New Life Classes deliver evidence-based antenatal classes taught by midwives in Bristol and Bath. We offer a genuine alternative to traditional antenatal classes provided by the NHS and NCT, for first-time parents looking for something a little more comprehensive. We believe knowledge is power. The more information you have, the more informed choices you can make which ultimately gives you more control. With this in mind, we cover lots of topics other classes don’t discuss in much detail, or sometimes at all.
Our midwives equip you to start, what is probably, the most exciting journey of your life with the tools, information and professional support you need to feel well-informed, empowered and confident in your body’s ability to cope – whatever your birth experience.
We understand everyone’s experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting is different. So, we simply give you the practical information to make informed choices, and support you in those choices – without judgement.
Since our first class in Bedminster in 2016, we’ve expanded and now teach classes in Bishopston, Bradley Stoke, Downend, Westbury-on-Trym and Bath too. We’ve supported more than 800 Mum’s and Dads and we’d love to support you too! If you have any questions about what we offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Best wishes,
Iona Smith
Managing Director
Testimonials
It has been very helpful and reassuring to receive lots of information about all the options and risks associated with pregnancy and birth!
It has been very helpful and reassuring to receive lots of information about all the options and risks associated with pregnancy and birth!
We would highly recommend this course, it was very informative and a fantastic experience.
We would highly recommend this course, it was very informative and a fantastic experience.
We found this course very informative! We're so glad we signed up, we are much more confident going into parenthood now! Would recommend to anyone having a baby.
We found this course very informative! We're so glad we signed up, we are much more confident going into parenthood now! Would recommend to anyone having a baby.
Hannah is wonderful - made us feel really informed and relaxed. A great course with very easy going advice, not pressing too much in any particular direction but emphasising common sense.
Hannah is wonderful - made us feel really informed and relaxed. A great course with very easy going advice, not pressing too much in any particular direction but emphasising common …
Excellent course for providing a good overview of key areas to help build confidence about caring for a newborn.
Excellent course for providing a good overview of key areas to help build confidence about caring for a newborn.
Really enjoyable and informative class. All advice was evidence based and up to date.
Really enjoyable and informative class. All advice was evidence based and up to date.
A fantastic course - really informative, basing each session on the latest evidence without dictating 'the' way to do things. Emma was a brilliant course leader - funny and informative. We now feel ready (we think!)
A fantastic course - really informative, basing each session on the latest evidence without dictating 'the' way to do things. Emma was a brilliant course leader - funny and informative. …
Thoroughly enjoyed the course. Thank you for all your help in the world of parenting!
Thoroughly enjoyed the course. Thank you for all your help in the world of parenting!
We feel really well prepared with the information we need. These classes set you up for realistic situations and cover so many different approaches. A really helpful and enjoyable course.
We feel really well prepared with the information we need. These classes set you up for realistic situations and cover so many different approaches. A really helpful and enjoyable course.
We would recommend this course to anyone about to have their first baby. Not scary and up-to-date information.
We would recommend this course to anyone about to have their first baby. Not scary and up-to-date information.
An excellent course. Emma was a brilliant tutor. We feel very well informed and much more confident to face the challenge ahead!
An excellent course. Emma was a brilliant tutor. We feel very well informed and much more confident to face the challenge ahead!
New Life Classes were exactly what we needed - run by a real life midwife who really knows her stuff, we felt empowered, informed and even (slightly) looking forward to putting it all into practice! :)Thanks to all the team who made it such an enjoyable experience!!
New Life Classes were exactly what we needed - run by a real life midwife who really knows her stuff, we felt empowered, informed and even (slightly) looking forward to …
We'd recommend this course - really helpful and honest. Now to put it into practice!
We'd recommend this course - really helpful and honest. Now to put it into practice!
We found New Life Classes very thorough, with a good open ethos. Plus, a good emphasis on bonding with the baby and helpful extra tips on Facebook - thank you!
We found New Life Classes very thorough, with a good open ethos. Plus, a good emphasis on bonding with the baby and helpful extra tips on Facebook - thank you!
Informed and educated advice given by a working midwife made me feel so secure. Also very easy-going advice, not pressing too much in any particular direction but emphasising common sense. Hannah is wonderful – made us feel really informed and relaxed. A great course.
Informed and educated advice given by a working midwife made me feel so secure. Also very easy-going advice, not pressing too much in any particular direction but emphasising common sense. Hannah …
Great course, run by midwives. Would recommend if you would like more knowledge about raising your child.
Great course, run by midwives. Would recommend if you would like more knowledge about raising your child.
Excellent course. Really informative and covered lots of areas which were new to us. Thoroughly recommend.
Excellent course. Really informative and covered lots of areas which were new to us. Thoroughly recommend.
This class has been great and have learned lots of things that we will use with our baby. Also meeting new friends in the same position as us has been great. Thank you.
This class has been great and have learned lots of things that we will use with our baby. Also meeting new friends in the same position as us has been …
Thank you Kate for running the sessions. We feel a lot more ready for the arrival of the baby.
Thank you Kate for running the sessions. We feel a lot more ready for the arrival of the baby.
Kate, thank you and New Life for a great course. We really enjoyed your instruction and enthusiasm. We feel much more confident to proceed now! All the best!
Kate, thank you and New Life for a great course. We really enjoyed your instruction and enthusiasm. We feel much more confident to proceed now! All the best!
Thank you to New Life Classes - a great way to meet other expectant parents and learn in a non-pressured environment. Lots of up-to-date information!
Thank you to New Life Classes - a great way to meet other expectant parents and learn in a non-pressured environment. Lots of up-to-date information!
Better than NCT. Fun, relaxed, informative, not cringy, not cheesy, not preachy.
Better than NCT. Fun, relaxed, informative, not cringy, not cheesy, not preachy.
We feel so much more relaxed about impending parenthood now. Thank you :)
We feel so much more relaxed about impending parenthood now. Thank you :)
New Life Classes were really useful, fun, thought-provoking and valuable to us. We would recommend them to anyone becoming a parent. We feel confident we're ready for the next chapter and feel we've made friends along the way.
New Life Classes were really useful, fun, thought-provoking and valuable to us. We would recommend them to anyone becoming a parent. We feel confident we're ready for the next chapter …
New Life Classes have really helped us prepare for our new arrival - lots of practical information so that we feel as ready as we can be!
New Life Classes have really helped us prepare for our new arrival - lots of practical information so that we feel as ready as we can be!
We found the classes extremely informative and fun. The evidence-based knowledge was great - Thank you!
We found the classes extremely informative and fun. The evidence-based knowledge was great - Thank you!
Really helped prepare us in a low pressure and judgement-free environment.
Really helped prepare us in a low pressure and judgement-free environment.
"This course is fantastic for first-time parents - as a couple with very little experience of babies between us, there was a lot we needed to know and we feel so much more prepared now. Each topic was well-defined and delivered clearly and informatively with plenty of opportunity for questions. …
"This course is fantastic for first-time parents - as a couple with very little experience of babies between us, there was a lot we needed to know and we feel …
"Cannot say enough good things about new life classes. The teachers were incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and really care about people. The course was well structured and contained so much useful information. Their no nonsense, empirical based course meant that we know exactly what does and doesn’t work. Would recommend as …
"Cannot say enough good things about new life classes. The teachers were incredibly knowledgeable, experienced, and really care about people. The course was well structured and contained so much useful …
"I met a wonderful group of mums through new life classes and also loved how practical and useful the information we received was. The session on ‘what happens if birth doesn’t go to plan’ was particularly useful." Gem Sly (Facebook review)
"I met a wonderful group of mums through new life classes and also loved how practical and useful the information we received was. The session on ‘what happens if birth …
"I can't recommend NL enough! We've met amazing like-minded people and learnt so much! Really helped us (absolutely clueless first time parents) learn a huge amount and make our own informed choices!" Fernanda Ash, Bath (Facebook review)
"I can't recommend NL enough! We've met amazing like-minded people and learnt so much! Really helped us (absolutely clueless first time parents) learn a huge amount and make our own …
"New Life Classes in Bristol were recommended to us by a number of different people including friends, neighbours and midwives and boy did they not fail us. These classes are 5 star across the board...we literally cannot fault them!!! Right from the start we were put at ease and the …
"New Life Classes in Bristol were recommended to us by a number of different people including friends, neighbours and midwives and boy did they not fail us. These classes are …
"We had heard a lot of negatives about NHS antenatal classes and debated whether or not to attend. Our midwife recommended Newlife Classes so we thought we’d give them a try as we liked the idea that they were taught by a midwife who had hands-on, primary experience. We were …
"We had heard a lot of negatives about NHS antenatal classes and debated whether or not to attend. Our midwife recommended Newlife Classes so we thought we’d give them a …
I had so much fun during the classes and feel sad that they are now over but so can't wait for the next bit!!
I had so much fun during the classes and feel sad that they are now over but so can't wait for the next bit!!
"We both found the course really useful for finding out lots more information about having a baby and also to meet other first-time parents in the local area. Kate, our course leader, did a fantastic job of explaining everything. Would definitely highly recommend doing the course."
"We both found the course really useful for finding out lots more information about having a baby and also to meet other first-time parents in the local area. Kate, our …
"My husband Ceri and I attended the New Life classes at Westbury run by Carley. It has been a life changing experience, and every session taught us valuable skills both mentally and practically.Before coming to these classes my husband and I felt quite overwhelmed by the idea of birth and …
"My husband Ceri and I attended the New Life classes at Westbury run by Carley. It has been a life changing experience, and every session taught us valuable skills both …
" Thank you Iona and Cristina for bringing energy and knowledge to the sessions, we feel much better prepared! "
" Thank you Iona and Cristina for bringing energy and knowledge to the sessions, we feel much better prepared! "
It was relaxed, not preachy, fun and easy to understand. Lucy was great!
It was relaxed, not preachy, fun and easy to understand. Lucy was great!
Friendly, relaxed atmosphere with practical advice. We would happily recommend this course to others.
Friendly, relaxed atmosphere with practical advice. We would happily recommend this course to others.
From no knowledge to baby expert in five weeks!
From no knowledge to baby expert in five weeks!
"A very educational and enjoyable course with friendly and knowledgeable course leaders."
"A very educational and enjoyable course with friendly and knowledgeable course leaders."
"I was really scared at the thought of becoming a parent but the course has put my mind at ease. Ema was incredibly thorough and patient and we couldn't have asked for a better coach!"
"I was really scared at the thought of becoming a parent but the course has put my mind at ease. Ema was incredibly thorough and patient and we couldn't have …
"The course was well taught and a friendly environment. It put me much more at ease. Thank you so much Kate!"
"The course was well taught and a friendly environment. It put me much more at ease. Thank you so much Kate!"
"Thank you Kate for a brilliant, informative and friendly course."
"Thank you Kate for a brilliant, informative and friendly course."
"We would definitely recommend this course to others. Thanks Carley."
"We would definitely recommend this course to others. Thanks Carley."
"We couldn't recommend these sessions enough. It's great to meet new people. Carley has been especially brilliant. She is extremely passionate about what she does. We will miss seeing her on Tuesdays."
"We couldn't recommend these sessions enough. It's great to meet new people. Carley has been especially brilliant. She is extremely passionate about what she does. We will miss seeing her …
"Really helpful and informative. Lucy was brilliant, friendly and informative and made it easy to ask even basic questions. Thank you so much! "
"Really helpful and informative. Lucy was brilliant, friendly and informative and made it easy to ask even basic questions. Thank you so much! "
"I felt this course was really realistic in terms of preparation for delivery and possible birth scenarios and I found the practical information feeding and caring for a baby incredibly useful. Thank you xxxx"
"I felt this course was really realistic in terms of preparation for delivery and possible birth scenarios and I found the practical information feeding and caring for a baby incredibly …