Birth preparation/antenatal classes and Padlets
Our classes
There are different types of classes available, depending on whether this is your first or subsequent baby. Please make sure you choose the classes that are right for you from the links below. Our antenatal classes are for women who are 30 or more weeks into their pregnancy (unless your midwife has advised you to book earlier)—please book well in advance as spaces are limited.
Book your free classes in Eventbrite:
- Book Class 1: Introduction to labour/birth
- Book Class 2: Self help skills for labour
- Book Class 3: Pain relief for labour
- Book Class 4: Complications—including instrumental birth, Caesarean and postnatal recovery
- Book Class 5: Early days and babycare—this class does not include breastfeeding, please see below for details of our online and face-to-face breastfeeding workshops and face-to-face early days workshops
- Book antenatal breastfeeding and early days workshop
- Book online pregnancy yoga classes (only open for those booked at West Middlesex Hospital, and not for partners)
- Oral health class
Your partner is welcome to attend, but please only book one ticket (in the mother’s name used in her maternity notes) per device that you will be using to access the call. Please cancel any classes you are unable to attend to free up your space for another woman. These are some words couples have used to describe our classes:
Specialist classes
We run refresher sessions (if this is not your first baby) and a birth partners workshop which should be booked to attend after 30 weeks of pregnancy.
We have a specialist classes for women expecting multiple births (twins or more) which should be booked to attend after 24 or more weeks of pregnancy.
If you are unable to find availability, please contact the Parentcraft Coordinator on chelwest.birth.preparation@nhs.net.
The creative wellbeing project
This is a 5-week, grant-funded, Zoom course using creative activity, positive psychology and art therapy techniques to enhance maternal wellbeing. The projects are designed to lessen worries, lift mood, create feelings of relaxation and connect participants with other new and expecting mums. To book, please email andrea.taylor16@nhs.net.
Tuning In
This is a 6 week course that uses music to stimulate the body's natural feel-good hormones, improve mood, and promote early mother-infant bonding. Research has shown that from 24 weeks a baby will turn its head in response to a sound, begin to recognise its mother's voice, word patterns and rhymes. Women do not have to attend all 6 sessions, although they are welcome.
The classes include:
- Gentle movement
- Thinking ahead to music/sound/breathe in labour
- Listening /discussing different styles of music
- Lullaby writing
- Book in to Tuning In
Private antenatal classes
The Kensington Wing are pleased to offer antenatal classes, held and run by our own midwives. You can choose from the full course of five classes or handpick individual classes to suit your needs. Classes are held via Microsoft Teams on Monday evenings from 5:45–7:45pm.
- Book a private antenatal class (or book by phone on 020 3315 8616)
Padlets (other resources in electronic form)
We have created a comprehensive set of online resources (known as Padlets) with antenatal and postnatal information: