What’s included?

We offer the most comprehensive antenatal class programme and supporting materials in the UK. Within the price of your course you will receive:

  • A place for you and your birth partner (partner, friend or family member)
  • 7 x 2-hour classes taught by a local midwife
  • Private WhatsApp group to get to know the others in your group
  • Digital course access – value £80 (never miss a session, even if you’re on holiday or unwell)
  • Course handbook, including tools and templates
  • 100+ articles and links to support organisations via our digital platform
  • Reunion with your babies 

Optional extra: Baby first aid workshop.

Antenatal course programme

When writing our antenatal course programme, we invited a broad range of midwives, doctors and private specialists to help us. Together we created a robust, evidence-based set of classes that take a practical look at best-practice information given by the Department of Health, NICE guidelines and the World Health Organisation. In addition, these maternity specialists were able to give practical information gathered from their many years experience supporting women and their partners through pregnancy, birth and the early days of parenthood.

We also spoke to hundreds of parents about what they wish they had been told before their babies arrived (but never were) – and incorporated lots of their answers into our programme.

Session one: Third trimester considerations

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

Session two: Early labour and coping strategies

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

Session three: What to expect during established labour

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.

Session four: Preparing for the unexpected

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

Session five: Feeding your newborn

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

Session six: Life changes: transition to parenthood

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

Session seven: Caring for your newborn

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

Optional extra: Baby 1st aid

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 reunion – with the babies!

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…

Additional support

We believe you and your birth partner should have access to midwife-led care, to support you through the latter stages of your pregnancy, birth and the early days of parenting. That is why our course leaders are registered midwives who work locally. Click here to meet our midwives. 

Your course leader will set up and manage a private WhatsApp group for you and the other parents in your antenatal class. They will be available to answer any questions you might have – and refer you to other specialists, if need be – for the duration of your time with us. You will be able to contact them via the WhatsApp group, or privately by email – whichever suits your needs from session one up to the reunion!

Digital learning platform

We pack a lot into our classes – but there is still so much to learn about birth and becoming a parent. Finding good quality information online can be a bit of a minefield, so we have created a digital learning platform to help!

The platform mirrors your group classes, each session has content relevant to what was taught that week.  Content includes:

  • Teaching videos – full course broken down into bite-size videos, in case you can’t make a session or simply want to revisit any of the content 
  • Course handbook and lesson downloads
  • Checklists and templates for pregnancy, labour and parenting topics
  • Articles and bonus videos on topics covered in class
  • Links to useful organisations for additional support, where appropriate