Why book with us
Helping you feel connected and supported
At our sociable classes you’ll meet a circle of local parents going through similar highs and lows.
Giving you all the confidence you need
Our expert-led courses will leave you feeling confident, knowledgeable and relaxed.
For the whole journey
Preparing you for every stage of pregnancy, birth and early childhood with expert information beyond your due date, including feeding and adjusting to life as a new parent.
Brilliant course leaders
Your own knowledgeable, friendly course leader throughout - trained to university-level and skilled in tailoring information and prompting discussion.
All the info you’ll need
Our comprehensive course will give you the knowledge and practical skills you need to start your parenting journey. Now including exclusive NCT x Mini First Aid newborn safety & baby health content.
The antenatal course for all parents
Welcoming and supportive to everyone, whatever your circumstances and however you're having your family regardless of age, ability, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race or beliefs.
Let's find an antenatal course near you
Enter your postcode to find antenatal classes near you. We check the time between the course ending and your due date so you find the most suitable course. Looking for our online course? Find an online antenatal course.
We're the original and leading antenatal class
#1
trusted by more parents than any other antenatal class
75,000
people attend our course each year
3+ million
people taken our antenatal classes to date
UK's largest charity
specialising in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood
Attendees tell us...
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.
People who attend say
95%
are still in touch with their NCT friends after they had their baby
89%
felt part of a supportive group of parents
80%
were given new tools and strategies to cope with labour, birth, and early parenting
Includes
17 hours of classes
Your own personal course leader, consistent throughout
Access to a community of local parents
Access to NCT online Parent Hub
Exclusive NCT x Mini First Aid newborn safety & baby health videos
Postnatal support session with an NCT course leader
2 people included in price, could be your partner, parent or friend
Online and in-person options
Special hand-picked offers on leading brands for families and babies
Pay in interest-free instalments
Discounts available for low income households
NCT is the UK's largest charity for pregnancy, birth, infant feeding and early parenthood. By choosing NCT you are helping us positively influence the experience of millions more people as they become parents.
Here's what you'll learn
- Planning for a positive birth experience
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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
- Getting to know and caring for your baby
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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
- Feeding your baby
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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
- Wellbeing before and after birth
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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
- Your family, relationships and finding support
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Becoming a parent
Changing relationships
Growing a support network
Accessing professional help and support
Negotiating advice and support from peers, family and friends
- Newborn safety and baby health
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Baby's breathing
Safer sleep
Prams, slings and car seats
Monitoring baby health
Reducing the chance of illness
Meningitis and sepsis
Meet some course leaders
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 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.
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!
FAQs
- Which of the courses listed should I attend?
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We use your expected due date to determine how suitable a course is for you.
Ideally we want the course to end 3-7 weeks before you're due, but that can be expanded to 2-9 weeks. You will see courses 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 courses)
- Date, times and number of sessions (these vary between courses)
- How many people will be on the course?
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We allow a max of 18 people (up to 9 pairs), but on average it’s 12-14. We keep our groups small, so there’s more time to connect, ask questions and get to know each other.
- There’s no courses available when I search?
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Please check that the postcode has been entered correctly. If it is correct, either:
- we haven't scheduled a course in your area, or
- all the courses are fully booked.
When you search and see no results, there's an option to join our waiting list. If we have enough interest in an area we may put on another course.
Alternatively, our booking support team will contact you to discuss alternative options - e.g. an online course.
- What is covered in each session?
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We can't tell you exactly what will be taught in each session because:
- the number and length of sessions can differ between scheduled courses, and
- your course leader will tailor the content to the needs of the group.
We can tell you that all our courses will cover the five overall themes, see What you'll learn.
- I can't make one of your course sessions?
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We encourage you to book a course where you can make all sessions, as we can't move you into a session on a different course.
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 a booking?
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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.
- I have accessibility requirements, can you help?
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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, web chat or by calling 0300 330 0700 (option 2).
- Can I pay by interest-free instalments?
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Interest-free instalments are available when there is enough time to have monthly instalments between the booking date and the start of the course - this will be indicated on the course when you search.
- Can I get a discount on the course price?
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We offer discounts to households earning less than £35,000 per year. Find out more about our course 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 an online-only course?
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We regularly hold online courses for people who want to attend an NCT Antenatal course but:
- are located outside of the UK
- are located in areas where courses aren't scheduled, or
- would prefer the information and learning of practical skills over the social side of the course
- Can I access information after the course ends?
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Yes! As part of your course, you'll get access to our NCT Parent Hub, an exclusive digital content platform, where you'll find evidenced-based articles, informative videos and links to useful resources all together in one place to support your learning.