Antenatal class programme 

We start off with a warm welcome from your course leader and introduction to the other expectant parents in your group. These are the people who will be an essential support network in the coming weeks – and when your babies arrive! 

In this first session, you’ll explore: 

• Preparing your home life for the big day
• Choosing the best place to have your baby
• Communicating your birth preferences effectively via a birth plan
• Health and wellbeing in the third trimester

This week we start to explore early labour and the many coping strategies you can start practising with your birth partner now.

In this session, you will explore: 

• Practical tips to help you through the latent phase of labour
• The role of your birth partner
• Natural coping strategies for labour and medication options
• How to be an amazing birth partner
• When to call your midwife or go into hospital

This week is all about what to expect from physiological labour, and the all-important role of your birth partner. 

In this session you will explore: 

• What to expect in each stage of labour: your body, your care and the role of your birth partner
• The first few hours with your baby
• Different types of monitoring you may be offered during labour, and why

We will revisit your coping strategies and add in a few more.

This is one of our most important sessions. Whilst we recognise that people rarely want to consider medical interventions, the reality is that they have their place in bringing babies into the world. 

We teach this session to give you the tools to make informed choices you feel happy with when interventions are recommended. But also, to ensure you have the coping strategies to feel in control and supported throughout your birth experience. 

In this session we will explore: 

• Induction of labour
• Instrumental and caesarean birth
• Tips on having a positive birth experience even when things don’t go to plan (for both parents and birth partners)
• Why babies may spend time on a neonatal unit
• The benefits of birth debrief

The babies are here and they’re hungry! As with all our classes, we will explore all the ways you can feed them (breast, chest and bottle) in the early weeks and months and how to look after your emotional health and wellbeing too. Your partner, birth partner or support network all play an integral support role which we’ll explore too.  

In this session we will explore: 

• What to expect in the early weeks feeding a newborn
• Managing common feeding problems effectively
• Expressing, formula and combination feeding safely
• The role of your support network in a positive feeding experience

Bringing a baby into this world is an exciting milestone but not without its challenges. This transition to parenthood brings a huge amount of change, and change (even positive change) can be challenging. We discuss some of the common issues new parents’ fact to help make this transition a little easier.

In this session we explore: 

• Preparing for the individual life changes each parent faces
• Relationship changes with partners, friends and family
• Managing your emotional health and wellbeing

Practical coping and communication strategies for new parents

Babies don’t come with a manual, but this session will certainly help get you started in understanding their needs and how to meet them. Be kind to yourself, this is a learning curve for you all as you get to know each other and navigate your New Life as a family.

In this session we will explore: 

• Why babies cry and how to support them (and cope yourself)
• Responding to your baby’s needs and why this is important
• How to keep your baby clean, including nappies and bathtime
• Signs of a healthy baby, safe sleep and SIDS prevention

Whilst we hope you never need to use these skills, this baby first aid course will give you the knowledge and confidence to give a baby or young child first aid in a number of different scenarios.

We welcome parents, grandparents and anyone involved in childcare. Babes in arms are welcome in the classroom too!

In this session we will explore:

• Accident prevention
• Choking and gagging – common causes and how to respond
• What to do when your baby is unresponsive
• CPR for a baby and a child
• Falls, including head injuries, broken bones and bleeding
• Burns
• Poisoning – including common household products
• Fever and febrile seizures
• Meningitis awareness

Class reunions are a special moment for the New Life team, not only meeting the babies and putting faces to all those bumps. But more importantly, catching up with the parents, hearing all the birth stories and about the new life they’re figuring out day by day.

We recognise what a privilege it is to play a small part in supporting our expectant parents on this journey to parenthood and love these meet ups!

• Catch up in a local pub, park or coffee shop
• Meet the babies!
• Hear your birth stories (if you want to share them with us)
• Any questions answered…