Choosing the right antenatal course for you—whether you call them prenatal classes, Lamaze, The Bradley Method, or just childbirth education—is crucial for any first-time parent. We all have blind spots when it comes to babies, and when you don’t know what you don’t know, choosing the right course for you can be challenging. We’re here to help you and quite biased when we say that Unii’s Antenatal Course goes above and beyond—bringing together a team of experts to teach classes in their specialist areas—not just relying on a single instructor. The course is led by Unii’s midwives, both senior in the NHS and the co-founders of Better Births London—they really know everything there is to know about pregnancy, labour, and birth, and they’ve seen it all, which was helpful when parents started peppering them with questions for Unii’s course. So, we’re duty-bound to recommend that you begin any antenatal preparation with Unii’s Antenatal Course online. You can take and retake it as many times as you need, returning to specific course content at any time of the day or night. We’re also here for you; you can contact us with specific antenatal questions. We aim to get back to you with expert, evidence-based advice within 48 hours. However, we know lots of you will still want to take some in-person courses where you are, and choosing between them can be tough. Unlike Unii, few course providers have the capacity and expert access to be truly comprehensive, and we believe that there are some fundamental classes that you should look out for in any particular course you’re considering. These classes should answer the following questions in long-form and with practical demonstrations where necessary:

How do I know I’m in labour, and when should I go to the hospital?

Believe it or not, it can be hard to know when you are in labour, and the signs can vary widely, even if you’ve been pregnant before. It’s important to be aware of this early so you can distinguish between pregnancy symptoms and signs of premature labour and also so your partner is confident they can support you. The trip to the hospital won’t be for everyone; we’ve used the word “hospital” in this title as a catch-all for wherever you plan to give birth, though there is never anything wrong with calling the hospital if you are worried at any point in your pregnancy. The general advice is to go to the hospital when you are in established labour, as you may be advised to go home otherwise because if you stay, you’ll sometimes have to be put on the labour ward, which isn’t the most calming of places. However, if you are not yet in established labour and you really want to be at the hospital, this is fine and will typically be allowed. Your maternal instincts are invaluable, even at this stage.

What pain relief options are available to me in labour?

This will depend on your birth location, and should you be planning to give birth in a hospital, you might even be able to meet with the anaesthesiologist beforehand. Regardless, knowing what pain relief options are available, which you are comfortable with, and the order in which you want to have them is extremely important for your birth plan. Having to make choices on the day can stress you out at a time when you may not feel up to processing lots of information. From natural methods (including distraction!) to pharmacological options, Unii’s midwives suggest you plan for each rung on a “ladder of pain,” as they call it, and they advise you how to do so on Unii’s Antenatal Course.

What do I need to know about my birth location options?

You can usually change your mind about where you want to give birth at any stage of pregnancy, including when you are in labour, so even if you’ve booked somewhere prior to taking antenatal classes, you are free to make new plans afterwards. If your pregnancy is considered high-risk for any reason, you will typically have a hospital birth recommended to you by your healthcare team, but nobody can stop you from giving birth at home if you really want to. This antenatal class should give you a comprehensive understanding of your birth location options, the pros and cons of each choice, who will take care of you at each place, and what delivery methods and pain relief options you will have available to you. Put simply, this antenatal class is crucial!

What should I put in my birth plan?

Ah, the birth plan! Believe it or not, and for all we hear about it while we are pregnant, you do not have to have to make one if you are too busy or feel it stresses you out too much. In fact, the pop star and country singer Jessica Simpson went into her third birth (an elective Caesarean for her baby girl, Birdie May, who was painfully transverse) with no plan at all, including for the music that was played while her healthcare team worked (they went with The Fray’s How to Save a Life). It is widely known that the outcome was joyful regardless. However, writing a birth plan before week 36 (at the latest) is recommended, as is bringing copies of it to the birth location. This is just so everyone looking after you is aware of your preferences before your active labour progresses to delivery.

What should I pack in my hospital bag and buy to prepare for a newborn?

Again, some parents like to over prepare for this topic while others are happy winging things, but first-time parents are often calmer knowing as much as possible in advance! Many antenatal courses—like Unii’s antenatal course—are led by midwives, and their experience is invaluable in this area. From the style of babygro that’s best (dark colours and the kind that you pull over the head tend to be both the easiest to keep clean and to change in a hurry), to how to pack everything you need in a way that means you won’t have to pull everything out of the bag to access what you need (think clear plastic bags), midwives are a goldmine of information. And as for that postnatal period, listen to a paediatrician before you shop! There’s so much that new parents really don’t need to buy (a baby bath and a changing bag are just two we learnt about from Unii’s consultant paediatrician, Dr. Su Laurent), and you’ll be glad you don’t have anything taking up extra space when you have a baby in the house.

What is the role of the birth partner in labour? Who can I have with me?

Sometimes it is the birth partner who needs to feel more confident about your big day, and a good antenatal class is just the thing to help them swot up. You can usually have up to two people with you.

What do I need to know about induction of labour?

Induction of labour is relatively common in the UK, happening to three to four in ten women each year. Induction is a controversial topic; many birthing people believe there’s an over-reliance on it in the medical community, while some mums are certain they want to book one if they get to a specific point in pregnancy without going into labour spontaneously. However you feel, knowing the facts can only help you understand if and how you want to happen if it becomes something you have to discuss with your partner and healthcare team. Unii’s midwives believe that positive induction experiences can be created, and it is easier to do so if you have thought about being induced in advance. This is a very important antenatal class.

What do I need to know about a typical birth?

By typical, we mean a vaginal, intervention-free birth, which may or may not be your dream scenario as a first-time mum, though it’s perfectly fine if you're planning a Caesarean (see below) or, if you’re planning a VBAC, feel that a vaginal birth is anything but typical for you. There is still lots to know about what you can expect of even the most natural and uncomplicated birth, and it’s important that you be able to ask any questions in advance of your big day.

What do I need to know about assisted delivery options?

It’s unlikely that you want a forceps or ventouse delivery to happen, and it will usually be the surgeon’s choice which method is used if you don’t specify in your birth plan. First-time mums are often very worried about tearing and episiotomy, which can be hard to predict. These are less likely to happen with a ventouse than a forceps delivery, though every assisted birth is different.

What do I need to know about the Caesarean section?

Caesarean surgery is widely considered safe and spoken about very openly among celebrities and women in general, but it’s still a major abdominal surgery that will make mum’s postpartum recovery very different. It’s important to be as prepared as you can for it to happen in an emergency, and if you're considering planning one, it is very useful to have some sense of what it’s like before, during (you will usually be awake and able to feel sensations, though it’s not painful) and afterwards. A Caesarean birth can also impact your baby—some research suggests that this type of delivery even affects them in early childhood—and while your midwife may not be able to answer every possible question, it’s good to know what you need to know. Unii’s Antenatal Course Caesarean Section episode is taught by award-winning obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr. Shree Datta.

For more advice on taking care of yourself in pregnancy, labour, and birth, check out Unii’s Antenatal Classes, with prenatal video episodes taught by senior NHS midwives, an award-winning obstetrician and gynaecologist, and six other leading healthcare experts. Only at unii.com.

For more information on caring for yourself in every week of pregnancy, check out Unii’s Pregnancy Journey with Dr. Shree Datta.

Top 10 Antenatal Classes to Prepare You for Childbirth