I found myself retreating into a personality I had never known.

This week is Maternal Mental Health Week, and I’m sharing my experiences so that anyone else feeling this way will know that things do change.

What is today is NOT forever.

This too shall pass. Hang in their pals. ♥️

🦺The postpartum brain is under construction🚧

Saw this on my way to work this morning and thought, wow. This scene really captures the postpartum experience.

Can we take a moment for that? Give more grace and space. Its not just our bodies that have changed but our brains too. More space. More grace. More love.

Need a good news story today? Melody didn’t just find her community in Prepped to Parent, she found her calling. Read her full story on the blog 🔗♥️

Moments from our last Prepped to Parent Weekend Intensive captured by @simsawyersphoto

Pregnant? Our next groups start May 10th. See you there 👍🏻

We’ve got you 💋

Our next Prepped to Parent groups start soon!

Each session is packed with expert guidance, real talk, and a supportive space to connect with other parents-to-be.
Topics include:
👶 Birth
🩺 Baby Medical Basics
🤱 Breastfeeding
🧘Postpartum
🧠 Mental Health

P.S if you know anyone who might benefit from joining do us a solid and pass it on ♥️ 🙏

The dream.

I turned something I once didn’t have into the work I do every day. I’m deeply grateful to be part of the long-overdue change in corporate culture—helping companies create more inclusive, compassionate environments for working parents.

From designing pregnancy loss policies to redefining maternity leave reintegration, I get to support organizations that want to do better. That’s a privilege I don’t take lightly.

If you’re at a company ready to build better support systems for parents—let’s talk. DM me and let’s make meaningful change together.

#WorkingParents
#InclusiveWorkplace
#ParentalLeave
#PregnancyLossSupport
#MaternityLeave
#CorporateChange
#HRLeadership
#WorkplaceWellness
#ParentFriendlyWorkplaces
#EquityAtWork
#FutureOfWork
#SupportWorkingMoms
#HumanCenteredWork
#ReinventWork

‼️ THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

I can’t tell you how many pregnant couples I meet who literally JUST got here…

🕵️ And they all have one thing in common.

They’ve got LOTS of questions! 🙋🏾‍♀️

So I took all their questions and turned them into The Expat Guide to Having a Baby in The Netherlands
🇳🇱From choosing a midwife,to 🇳🇱where you will give birth,
🇳🇱dutch postpartum traditions and even childcare options!

And the best news? It’s FREE💰

Check the link in our bio and get yours today ♥️

What’s the best way to celebrate becoming a mother?

Confidence + Community

This Mother’s Day Weekend, spend 2 days learning about birth, breastfeeding, postpartum, baby medical basics, mental health and more. PLUS break bread with your future mom friends.

Can’t wait to see you there 💋

So what is #childbirth pain equivalent too? 💩🦴🏃‍♀️

These real, honest conversations inspired us to create Prepped to Parent—because birth is just the beginning. We’re here for every part of the journey:
✔️ Postpartum recovery
✔️ Breastfeeding
✔️ Mental health from bump to baby
✔️ Baby medical must-knows
…And yes, birth too!

Pregnant? Registration is now open for our spring summer groups:
📅 May Weekend Intensive May 10 & 11 for couples due between June & September
📅 May Saturday Mornings Starting May 4th for couples due between June & September
📅 June Wednesday Evenings Starting June 4th for couples due between July & October
📅 July Weekend Intensive July 5 & 6 for couples due between August & November

#amsterdam #parenthood #pregnant #newborn #pregnancy #firsttrimester #secondtrimester

Nothing is more rewarding then hearing from Prepped to Parent participants that they are still friends with the people they met in their group!

One weekend, 5 topics, two yummy lunches, one beautiful space and a lifetime of community 💜

Of course you do!

Good news, Prepped to Parent is facilitated by not one but FIVE experts who really know what they are talking about
✔️breastfeeding
✔️birth
✔️mental health
✔️postpartum
✔️baby medical care

Join the next group and get all the info you need plus more ♥️

Yes, there is a long list of foods to avoid (🍣 🍱), but can we also take a minute to talk about these things too?

Social isolation + information overload can really do damage during pregnancy!

Hoping to avoid both? Join the next Prepped to Parent group to gain confidence AND community ♥️

She’ll also have put on 10 lbs, be in a constant existential crisis and wondering how she got here.

Sorry, had too.

Shoutout to the mom who gave me just the smile I needed this morning!
Can we all agree to do this please?!?

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From pregnancy to life with a newborn.

"Being a new parent can sometimes feel isolating. The Labour Dept. provides a haven to feel less alone in that experience. Every time I leave I always feel more connected to my fellow mamas."

Upcoming Events

Prepped to Parent

Mom's the word

​