When to start antenatal classes?

When should you start going to antenatal classes? What do you need to learn when preparing for birth?

CubCare Antenatal Classes postnatal reunion

CubCare Antenatal Classes postnatal reunion

Congratulations on your upcoming arrival!

You’re here because you are wondering when to attend antenatal classes?

There are a host of options you could choose from. How do you know what’s best? When do you start going to antenatal classes? What do you need to learn?

It’s a brand new world for you, so let me guide you through it.

Firstly, antenatal education is so important and you need to do your homework.

I have written a blog about this that you can check out here. Trust me that the birth of your baby will have an impact on you for a long, long time and you deserve to be as prepared as you can be.

Secondly, it really pays to do your research rather than just opting for the first antenatal classes on Google. Every class offers something different but you need as much education and support as you possibly can for this life-changing event.

You want to look for the absolute best education you can get. Not all antenatal classes are created equally.

In this blog we’ll discuss when it is best to start antenatal classes, why it is best to do your research, and what you need to make sure is covered.

When is the best time to go to antenatal classes?

I recommend starting to look for antenatal classes from your first scan. This gives you time to get to know the local options and to make an educated decision.

I would recommend attending antenatal classes, or at least starting to research the birth you want, from 20-25 weeks. This gives you a chance to learn, to digest, to further research, to practice, to prepare your body and to get confident.

But, you might not be ready until 30 weeks – it IS ok to wait until then. But the more time you leave yourself to learn, practice and understand – honestly, the better. By that point there is often suggestions of medical interventions, and attitudes/assumptions have been formed that might be difficult to move away from.

CubCare Antenatal Class graduates

CubCare Pregnancy Yoga - to prepare your body

When should I book my place for an antenatal class?

I find the best time to start researching antenatal classes is after your dating scan (11-14 weeks) and aiming to make a decision on which classes you are going to attend by 20 weeks.

I get messages all the time from people worrying that it is too late for them to book on to antenatal classes.

When you don’t consider antenatal education until your third trimester, you do run the risk of quality antenatal providers being fully booked. But you also leave yourself short on time to learn and make the most of the techniques and education taught.

What do you learn in an antenatal class?

There is a variety of topics that could be covered in antenatal classes. The best classes will cover all aspects of birth, techniques to help you cope, advice on helping you to have the best birth possible as well as recovery and caring for baby.

Baby first aid is a popular addition to some antenatal classes – but – there is only so much information that people can digest so I’d argue that whilst baby first aid is really important, it should be a separate learning experience.

Topics taught in antenatal classes might cover:

Mental and physical health in pregnancy

Exercises to keep you fit and active during pregnancy, whilst preparing for birth

What happens during labour and birth – and how to take control in different situations

The way the medical system works – and how to help yourself

Labour coping strategies and information about different types of pain relief – risks, benefits and ways it can work with your birth plan

Techniques to use during labour and birth

Advice and support for birth partners

Education on baby development, and caring for baby

Education on feeding, safe sleep, babywearing, bonding and parenting

Support and guidance on postnatal recovery – how the system works and how to help yourself

What do I need to look for when researching antenatal classes?

The main things you need to know when researching are:

What you’ll learn – what techniques do they teach, what does the course cover?

Who is teaching – do you know who will be your teacher and can you get a feel for them before the classes?

What are local reviews like for those classes?

Where are the classes – location and convenience is important but environment matters too.

How will you feel in a busy pub, how will you feel if your birth partner is drinking during important education? Is there space to move and practice techniques (birth, and coping techniques should be a lot about movement)

What is a CubCare Antenatal Class?

A CubCare class, course or workshop is an entirely independent company. In fact, we are a completely independent business and there is only one employee!

CubCare is the definition of a sole trader. All communication, emails, telephone calls, Whatsapp messages, classes, follow-up, meet ups, reunions will have Jilly behind them.

The wonderful thing about this is that you will be able to get a feel for me before attending class. My face will hopefully be familiar, making for less nerves when you walk in the room!

My qualifications make me a very well rounded teacher, and I can fully support you on your own journey without having to be mindful of head office.

I have close connections with the local NHS trusts at Lister and Barnet hospitals and can give you a truly local approach.

As a Daisy Foundation trained teacher I have gone through a year-long, 500-hour training pathway to enable us to deliver classes and workshops. With assessments and checks of our teaching standards along the way. This is equivalent to the qualification that NCT teachers undergo. Bump and Baby Club teachera are generally all midwives.

I personally have undertaken additional training and enrol in all sorts of CPD (continuous professional development) courses and workshops each year to develop our knowledge even further to bring your more information within courses. I am always keeping to date with current guidelines.

I am a birth and baby geek, with a passion for helping you understand your rights. I have been teaching classes for 10 years too, so incredibly experienced and have supported hundreds of families.

What does CubCare teach?

There are three different options for antenatal education when it comes to a CubCare Antenatal class.

Pregnancy yoga is a weekly mum-to-be or birthing person only movement-based class designed to be done throughout pregnancy.

We combine elements of pregnancy yoga, hypnobirthing and antenatal education to provide a unique class. Classes focus on how to prepare your body for birth and how your body moves, adapts and changes ahead of, and during birth.

Our flagship Antenatal and Hypnobirthing course is designed to be done in conjunction with Pregnancy Yoga but can be done alone as well.

This is a ground-breaking week 12.5 hour antenatal course for mum-to-be or birthing person plus birth partner/s and is the most comprehensive course you will find.

If you are looking for the best way to prepare for labour, birth, the postnatal period and the first few months with baby.

Classes focus on how the process of labour works and how you can help move things along, and cope really well at the same time.

Time is spent getting familiar with techniques, and how you, your baby, your body, and birth partner can work together to make birth positive.

We discuss things like induction, water birth, caesarean deliveries, recovery, the stages of labour, 4th trimester, feeding, caring for baby and much more.

We cover hypnobirthing, active birth, biomechanics and advocating for yourself in a difficult maternity system.

If you have already have a baby, then our Refresher Antenatal Course will offer the special elements of our Antenatal Course, but in a condensed version. There is also a 1:1 coaching call to get to the heart of your individual situation.

This can be done in conjunction with Pregnancy Yoga but can be done alone as well. We’ll work with you and your birth team to prepare fully for birth and/or looking after yourself and baby afterwards.

What about free Antenatal Classes?

I will always recommend trying to attend NHS antenatal classes too, if you can. They can give you an insight into local policies, attitudes and offerings. Some also offer tours of birth rooms. These should be free, although some local Children's Centres offer free or low cost options. I would always advise to attend anything you can.

Are free antenatal classes any good? That would really depend on the ability of the teacher who is teaching the class. But it is difficult to get a fully comprehensive understanding of birth, how you can influence it, how the medical system tried to influence it, and how this can be managed (alongside fully preparing you for birth, recovery, feeding, the early days...). A couple of hours, which is often what free Antenatal Classes offer, isn't enough to cover any topic fully.

Quality antenatal classes do cost money, because you are paying for knowledge, experience and super tailored support (with my antenatal classes anyway). Be mindful that even some paid for courses focus much more on the social side than they do on actually preparing you for birth...

If you are wondering where to access quality free antenatal education then head to my Free Antenatal Classes page and see what there is on offer in there. I’d say that my free offerings are full of good stuff. I save my best support for clients – but everybody needs to be fully prepared for birth.

Some special client words about CubCare Antenatal Classes

“This labour was SO much better than the first. Your CubCare refresher antenatal course helped so much for the labour, it was much calmer than the first and much more controlled. The breathing techniques were so helpful – I breathed her out!”

“I felt completely in control for the entire 26 hour labour – I just felt so calm, the breaths were incredible and the consultant commented on how she couldn’t believe I’d refused an epidural. I felt confident enough to question and on occasion challenge recommendations of the midwives so that the birth ended up being as natural as possible! A very positive experience to look back on. Thank you!!”

"Jilly has a talent for creating a really welcoming, friendly and safe space which is great for mums and babies alike. The CubCare Antenatal classes are informative and fun, yet relaxed, and centrered around the babies, so it’s fine if one is crying, another is asleep and one is having a nappy change!"

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Labour and Birth

Watch our introduction to antenatal education webinar, our labour and birth overview - to start your antenatal education journey. Understanding the process, and what you can do to influence it.

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