Group Antenatal Classes, in St Albans, led by an experienced Midwife.
Sociable, friendly and relaxed. Meet other local pregnant people, connect, learn and feel empowered.
Understanding labour – what happens physiologically, the stages of labour and how to recognise what’s happening
* Signs of labour & when to call the midwife
* Preparing for labour – practical ways to feel informed, confident and in control
* Birth positions & movement – staying upright, using different positions and working with your body
* Pain relief options – from breathing and movement through to medical pain relief, including epidurals
* Induction of labour – what it involves, the different methods and what to expect
* Interventions & decision-making – understanding common interventions and having informed conversations with your maternity team
* Birth partners – how partners can provide practical and emotional support before, during and after birth
* Caesarean birth & assisted birth – what to expect with caesarean and forceps/ventouse births
* Birth preferences – thinking through what matters to you and creating a flexible birth plan
* Feeding your baby – breastfeeding, formula feeding and making informed feeding choices
* The first days with your baby – newborn behaviour, what babies actually need and adjusting to life with a newborn
* Safe sleep – safer sleep guidance, including baby on their back and keeping the sleep space clear
* Nappies & newborn care – the practicalities of looking after a tiny human
* Baby essentials – what you really need (and what you probably don’t!)
* Postnatal recovery – what to expect from your own physical and emotional recovery
* Building confidence – knowing what’s normal, what to ask and when to seek help
* Making connections – meeting other local parents, sharing experiences and building your village
* A safe space for questions – plenty of opportunity to ask the things you might not feel comfortable asking elsewhere
