An antenatal class, also known as a prenatal class, Lamaze class, Bradley Method class, and childbirth education class, is any lesson that aims to teach expectant parents about late pregnancy, labour, and birth. Many also teach you about breastfeeding and the basics of caring for a newborn. Antenatal education is a fundamental part of antenatal care, especially for first-time parents, and in the UK the law provides for time off from work when you want to take antenatal classes if you are the pregnant person. Antenatal classes are not compulsory, but they are extremely important and can play an important role in optimising your birth experience and getting your parenting journey off to the best possible start.

Which antenatal classes should I choose?

The antenatal classes you choose depend on your vision for your labour and birth and what you feel you need to know about caring for a baby. Some parents-to-be choose to take more than one course. The content of antenatal courses varies widely and can range from a biology-style explanation of labour and birth to modern birthing techniques like hypnobirthing, antenatal yoga, practice gas and air sessions, and tips on supporting a mum’s mental and emotional health before and after birth. Different providers offer different curricula, and even within the free NHS antenatal classes, you will see that course content varies depending on where you are planning to attend. The National Childbirth Trust, which offers paid, well-respected childbirth education across the UK (usually just called NCT classes), might be for you, although it has been criticised in the media in the past for an apparent lack of support for women who choose to give birth by Caesarean section. Many more comprehensive private courses are extremely costly and time-intensive. To be fair to any course provider, catering to a wide variety of delivery methods, birth preferences, and diverse parental concerns is challenging, and Unii is extremely proud of our comprehensive, expert-taught online antenatal course, which is designed to make high-quality, evidence-based lessons accessible to every parent, wherever they are and whenever they want to learn. We also offer support through our online unii.com community, paediatrician-led Unii Babies podcast, medically reviewed articles, Ask Unii video shorts, and aim to respond to any direct questions from our members as soon as possible. In short, no parent-to-be need ever feel alone when they are signed up to unii.com.

Who teaches antenatal classes?

Antenatal classes are typically taught by midwives, hypnobirthing experts, or other childbirth educators. You can usually verify the teachers qualifications through the course provider (the NHS, the National Childbirth Trust, etc.), though there are some independent bodies, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK, with which legitimate teachers will be registered. You can also seek advice from your healthcare team about whose classes to attend.

When should I start antenatal classes?

Unii does not think it is ever too early or too late to begin your antenatal education. We believe that everyone should have access to high-quality video classes around the clock and make these available at unii.com. However, we do realise that parents who have experienced pregnancy loss need to engage in self-care. Some doctors recommend not thinking of the baby as a definite prospect until twelve weeks or so, for self-preservation reasons, and may like to save antenatal learning for after that point as well, though it is important to go to your midwife or doctor if you have symptoms you are worried about or any questions troubling you. Our hypnobirthing expert, Tamara Cianfini, recommends that parents take her course from around 20 weeks, though she also says there is no perfect time for everyone and it’s fine to begin earlier or later if you want to study that way. Everyone learns at a different pace, especially when they’re trying to fit antenatal classes around everything else they need to manage while pregnant. In the UK, you have the right to paid “reasonable time off” for both antenatal healthcare appointments and antenatal classes from the time you learn you are pregnant, which means you can start in any trimester, though it is common practice to wait until the late second or early third trimester. Your partner will not be given the same time off unless their employer allows this. Many course providers suggest you book in eight to ten weeks before your baby is due.

What is the difference between Unii antenatal classes and NCT classes?

The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) offers paid UK antenatal courses taught in person by experts they train. Unii is a global family wellbeing platform that offers antenatal courses taught via video by nine leading UK experts, including senior NHS midwives and an award-winning obstetrician and gynaecologist. Unii.com classes are available around the clock, and you can watch them on your phone on the sofa or wherever you feel most comfortable learning.

How many people can I bring to my antenatal class?

You will have to book a place for every person attending an in-person antenatal class with you, and booking early is recommended, as they tend to fill up quickly. It is a good idea to bring your birth partner. Most hospitals allow you to have up to two birth partners, but it is important to check in advance to ensure your comfort. Unii’s antenatal course can be shared with your birth partner(s) at any time.

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.

What is an antenatal class?

Unii looks at this important part of any parent's antenatal education.