This blog is written by Lauren Brenton from One Mama Midwife Antenatal Classes.
Walking into your first antenatal class can feel a little bit like the first day of school, a mix of nerves, excitement, and wondering what you’ll walk away with. As both a mum and a midwife, I’ve been on both sides of the room. I know how reassuring it is to be prepared, and how valuable these classes can be in helping you feel confident and able to make decisions in your care.
Why Antenatal Classes are important
Antenatal classes are designed to give you more than just “textbook knowledge.” They’re about building confidence, giving you space to ask questions, and helping both you and your partner understand what to expect as labour and birth unfold.
You’ll usually cover:
• The stages of labour and what your body is doing at each step
• Options for comfort measures (think breathing, movement, and pain relief choices)
• Partner support
• What happens if birth doesn’t go to plan (such as inductions or caesareans)
• Early parenting skills, like feeding and settling your baby
Most parents say the biggest benefit is the confidence boost, leaving class feeling “We’ve got this.”
Preparation is key
As a midwife, I often encourage parents to think practically about preparation. A little organisation can make those early days feel so much smoother. For example, collecting and storing colostrum in the Haakaa Colostrum Collectors in the weeks before birth is something you can do to practically prepare for breastfeeding. It can be especially beneficial for mums with gestational diabetes as baby may need extra colostrum within the first few hours after birth.
What surprised me
When I started teaching antenatal classes through One Mama Midwife, the thing that surprised me the most was how important the connection and validation of experiences is important in the process. Sometimes, just hearing another mum-to-be say what they’ve been feeling and hearing, “me too”, can make the world of difference.
And here’s the thing: no matter how many books you read or podcasts you listen to, nothing replaces learning in a space where you can ask your own questions, practise positions, or practice demonstrations of newborn care.
It’s not all about the birth
In the lead up to birth this may be all we are thinking about, there is so much more that is important to take in during Antenatal Classes. Two important aspects are what to do with the baby once they’re here and how to recover from the birth.
It is important to choose a class that has evidence-based, judgement-free information on how to feed your baby, signs that things are going well, and where to reach out if you need extra support. For many parents, that’s when reality hits – and it helps to already know the small things that make a big difference.
I always recommend having a few practical products ready at home, from soft breast pads to a Haakaa silicone pump you can use hands-free while feeding. They’re not just about convenience they help you feel supported in those long early days.
Antenatal classes aren’t about memorising every detail. They’re about building your toolkit of knowledge, support, and confidence to carry with you into labour, birth, and those precious first days. Go in with an open mind, ask every question that pops up, and take comfort knowing that preparation (and a few well-chosen tools, like colostrum collectors) can really help you feel calm and ready.
Because at the end of the day, antenatal classes aren’t just about the birth – they’re about preparing you for parenthood. And that’s a class worth attending.
Written by Lauren Brenton,
Endorsed Midwife, Founder One Mama Midwife Antenatal Classes