Get ready for parenthood with an antenatal course from NCT, the UK's leading charity for pregnancy, birth, infant feeding and early parenthood.
Join our antenatal course today to prepare for the parenting journey that's right for you. You'll join a community of parents supporting each other now and into the future.
Includes
17 hours of classes
2 people included in price, could be your partner, family member or friend
Online and in-person options
Access to online parenting resources
Pay in interest-free instalments
Discounts available for low income households
Book now from
£269
Community
Join a community over 3 million parents who have taken an NCT Antenatal Course.
Connection
95% of parents are still in touch with their NCT friends after having their baby.
Confidence
Over 70 years delivering trusted, evidenced-based support and information to parents.
Credibility
Voted #1 Best Antenatal Course in 2025 in the Loved By Parents awards.
Charity
We’re the UK’s largest charity for parents and your course fees will support vital programs, like NCT’s Infant Feeding Support Line.
Find an NCT Antenatal Course in your local area. Enter your postcode and expected due date - we’ll find the most suitable course for you.
Looking for our online course? Find an online antenatal course.
Learn alongside others in a friendly, sociable group that’s just the right size for asking questions, sharing experiences, and building real connections.
Together, you’ll explore everything from labour and birth to caring for your baby, along with practical tools and strategies to support you through the early days of parenthood.
Our sessions are structured yet flexible, allowing space for open discussion, and cover five core themes designed to support you every step of the way.
Explore your choices and feel confident planning the birth that’s right for you.
Learn how to care for, understand, and bond with your newborn in those early days.
Find out about how to feed your baby, what to expect, and where to get support.
Understand how to look after your physical and emotional wellbeing as a new parent.
Get practical guidance on navigating change and building a strong support network.
Plus, you get exclusive access to online videos and resources for continued learning and support...
Newborn safety and baby health
Yoga for Pregnancy
Hypnobirthing
Evidenced-based information and resources
Access to a community of local parents
We believe high quality antenatal education, working hand in hand with excellent midwifery care, delivers the best outcomes for pregnant women, birthing people, parents, and babies.
NCT is the UK's largest charity specialising in pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. Unlike a commercial provider, we use your course fees to improve the experience of other people as they become parents too.
By booking with NCT you’ll help us to:
Find a local course Book an online course
We want to ensure our courses meet your needs – please let us know if you have any learning requirements or need additional accessibility support, such as an interpreter.
Includes
17 hours of classes for two people
Join a community of local parents
Access NCT's online Parent Hub
Exclusive video and audio guiles, including:
NCT x Mini First Aid newborn safety & baby health
Yoga for pregnancy and relaxation
Hypnobirthing
Support for all learning and accessibility needs
Ongoing postnatal support
NCT’s Infant Feeding Support Line
Signposting to local support groups
Early access to Nearly New Sales for baby clothes and equipment (if you become a member)
Discounts for NCT courses, such as New Baby and Introduction to Solids.
Our comprehensive, expert-led courses will leave you feeling confident, connected, and supported throughout your parenting journey.
We explore different pregnancy and birth experiences, as well as tools for life with a new baby, helping parents to develop realistic and flexible plans, whatever the circumstances. With all your questions answered, you can make informed decisions about your birth, your baby, your options.
We can't tell you exactly what will be taught in each session because the number of sessions can differ between courses.
Your course leader will cover the five themes in your antenatal course, but they will spend time on the topics that you (and your group) want to know more about.
Deciding where to have your baby, local options and care
Changing hormones and going into labour
Stages of labour & birth
Induction of labour and when help is needed
Caesarean birth and recovery
Helping yourself & supporting through labour and birth
Pain management options
Meeting your baby & what happens immediately after birth
How to get breastfeeding off to a good start
Understanding your baby's reflexes and cues
Understanding how breastfeeding works
Night feeds and sleeping
Expressing
How to tell that all is going well
Different positions for feeding and how to try them
Different challenges
Where and how to get support
Becoming a parent
Changing relationships
Growing a support network
Accessing professional help and support
Negotiating advice and support from peers, family and friends
Your baby's experience moving from the womb to the world
Understanding your baby's cues and how they sleep, wake and rest
Learning what your baby's nappy tells you and how to change them
Washing and bathing your baby
Soothing and calming your baby
Exploring where your baby sleeps and how to keep them safe
Your relationship with your baby and how they develop and learn
Knowing what makes you feel good and keeps you well
Physical and mental health after birth
Relaxation techniques
Coping with lack of sleep
Changing relationships & adjusting to life as a family
Sources of support for you and your family
Making plans
A non-judgemental atmosphere and lots of opportunities for questions.
A real experience to grow with other new parents and form supportive bonds!
I feel more confident about birth and the first few months of being a new mum.
Your Antenatal Course will be led by one of NCT’s skilled perinatal educators – they are independent from the NHS, trained at university level on pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, and highly skilled in group facilitation for adult learners.
I have been supporting people at this important time in their lives for over 12 years. My overarching aim is that pregnant women and their partners have a positive birth experience, whatever that means for them, and they feel informed and confident to care for and love their babies. I also love running pregnancy and new-mum yoga.
My background is in science and I’m a working mum of three. I am passionate about practical, evidence-based information. I am also a mindfulness practitioner and mental health first aider.
I’m so pleased to have supported over 1000 parents through antenatal courses since starting with NCT. I have also trained as a doula, supporting families during birth and in the postnatal period and I now train other doulas. I love my work and think I have the best job in the world!
| Benefit | NCT | Other antenatal providers |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum group size | 18 people | 28 people |
| Approach | Guided learning through two-way discussions | PowerPoint, Q&A, ‘Speed dating’ style |
| Pregnancy, birth and early parenthood educators Independent from the NHS |
Yes for NCT | No for other providers |
| Over 15 hours of live teaching time focused on birth, feeding, practical baby care and changing relationships |
Yes for NCT | No for other providers |
| Postnatal support including expert support for feeding your baby | Yes for NCT | Limited |
| Regional community support and activities | Yes for NCT | No for other providers |
| Infant Feeding Support Line 365 days/year |
Yes for NCT | No for other providers |
| Pregnancy and Parent Information Hub that is Parent Information Forum (PIF) certified |
Yes for NCT | No for other providers |
| Newborn Safety and Baby Health | Yes for NCT | Yes for other providers |
| Hynobirthing, affirmations and relaxations | Yes for NCT | Yes for other providers |
| Yoga for Pregnancy | Yes for NCT | No for other providers |
| Ability to join a membership community to add your voice on the issues that matter for new and expectant parents |
Yes for NCT | No for other providers |
Antenatal courses prepare parents for pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. You'll learn about physical and emotional changes during pregnancy, what to expect during labour and birth, newborn care, feeding, and the early days with a new baby.
They're also a great opportunity to meet other expectant parents so you can learn together, support each other and share experiences.
Our antenatal courses are designed to finish with at least two weeks before your due date. We'll use your expected due date to show you suitable courses. You can book at anytime - most people book when they're around 16 weeks pregnant - but our courses can fill fast, so don't leave it too late. Early bookers can spread the cost of the course over monthly interest-free instalments.