It is based on a systematic review of the evidence of what works in antenatal education carried out by the University of Warwick, and extensive interviews with a broad cross-section of mothers and fathers-to-be and new parents. Some of the learning from the very successful Family Nurse Partnership programme has also been utilised in designing the PPBB programme.

 The PBB antenatal education programme explores six themes with mothers and fathers-to-be:

• The development of my unborn baby
• Changes for me and us
• Our/my health and wellbeing
• Giving birth and meeting our baby
• Caring for my/our baby
• Who is there for us – people and services

The aim is to help mothers and fathers acquire the practical skills they need to cope with labour and care for their baby, and an understanding of how to nurture their own relationship across the transition to parenthood and to co-parent their baby.

The course is facilitated in a way that supports mothers and fathers to share their feelings, recognise the skills they already have to nurture their babies and maintain positive mental health, and develop a support group where they can share the challenges of parenting with their peers.

NCT is offering training in the PBB programme to its own specialists and to health professionals and social and health care workers. The training which is tailored to the specific needs of practitioners working with mothers and fathers in different settings examines:

• The evidence and philosophy underpinning the PBB programme
• The content of the programme
• The skills needed to deliver the programme.

For further details about training, please contact Amy, NCT Transition to Parenthood Programmes Manager on a_maclean@nct.org.uk or 07889 405 720.