NCT Antenatal course

The course is for you and your partner or birth partner. But you are very welcome to come alone, or with a friend or relative.

Course outline

Based on the latest, evidence-based research, expect this course to be practical, hands-on and friendly. You will focus on all aspects of labour and birth, including the right choices for you, plus your emotional wellbeing.

This course will also give you confidence for the crucial early days and weeks of parenthood. Practical baby care includes nappy changing, washing, swaddling, crying and safe sleeping.

This course has a breastfeeding session. Much of your breastfeeding session will focus on understanding what your baby needs and does, so even if you are undecided about how you will feed your baby you will still benefit from this segment of your course. Partners are welcome because their support can make a big difference to how well feeding goes.

Everyone else on your course will have due dates around the same time. So you will have a local, ready-made network when it matters most, and friends for many years to come.

What you'll learn

This course has the advantage of being personalised to the needs of the group. This means that the content can vary slightly, so this is a guide to the wide-range of topics you will cover:

Labour and birth

• Final stages of pregnancy
• Early signs of labour and coping at home
• Calling the midwife/going to the maternity unit
• Birth options and medical procedures
• Coping with labour: breathing and pain relief options
• Birth partner’s role

Becoming a parent

• Communicating with your baby
• Parenting styles
• Your emotional health
• Supporting your relationship
• Friends and families

Caring for your baby

• Crying, calming and soothing
• Safe sleeping
• Feeding options
• Feeding techniques
• Feeding patterns
• When to get outside advice

Frequently asked questions

Key features

Getting social

It can be hard to make friends in a big group. So, with up to 9 couples, our courses are designed to give everyone the time to get to know each other. There’s even a reunion session for you after the baby is born.

Expert course leaders

Our experts lead the way in birth support and parenting information. All of them are highly qualified and are trained by NCT, in a partnership with the University of Worcester.

Evidence based support

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the mountain of advice for parents. We won’t tell you what to do, but we will tell you what your options are, and what the evidence is. Then you can decide what to trust.

Frequently asked questions

NCT Membership

Become an NCT member and start saving now. We have all sorts of amazing brands on board including maternity clothing and baby brand Jojo Maman Bebe, or you could treat yourself to a discount on Foyle’s books, delivered to your door. You’ll receive information about local events and join a community of new parents all experiencing pregnancy, birth and early parenthood together.