What’s included?
This digital antenatal course is a digital version of the postnatal sessions from our group classes (in Bath and Bristol). Whether you live in another part of the UK, or simply struggle to find the time midweek to attend antenatal classes, this is the ideal course for you!
What’s included?
- 7.5 hours of teaching in 84 bite-sized videos.
- 3 checklists to help your preparations for labour, birth and parenting
- 4 tools to support your transition to parenthood.
We recommend you set aside approximately 8-9 hours to complete this course, as there are interactive elements and discussion points for you and your birth partner to work through together.
Course programme
This course was created with the help of a broad range of midwives, doctors, health visitors and private specialists working in nutrition, sleep, breastfeeding and mental health. Drawing on their vast experience we created a robust, evidence-based course that takes a practical look at best-practice information given by the Department of Health, NICE guidelines and World Health Organisation. In addition to this, we spoke to hundreds of parents about what they wish they had been told before their babies arrived (but never were) and incorporated many of their answers into this programme.
Feeding your newborn
- Top tips for breastfeeding
- Managing common feeding problems effectively
- Expressing and formula feeding safely
- The role of your support network in a positive feeding experience
Life changes with a baby
- Preparing for the individual life changes
- Relationship changes with your partner, family or friends
- Managing your mental health and wellbeing
- Practical coping and communication strategies
Caring for your newborn
- Nappy care and keeping your baby clean
- Responsive parenting – recognising your baby’s cues
- Why do babies cry – and how to cope
- Signs of a health baby, safe sleep and SIDS prevention
Course leaders
Iona Reading – Founder and managing director
Iona founded New Life Classes in 2016 and has supported more than 3,000 first time parents with midwife-led antenatal education UK-wide. Prior to setting up New Life, she studied BSc Psychology (with a particular interest in mental health and child development) and worked in conference and event management. Her passion is providing people the knowledge, tools and professional support to start their new life as a parent with confidence.
Carley Oates – Midwife and antenatal course leader
Carley is a specialist mental health midwife in Bristol, looking after women throughout their pregnancy, labour and birth and early postnatal period. Prior to this role she was a midwife on the continuity team, looking after pregnant people and their families during pregnancy, labour (at home, on the birth centre or obstetric unit) and the early postnatal period. As well as teaching for New Life, Carley has been integral to the development of our digital courses. Prior to becoming a midwife, Carley taught pregnancy and postnatal yoga for 15 years.
Cat Walker – Midwife and antenatal course leader
Cat is a midwife on delivery suite in a busy Bristol hospital. As well as teaching for New Life she attended one of our antenatal classes with her partner when they were expecting their first baby. She joins us with her new baby, Fin to demonstrate breastfeed positions, nappy changing and talk about her experiences breastfeeding a newborn.
“I love teaching the NLC as the classes have so much information and are really interactive. They really do prepare you for all of labour, birth and the postnatal period. Since taking the classes myself and having my own baby I can say hand on heart they helped my partner to be a better birth partner and to understand and prepare for birth and having a newborn.”
