Which is the right antenatal class for you?

Plain-and-simple hospital sessions, deep-breathing active birth classes, even a luxury weekend away: there’s all sorts of ways to prepare for the birth. Here's some tips on finding the right antenatal class for you

You wouldn’t take your ‘A’ levels without a bit of revision, so why approach the biggest event of your life without doing any preparation? The good news is antenatal classes aren’t about being lectured on breathing and breastfeeding in a draughty village hall, these days there’s a class to suit everyone. To help you decide which to choose, here’s our at-a-glance guide

If you just want the basics.... book hospital classes

What’s the drill? You do a course of three to six weekly Parentcraft sessions, led by one (or more) of the midwives at your hospital. 

What do you focus on? Everything from pregnancy niggles to the stages of labour and your pain-relief options. There’s usually a session on bathing, holding and feeding a newborn, too.

What the expert says ‘Parentcraft classes are all about informing and preparing mums-to-be,’ says Sue Macdonald from the Royal College of Midwives. ‘If you feel prepared, birth is a much less worrying prospect.’ 

What are the best bits? You’ll probably get to have a nose round the labour ward – which makes it less scary when you revisit it in more contracting circumstances. Steel yourself, though, for the moment when the midwife brandishes the crochet-hook thing they use for breaking your waters!

And the drawbacks? Sessions are often daytime-only, so your partner may not be able to come. The groups are usually big and can be impersonal. And some hospitals no longer have the resources to run any courses at all.

What will everyone else be like? It’s hard to say. You could be comparing bumps with teenagers or with women in their late 30s – or both. You may bond for life or find the only thing you have in common is your postcode.

How much does they cost?

Nothing – they’re free.

If you’re planning a natural birth... book Active Birth classes

What’s the drill? You attend a one-day Active Birth Workshop or a full weekend’s Preparing For Labour and Birth course. 

What do you focus on? Understanding the birth process and ways to make it as natural as possible, using massage, meditation and relaxation. You’ll practise lots of birth positions and learn breathing techniques. The weekend course also covers water birth and has a special session for fathers-to-be.

What the expert says ‘We make a big effort to include partners and emphasise the importance of their role at the birth,’ says the Active Birth Centre’s Carolyn Shrives. ‘And that really seems to bring couples closer together.’ 

What are the best bits? The groups are small and the teaching is inspired - and inspiring. The Active Birth Centre in London also offers lots of other great stuff, including reflexogy, massage and yoga in pregnancy classes.

And the drawbacks? Outside London, courses are rather thin on the ground; visit activebirthcentre.com to see what’s available near you.

What will everyone else be like? Probably of the slightly earnest, lentil-weaving variety. Friendly, well-read and anxious to ‘do birth right’.

How much does it cost? £75 for the one-day workshop (£130 per couple); £175 per person for the weekend course. For details, call 020 7281 6760.

If you fancy something indulgent... book a weekend course 

What’s the drill? You and your partner spend a weekend at a luxury hotel, where, in between the gourmet meals and spa treatments, you (and a handful of other couples) get down to the antenatal essentials.

What do you focus on? Courses are tailored to the group’s needs (everyone is sent a questionnaire to fill out before the course begins) but include recognising the signs and stages of labour, understanding pain-relief options, and learning relaxation techniques. 

What the expert says ‘Because the class sizes are so small,’ says [name TBC] of Getaway to A Good Birth, ‘couples have much more scope for asking questions and discussing their individual concerns.’ 

What are the best bits? The gorgeous venue – much nicer than a manky hospital meeting room. The chance to have time away as a couple before the baby’s born.

And the drawbacks? It’s a lot to take in over one weekend. You may not feel like travelling far/eating rich food if you’re very pregnant.

What will everyone else be like? Not necessarily as posh as you’d think! For every high-powered career couple, there’s a couple who’d only use a Blackberry in a crumble.

How much does it cost? It depends on the hotel and the company running the course. Getaway To A Good Birth courses (goodbirthgetaway.co.uk, 0845 337 0377) start at £670 per couple, for example, while Bump to Baby courses (bumptobaby.org, 0800 6349630) start at £329 per couple.

Other companies to consider include Choices (choices-antenatal.co.uk, 0800 9774285) and, in Wales, Pure Pregnancy (purepregnancy.com, 01242 244426).

If you don’t fancy discussing your piles with strangers.... book a one-to-one visit

What’s the drill? An antenatal tutor comes to your house for a special private session. 

What do you focus on? All the need-to-know labour basics, plus any special issues or worries you or your partner may have. Some tutors also offer a follow-up visit after the birth.

What the expert says ‘It’s the hassle-free option for busy couples,’ says Becky  of Bump to Baby, ‘and you’re much more likely to enjoy the experience if you’re feeling at ease in your own home.’

What are the best bits? The chance to air your most neurotic childbirth-
related thoughts without worrying about other people’s sniggers. If you’re a second-time parents, it’ll save you the expense of getting a babysitter once a week for a more antenatal course.

And the drawbacks? Not for shy and retiring types who like to listen, absorb stuff slowly and then come back with questions – by the time you’ve done that, your tutor will be long gone. Plus, there’s no opportunity to meet other mums and dads to be.

What will everyone else be like? Obviously, not an issue in this case!

How much does it cost? It depends on the tutor and how far she has to travel to get to you. Bump to Baby one-to-one visits (bumptobaby.org, 0800 6349630) start at £149 for a four-hour session.

If you want to meet other mums-to-be... book NCT classes

What’s the drill? You enroll on the couples course run by your local branch of the National Childbirth Trust: the standard format is a set of eight weekly two-hour sessions.

What do you focus on? The physical process of birth, with advice on ways to deal with pain and a chance to practise labour positions and breathing techniques. There is usually also a breastfeeding session and, more and more commonly, some discussion about the practicalities of life with a new baby.

What the expert says ‘Some people joke that we’re the Natural Childbirth Trust but we’re not against pain relief in labour,’ says NCT President Gail Werkmeister. ‘We want to give expectant parents stacks of information and the opportunity to consider things they might not have thought about before.’

What are the best bits? The limited numbers in each class, which means you really get to know each other (NCT friendships can last years!) And the reunion afterwards when you all get to peek and coo at each other’s babies.

And the drawbacks? If you don’t gel with your group, it can be a bit awkward – it’s hard to skulk at the back when there’s only a few of you!

What will everyone else be like? Probably quite middle-class and possibly quite yummy-mummy-to-be but nowhere near as smug as you might have heard

How much does it cost? It depends on your local NCT branch (find yours at nct.org.uk) but anything from £90 to £180 per couple.

If you’re scared silly... book HypnoBirthing classes

What’s the drill? You and your partner attend a course of five two-and-a-half hour sessions, either in a group or privately.

What do you focus on? Deep relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques that help screen out the pain of contractions. Often, you write a ‘script’, describing details of a favourite place, that your birthing partner memorises and uses to ‘guide’ you there.

What the expert says ‘It’s all about freeing your fear,’ says HypnoBirthing practitioner Annie McCue. ‘We give you and your partner all the tools you need to have an easier, more beautiful birth.’

What are the best bits? You really do feel calmer and more confident about having a baby. And it’s a great way to ‘big up’ your partner’s role at the birth.

And the drawbacks? You’ll need to practise the techniques a lot before the birth. Very hard to do properly if your partner’s not the sort to take it seriously.

What will everyone else be like? Nervous!

How much does it cost? Prices start at £200 per couple. To find a HypnoBirthing practitioner near you, visit hypnobirthing.co.uk

‘I’d recommend a weekend course to anyone’

‘The antenatal classes at my hospital were cut short because of staff shortages and I felt there was so much more I needed to know. So I booked my husband Joe and I on a Bump to Baby weekend course at the Hilton Hotel, Leicester.

There were only four other couples on the course and the information we got was very personal and comprehensive. It was brilliant value for money – I felt relaxed, special and understood. Joe thought the course was great, too – he said it really helped him get his head round what I’d be going through.’

Christina Dickrill, mum to Iolanthe, five months

‘HypnoBirthing classes are amazing!’

‘My first labour took 22 hours and was agonising, so I was terrified of giving birth again. But the HypnoBirthing course was amazing. I learnt how to relax and listen to my body and really tap into the visualisations.

And the birth really was practically pain-free. My husband Luca really didn’t want to do the course – he thought it would all be silly stuff about going into trances – but he’s a real convert now. He tells all our friends how brilliant it is!’

Kelly Pietrangeli, mum to Max, six and Marco, four