Antenatal and Postnatal Courses

NCT offers a broad range of courses in the Clapham branch area. Prices of individual courses vary depending upon format and course length. There are concessionary rates available on all NCT courses. Use the course finder to register your interest or contact Carla on bookings4b@nct.org.uk.

COURSE FINDER

Antenatal

Antenatal courses focus on providing you with the information and skills you need to make your own decisions about your labour and birth. All courses are flexible to allow each group to focus on their own needs and spend more time on the topics that are most relevant to them. Some of the topics we cover include: practical skills for labour, including breathing, massage and birth positions; your pain relief choices; realistic information on what happens during birth; and early days with your baby. Most courses include a session with a qualified breastfeeding counsellor and these friendly sessions provide practical information to help you to start breastfeeding and to consider what life will be like with a new baby.

We offer both standard and intensive formats. We keep our courses small and informal, so you will generally be in a group of eight women and their partners or supporters. Courses are usually in the evening or at weekends and will include a postnatal reunion. Most parents will be first-timers, but all parents are welcome, whether it's your first or fifth baby.

COURSE FINDER

Refresher

Refresher courses are for those who have already had at least one baby. They offer a chance to reflect and build on past birth experiences and prepare yourself for looking after your new baby. Our courses are tailored to the needs of those there based on their previous birth experience and their desires for this birth. Most courses run as a set of sessions with the same group attending each session. Refresher courses are a good way of concentrating on this baby and this pregnancy - often overlooked when there are toddlers and other children to look after. They are also a good way of meeting others and making a friendship group for the new addition. Parents often find that the people they meet on these courses become an important support in the months and sometimes years after their babies are born.

These courses vary in length, although are generally shorter than standard antenatal course, generally covering 6-14 teaching hours. Most include sessions for women only. NCT courses are small and informal, so we generally have around eight women with their partners or supporters in a session.

COURSE FINDER

Early Days

Early Days postnatal groups give you the opportunity to explore different approaches to important parenting issues with a qualified group leader and other new parents in your area. These sessions are designed to help you feel confident about the decisions and choices that you make for your baby. You will be encouraged to share ideas and experiences and help others to do the same so that you can support each other as you learn more about your skills as a parent. Issues covered include: expectations and the reality of parenthood, ideas for settling a crying baby, getting the most out of the day and returning to work (or not).

A course is generally 6–8 weeks in length, with meetings being held once a week. Each meeting lasts about 2 hours. Each course is tailored to the needs of those parents attending.

COURSE FINDER

Weaning

These workshops run for two hours and cover topics such as signs of readiness for additional foods, ways to introduce complementary foods including 'baby led' weaning, suitable foods for the babies' stage of development, the continuing role of breastfeeding and guidelines on formula feeding and weaning. The workshops are best suited for mums and/or dads with babies aged 4-6 months. The workshops are run by a local NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor.