Congratulations! Your baby is on the way and there is no better time than now for you to begin preparing yourself for the journey ahead. Take the free online antenatal classes curated in this blog post with your partner to gain the necessary skills, knowledge, and experience that will make the arrival of your newborn as smooth and as safe as possible.
Babies are cute and all but having them is no easy feat. It is one of the biggest challenges in every mother’s life, especially if it is your first. So, if you are scared and confused right now, that’s okay. You will feel the fear and confusion gradually leave your body as you read through the content of this article. Just have the mindset that others did it you too can and you will do a great job.
Preparation. Nothing in life beats being prepared. Whether it is for an exam, starting a new job, or having a baby you should be prepared. Better preparation gets you ready for what is coming next and strengthens your mind and body to be able to handle that situation as well as possible.
As an expectant mother, the importance of your and your partner’s preparation cannot be stressed enough. This is why antennal classes exist both online and offline (in-person) for you to enroll in anyone that suits you best and learn the necessary things before the arrival of your baby.
You will be delighted to find out that the free online antenatal classes curated here are developed by professional midwives, maternal health researchers, doulas, neonatal nurses, and other prenatal and postpartum practitioners.
So, relax your mind and take a deep breath as I walk you through everything you need to know about antenatal, and then continue into the list of free online antenatal classes that brought you here in the first place. Also know that when expecting a baby, you can never be fully prepared for everything but by taking antenatal classes, whether online or in-person, you will learn how to manage situations that even you cannot handle, you will know the next course of action to take and save the situation.
The antenatal classes in this blog post are held online, so you can enroll in them from the convenience of your home or wherever you are. And if you wish, you can combine them with offline classes to get real-life experience and combine the knowledge you get from both sources which will leave you better prepared.
What are Antenatal Classes?
Antenatal means before birth. Antenatal care is also known as pregnancy care or maternity care and is the care you get from health professionals during your pregnancy.
Antennal classes, also referred to as birth and parenting classes are online, offline, or hybrid-held classes that prepare pregnant mothers and their partners for labor, birth, breastfeeding, and caring for a newborn. You will also learn how to make a birth plan and stay healthy during pregnancy. It is also a great opportunity for you to meet the professionals that will look after you during labor and after childbirth.
These classes are usually fun, interactive, and informative but most of all, they will boost your confidence and drive away most of your fears and confusion.
Antenatal classes are not for pregnant mothers alone, it is meant for them and their partner too as all hands need to be on deck before and after the arrival of the baby.
How to Find Antenatal Classes Near You
To find antenatal classes near you, you can ask your midwife or neonatal nurse. A simple search on any of the search engines like Google, Yahoo!, or Bing can also point you in the direction of antenatal classes near you along with a map that will guide you to the exact location of the class site.
There’s also the option of enrolling in an online antenatal class, there are both free and paid options for you to go for. The online antenatal class does not require your physical presence. The online classes may either be live or recorded classes that you can download on your device and watch at a later time.
You may decide to enroll in more than two different antenatal classes where one is online and the other is offline or you may enroll in two offline classes or two online classes, it’s your choice.
Here is how you can make the best choice of antenatal class to enroll. Think about what you hope to gain from antenatal classes then use that to find the sort of class that suits you best. You may also want to book the class early because antenatal classes can get booked up early so you should begin making inquiries early in pregnancy to secure a place in the class that you choose.
When do I Start Antenatal Classes?
You should start antenatal classes when you’re 30 to 32 weeks pregnant but you can also attend introductory classes on baby care early in pregnancy. However, you are likely to start your classes earlier, say around 24 weeks pregnant, if you are expecting twins.
What Happens in Antenatal Classes?
If you are attending an in-person antenatal class, it is held during the day or in the evening but online antenatal classes will be held at an agreed time between the parties involved. Some sessions are just for you while some would be for you – the pregnant mom – and your partner or friends.
According to the NHS, the following are topics discussed in antenatal classes:
- Caring for your baby, including feeding
- What happens during labor and birth
- Relaxation techniques
- Your health after the birth
- Emotions and feelings during pregnancy, birth, and after
- How to help yourself during labor and birth
- Health in pregnancy including a healthy diet
- Information about different kinds of birth and interventions such as forceps or vacuum delivery
- Coping with labor and information about different types of pain relief
- Exercises to keep you fit and active during pregnancy
Free Online Antenatal Classes
Here are antenatal classes you can attend online for free:
- How to Make A Birth Plan
- Newlife Free Online Antenatal Classes
- Birthzang Free Online Antenatal Class
- BabyCenter Free Antenatal Classes
- Natural Labor & Birth
- Where to Give Birth: the options
- Antenatal Breastfeeding Class
- Pregnancy Yoga
- Core & Floor Free Online Antenatal Classes
1. How to Make A Birth Plan
How to Make a birth plan is a free online antenatal class from NHS. If you wish to make a birth plan record of what you would like to happen during your labor and after birth then you should enroll into the class to know how.
Another benefit of taking this class is that your midwife will get to know you better and understand your feelings and priorities. The class offers you the option to download a free birth plan template to fill in and save.
2. Newlife Free Online Antenatal Classes
Families expecting a bundle of join in 1 year or less may take their antenatal journey with Newlife. The classes consist of 7 lessons and there are some videos within each of the lessons that are about 5 mins or less. There are 42 videos in total that you can download onto your device and take from the comfort of your home as you prepare for the arrival of your baby.
You must create an account on the Newlife platform to have access to the classes and other perks such as birth plan templates and birth bag packing lists.
3. Birthzang Free Online Antenatal Class
At Birthzang, you will find a free 45 minutes antenatal class to discover the single most important thing you can do to help your birth to be easier, safer, more efficient, and less painful. The class covers the ABCs of labor, and the choices you have for labor and birth, and you will see a practical demonstration of how your baby and your body moves during labor. Click here to start the class.
4. BabyCenter Free Antenatal Classes
The antenatal classes on BabyCenter are not just free but interactive, fun, and designed for pregnant mothers and their partners. The class covers 8 vital topics, videos, activities to try for yourself, and quizzes. Through BabyCenter’s classes, you and your partner will learn about caring for your new baby, chat with other parents-to-be, and get expert answers regarding labor and birth.
To get access to the free class, you will have to sign up for an account if you don’t already have one. You will also be able to use the track my baby feature available on the site to track your delivery date.
5. Natural Labor & Birth
This free online antenatal course is provided by Let’s Talk Birth & Baby. The class discusses topics relating to preparation for late pregnancy, signs of labor, and straightforward birth. Topics to be discussed include hypnobirthing, birthplace choices, hormones, coping at home, pain relief, different stages of labor, and many more.
The class lasts for about 2 hours and is designed for you and your partner. Follow the link below to book now and participate in the class.
6. Where to Give Birth: the options
This is a free online antenatal class from the NHS and from the topic you already know what it is about. You will learn more about the options to give birth such as location, home birth, things to consider, birth centers, hospital birth, and birth questions to ask. The class consists of a video and reading material.
7. Antenatal Breastfeeding Class
This is a live breastfeeding antenatal class provided by Blossom Antenatal. You will learn breastfeeding techniques and certain positions for breastfeeding your baby. It is recommended for partners to partake in this class as well. By attending this breastfeeding class before you have your baby, you can be sure to know what your challenges may be and where and how you can get support in the early days.
8. Pregnancy Yoga
Pregnant people need to exercise too but not the way you’re probably thinking it in your head, there are some special exercises they need to do to help them relax, unwind, and prepare for labor. In this class, Pregnancy Yoga, you will learn the appropriate exercises to do, practice breathing techniques that are useful during labor and practice yoga postures to help combat any aches and tension.
9. Core & Floor Free Online Antenatal Classes
Last but not least are the free online antenatal classes provided by Core & Floor. The classes consist of 8 parts specially designed to guide pregnant moms and their partners through pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. Topics discussed include early labor, active labor, hormones in labor, and pain management techniques.
Conclusion
The antenatal classes are online and free, thus, you can enroll in any of them or all from the comfort of your home without spending a dime but still gain quality knowledge and techniques that will see you through your pregnancy period.
FAQs
How many weeks pregnant do you start antenatal classes?
Antenatal classes start when you are around 30 to 32 weeks pregnant
What are the three stages of antenatal?
The three stages of antenatal are the germinal stage, embryonic stage, and fetal stage.
How do I start antenatal care?
Start antenatal care by booking an appointment to see your midwife or doctor.
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