What Actually Happens at an Antenatal Course?
A straightforward guide for expectant parents in Bexley, Erith, Dartford and surrounding areas
If you’ve been looking at antenatal courses and wondering what actually happens in one, you’re definitely not the only one.
I think a lot of people imagine sitting in a room with strangers, talking awkwardly about birth, and not really knowing what to say. And honestly, I completely understand why that might feel a bit daunting.
So I wanted to explain what an antenatal course actually is, what you might cover, and what it looks like at Little Village Antenatal.
Because antenatal education should not feel scary, awkward or overwhelming. It should feel helpful, practical and supportive.
What is an antenatal course?
An antenatal course is there to help you prepare for birth, feeding, life with a newborn and the early postnatal weeks.
It is not about telling you that birth has to happen in one particular way. It is not about giving you a perfect plan and pretending everything will follow it.
It is about helping you understand what might happen, what your options are, what questions you can ask, and how you and your birth partner can feel more prepared.
Birth can be unpredictable, but that does not mean you have to go into it feeling completely in the dark.
A good antenatal course should give you information, confidence and space to ask questions.
Who is an antenatal course for?
Antenatal courses are for anyone expecting a baby.
You might be having your first baby and feel like you don’t know where to start.
You might be having your second or third baby and want a refresher, or perhaps your previous birth felt difficult and you want to feel more informed this time.
You might be coming with a partner, a parent, a friend, or another birth partner. You might be coming on your own.
All of that is okay.
Partners and birth partners are very welcome. In fact, I really encourage them to come if they can. Birth partners can make such a difference during labour and birth, but they also need to feel prepared. They need to understand what might happen, how they can support you, and how they can speak up with you if things feel unclear.
Antenatal education is not just for the person giving birth. It is for the people supporting them too.
What do you learn about?
Every course is slightly different, but a good antenatal course should cover more than just “how labour starts”.
At Little Village Antenatal, we look at labour, birth, feeding, newborn care, recovery and what life might look like once baby is here.
Some of the things we cover include:
Labour and birth
We talk about what labour can feel like, how it can start, what early labour might look like, and when to contact maternity services.
We also look at the different stages of labour, what your body is doing, and how your baby moves through the pelvis.
This is not about making birth sound perfect or predictable. It is about helping you understand what is happening so it feels less frightening if things change.
Pain relief and comfort measures
We talk through different pain relief options honestly and without judgement.
That includes things like breathing, movement, water, massage, TENS, gas and air, pethidine, epidural and other options that may be available depending on where you give birth.
There is no “right” choice. It is about understanding what is available, what might suit you, and what questions you may want to ask.
Birth preferences
I prefer the term birth preferences rather than birth plan, because birth does not always follow a neat plan.
Your birth preferences are there to help you think about what matters to you and communicate that with the people caring for you.
They might include things like your birth environment, pain relief, who you want with you, how you feel about interventions, your preferences for after birth, and anything that would help you feel safer and more supported.
A birth plan is not a contract. It is a communication tool.
Interventions and assisted birth
Sometimes birth needs extra support. That might mean induction, continuous monitoring, assisted birth with forceps or ventouse, or a caesarean birth.
These are the topics that can feel scary when you only hear bits and pieces about them.
My aim is to explain them in a calm, straightforward way so that if they do become part of your story, they do not feel like something completely unknown.
Understanding your options does not mean you are expecting things to go wrong. It means you are prepared for different possibilities.
Infant feeding
Feeding is a huge part of the early days, and it can bring up a lot of emotions and questions.
We cover breastfeeding, bottle feeding and combination feeding. We talk about what normal feeding can look like, what support is available, and how to recognise when you might need extra help.
There is no judgement. The aim is to help you feel informed and supported, however you feed your baby.
Newborn care and the fourth trimester
The early weeks with a newborn can be beautiful, emotional, exhausting and overwhelming all at once.
We talk about what babies need, what is normal in the early days, safe sleep, crying, nappy changes, recovery, emotional wellbeing and how to look after yourself too.
So much focus in pregnancy is on the birth, but life after birth matters just as much.
Paediatric first aid
At Little Village Antenatal, paediatric first aid is included as part of the course.
This covers important skills such as what to do if a baby is choking, becomes unresponsive or stops breathing.
It is something no parent wants to imagine needing, but having that knowledge can make a huge difference to your confidence.
What does a session actually feel like?
At Little Village Antenatal, I want the sessions to feel relaxed, friendly and practical.
You will not just be sitting and listening to me talk at you for hours.
The sessions are interactive and conversational. There will be discussion, activities, practical examples, time for questions and space to talk things through.
You do not need to know anything before you come. You do not need to have the “right” questions. You do not need to be confident walking in.
You can come as you are.
I really believe that no question is silly. If you are wondering something, there is a good chance someone else in the room is wondering it too.
Groups are kept small on purpose. That helps people feel more comfortable, and it means there is time to actually talk, rather than rushing through a huge amount of information.
Why does meeting other parents matter?
One of the lovely parts of antenatal courses is meeting other people who are at a similar stage to you.
Pregnancy and new parenthood can feel lonely, even when you have people around you.
Meeting others who are due around the same time can help you feel less alone. These can become the people you message when you are awake at 3am, wondering if something is normal, or just needing someone else to say, “same here”.
That is a big part of why I called the business Little Village Antenatal.
Because preparing for birth matters, but having support around you afterwards matters too.
How is an independent course different?
There are different types of antenatal education available.
Some NHS trusts offer antenatal classes, and these can be really helpful. What is available can vary depending on your area.
There are also larger organisations offering antenatal courses, including NCT.
An independent course like Little Village Antenatal gives you something a bit more personal. You know who your educator is before you book. The groups are small. The sessions are face-to-face. There is time to ask questions, and the course is designed to feel warm, practical and supportive.
I am a qualified antenatal practitioner and FEDANT registered, which means I meet professional standards for antenatal education and practice.
But just as importantly, I am also a local mum of three. I know how much there is to take in during pregnancy. I know how many questions can come up. And I know how valuable it can be to have someone explain things calmly and clearly.
When should I book an antenatal course?
Most people attend an antenatal course in the third trimester, often somewhere between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
I would suggest looking earlier than that though, especially if you want a specific course date.
Courses can fill up, and you want to make sure you have time to attend before baby arrives.
As a rough guide, if your baby is due in October, a September course may work well. If your baby is due in November, an October course may be a better fit.
If you are not sure which course would work best for your due date, you can always send me a message and we can work it out together.
Little Village Antenatal courses
Little Village Antenatal courses are held face-to-face in Erith, for expectant parents across Bexley, Dartford, Greenwich and surrounding areas.
The course includes:
labour and birth preparation
birth preferences and informed decision-making
pain relief and interventions
infant feeding
newborn care
postnatal recovery and emotional wellbeing
paediatric first aid
refreshments
Saturday lunch
a post-birth reunion
a small, supportive group
space for partners and birth partners
We Cover This in Our Antenatal Courses
Our courses are small, warm, and comprehensive, running from our base in Erith and serving families across Bexley, Dartford, Sidcup, Belvedere, and the wider Southeast London and Kent area. Partners are fully included throughout. We're FEDANT registered (National Register Entry Number: 13969).
View our upcoming course dates and book your place here.
Because the more you know, the calmer you'll be, and the calmer you are, the better labour tends to go.
This blog is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of your midwife or maternity team. If you are ever unsure whether you are in labour, or if you have any concerns at all about your health or your baby's wellbeing, always contact your maternity unit or midwife. In an emergency, call 999.