Why choose NCT for your antenatal class?

Prepare for birth, feel more confident caring for your baby and connect with other expectant parents in Bracknell.

Our NCT Antenatal course combines practical preparation, evidence-based information and supportive discussions led by an experienced NCT practitioner.

You’ll have time to ask questions, explore your options and feel more confident as you prepare for birth and early parenthood.

Understand your birth choices

Learn what to expect during labour and birth, explore your options and understand different ways your baby may be born.

Get ready for life with your baby

Learn about feeding, newborn care, sleep, recovery after birth and the realities of early parenthood.

Learn alongside other expectant parents

Meet parents who live nearby and whose babies are due around the same time, share experiences and build connections that can continue beyond your course.

Support that continues beyond your course

Your NCT experience doesn’t end when your sessions finish. You’ll have access to additional resources, support and opportunities to connect with other parents.

What you’ll learn

From early signs to the first weeks

Our NCT Antenatal course consists of five evidence-based sessions covering labour, birth, feeding, and life with a newborn - all shaped around the choices you want to make.

Session 1: Getting ready for birth

  What happens in late pregnancy

  Birth environments

  Recognising the signs that labour has started

  Induction of labour

  Pelvic floor health

  Your baby’s arrival into the world

Session 2: Understanding birth

  Stages of labour

  Vaginal, assisted, and caesarean birth

  Pain management options

  Perineal health

  Supporting yourself and/or a birthing parent

Session 3: Meeting your baby and recovery from birth

  The first moments with your baby

  Physical recovery after birth

  Practical baby care

  Early days scenarios and safer sleep

  Neonatal care

Session 4: Feeding your baby

  Recognising feeding cues and patterns

  Breastfeeding, formula and mixed feeding

  How breastmilk supply works, positioning and attachment

  Paced bottle feeding

  Practical feeding skills and common challenges

Session 5: Life with a new baby

  What happens after birth

  Sleep patterns and bonding

  Baby development and responding to crying

  Postnatal wellbeing and support networks

Book now from
£289

Find a class in Bracknell

Included with your course

Premium access to Parent Hub

Get more from your antenatal course with full access to NCT Parent Hub, a digital space with practical resources, trusted information and additional support to help you feel prepared before and after your baby arrives.

Showcase of Parent Hub website on desktop and phone

Your antenatal course includes:

Hypnobirthing

Videos, audio tracks and affirmations to help you prepare for birth with confidence.

Newborn Talks

Daily practitioner-led sessions offering practical guidance and reassurance during the early weeks with your baby.

Yoga for Pregnancy

Five gentle sessions suitable for all experience levels.

Newborn safety and first aid

Essential guidance to help you feel prepared to care for your baby.

Local activities and events

Discover ways to connect with other parents in your area.

Where we run antenatal classes in Bracknell

Can’t see a course near you? Try searching with your postcode or explore other nearby locations

What parents say about our antenatal classes in Bracknell

"

We've just completed the NCT course, which also included a breastfeeding session, and found it really useful. It was a great opportunity to build a small community with other expectant parents, ask questions, and discuss different topics together with the course leader. Overall, we would highly recommend the course to other expectant parents.

"
- Davina, Bracknell
"

Absolutely loved this course, would highly recommend to anyone and encourage partners to also attend.

"
- Adela, Bracknell
"

Good informative sessions. The group dynamics are as essential as the course content. There was a good level of information for pregnant mother and their supportive partner.

"
- Simon, Bracknell

Upcoming antenatal classes in Bracknell

Our antenatal classes are designed to finish with at least two weeks before your due date.

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 long. Early bookers can spread the cost of the class over monthly interest-free instalments.

Have questions?

You can contact us through web chat on this page or take a look at our answers to frequently asked questions.

Which antenatal class in Bracknell is right for me?

We use your expected due date to determine how suitable a class is for you.

Ideally we want the class to end 3-7 weeks before you're due, but that can be expanded to 2-9 weeks. You will see classes marked as ideal, good, ok and not suitable in the results.

Other personal factors you should consider are:

  • Preferred format (in-person, online or mixed)
  • Venue location (for in-person or mixed format classes)
  • Date, times and number of sessions (these vary between classes)
What makes an NCT Antenatal course in Bracknell different from private antenatal classes?

NCT is a charity that has been supporting parents through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood for 70 years.

When you book an NCT Antenatal course, you’re not only preparing for your baby’s arrival. Your course fee also helps fund support for parents across the UK, including trusted information, local support services and campaigning to improve experiences for parents and families.

Our courses are designed to give you time to ask questions, learn from an experienced course leader and connect with other local parents. Many parents find these connections become an important source of support after their baby arrives.

The support doesn’t stop when your course ends. As part of the NCT community, you can access evidence-based information, infant feeding support, baby cafés, local groups and volunteer-led activities throughout your parenting journey.

Choosing an NCT Antenatal course means preparing for parenthood while helping support other parents too.

How many people are usually in an antenatal class?

We allow a max of 18 people (up to 9 pairs), but on average it’s 10 to 14 people. We keep our groups small, so there’s more time to connect, ask questions and get to know each other.

What if I can’t make one of my antenatal class sessions?

We encourage you to book a class where you can make all sessions, as we can’t move you into a session in a different class.

Depending on circumstances, we can offer you an online replacement session that will cover one of the five core themes. See our terms and conditions for details.

Can I change or cancel my antenatal class booking?

We understand things don’t always go to plan. You can cancel a booking within 14 days of confirmation without charge. There’s also options for changing your booking. Find out more about cancellation and refunds.

I have accessibility requirements. Can you help?

Absolutely. We want to make our courses accessible to all. Please let us know in advance if you have specific accessibility requirements - you can get in touch with us via email at booking.support@nct.org.uk, web chat or by calling 0300 330 0700 (option 2).

Can I pay by interest-free instalments?

Interest-free instalments are available when there is enough time to have monthly instalments between the booking date and the start of the class - this will be indicated on the class when you search.

Can I get a discount on the cost of an antenatal class?

We offer discounts to households earning less than £35,000 per year. Find out more about our class discounts and eligibility.

To request a discount, find the course you want to attend, select 'show payment & discount information' and then 'check eligibility & apply'.

Do you offer online antenatal classes?

We regularly hold online classes for people who want to attend an NCT Antenatal class but:

  • are located outside of the UK
  • are located in areas where classes aren’t scheduled, or
  • would prefer the information and learning of practical skills over the social side of the class

Find an online NCT antenatal class

Can I access course information after my antenatal class ends?

Yes! As part of your class, you’ll get access to our NCT Parent Hub, an exclusive digital content platform, where you’ll find evidence-based articles, informative videos and links to useful resources all together in one place to support your learning.