Antenatal courses
During labour, you burn as many calories per hour as running a marathon—preparation is key for a positive experience.
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Our local private antenatal classes not only offer you an exceptional wealth of professional information delivered in a personal way, they also introduce you to a valuable local network of likeminded people who are on the same journey.
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Our groups support each other, laugh and cry together, and navigate the ups and downs of new parenthood as a team.
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To get the best experience it’s vital to be fully prepared for labour and for the arrival of your amazing baby.
Why do an antenatal course?
Our unbiased, tailor-made antenatal classes aim to fully inform and empower you at every stage, helping you make the best choices for you and your baby.
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The course includes three weeks of exclusive coffee meetups for each group, fostering friendships that can be invaluable during the first weeks of parenthood.
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These classes provide a supportive environment for couples to share their feelings and concerns about parenthood, ensuring you feel prepared for birth and confident in the postnatal period.
Ultimately, the objective of the courses is simple
To give you as much information and confidence as you need so you can make the choices right for you, giving you the best chance of having the kind of birth experience you want!
Antenatal Course Schedule 🌼
​All evenings and the full day are hosted by Debra & Hanna, who will guide you through the course together with warmth, experience, and plenty of reassurance.
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Evening 1 — Pregnancy & Labour
7:30pm – 9:45pm Hosted by Debra & Hanna
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A warm welcome and introduction to the course, followed by an in-depth look at pregnancy and preparing your body and mind for birth.
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🌼 Introductions & getting to know each other
🌼 How your body changes during pregnancy
🌼 The physical process of birth — how your baby moves through the pelvis and how the cervix opens
🌼 Relaxation techniques for labour
🌼 Partners: how to be the ultimate support in the labour room
🌼 Perineal massage — what it is and how to prepare
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Full Day — Labour Practice & Baby Care - Shared Lunch
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Saturday, 9:30am – 4:30pm (with a shared social lunch) Hosted by Debra & Hanna
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A hands-on, practical day where you'll work together as a couple, build your confidence, and finish with everything you need to care for your new arrival.
Labour & Birth
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🌼 Hypnobirthing & deep relaxation techniques
🌼 Full labour run-through — working as a team
🌼 Self-help techniques: movement, breathing, massage & positions for labour
🌼 Making your birth experience as positive and comfortable as possible
🌼 Planned & unplanned caesarean sections
🌼 When labour doesn't go to plan — induction & assisted birth
🌼 Tears & episiotomy — what to expect and how to prepare
🌼 Meeting your baby for the first time 🌼
Baby Care Essentials
🌼 Understanding the fourth trimester
🌼 Holding, carrying & settling your baby
🌼 Top & tailing, bathing & dressing
🌼 Nappy changing — disposable & reusable options
🌼 Cord care & safe sleep
🌼 Swaddling & babywearing
Bottle Feeding
🌼 Choosing the right milk & bottle
🌼 Sterilising & milk preparation
🌼 Paced, responsive feeding
🌼 Dummies — the facts
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Evening 2 — Breastfeeding with Claire
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7:30pm – 9:45pm Hosted by specialist Claire
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A dedicated breastfeeding evening led by specialist Claire, covering everything you need to feel informed and prepared.
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🌼 Why breastfeed? The benefits for you and your baby
🌼 How breastfeeding works
🌼 How your baby's brain develops — and the role feeding plays
🌼 Preparation & colostrum harvesting
🌼 Position & latch — getting it right from the start
🌼 How much & how often
🌼 Tips for the early days
🌼 Overcoming common challenges
🌼 Expressing — when and how
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Evening 3 — Pain Relief, Labour Bags & Real Life
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7:30pm – 9:45pm Hosted by Debra & Hanna
The final evening brings everything together — practical preparation, pain relief options, and a special guest appearance from a real couple with their baby.
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🌼 Pain relief options — a full guide to pharmaceutical and natural methods
🌼 Your partner's role on the day
What to Pack
🌼 Your labour bag
🌼 Your post-birth bag
🌼 The partner's bag — yes, they need one too!
🌼 Meet a real couple and their baby — questions, stories & reassurance 🌼
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After the Course — Coffee Meet-Ups 🌼
Hosted by Debra & Hanna
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The course may end, but the support doesn't. After your final session, you'll be warmly invited to relaxed coffee meet-ups hosted by either Debra or Hanna — exclusively for mums, and designed to help you build the kind of lasting friendships that make early motherhood so much richer.
Dates will be arranged together during the course, and many of our groups go on to organise their own weekly meet-ups independently — some for years afterwards. It's a truly lovely way to stay connected, supported, and surrounded by people who just get it once your baby arrives. 🌼
On this course we provide an unique opportunity to build lasting friendships with like minded couples who share the same journey.
Taster session:
Free early pregnancy class
Taster Session: Free Early Pregnancy Class
Pregnancy can be both exciting and overwhelming, with a flood of information and emotions. Our free early pregnancy class at babymatters provides essential advice and support to help put your mind at ease. This session offers a glimpse of our antenatal classes and is open to all women between 6 and 30 weeks pregnant.
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The key aims of the class include:
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Looking after yourself
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Discussing birthplace options
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Common concerns during pregnancy
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Changes during pregnancy
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Meeting other parents in a similar situation
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Plus much more
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The dates for our next pregnancy class is......
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Saturday 21st FEB '26 10am-11.15am​
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Saturday 20th JUN'26 from 10am-11.15am
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Register for a free taster session:
If you would like to register for an early pregnancy class please send me an e-mail to
debra@babymatters-uk.co.uk or please fill in the form below
At BabyMatters we are proud to be...
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A registrant of FEDANT (Federation of Antenatal Educators), National Registration Number: 11884
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A member of IAIM (International Association of Infant Massage)
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Insured by Holistic Services
