Antenatal Courses
Sociable, Relaxed Classes held at our Frenchay Venue in Bristol

Antenatal courses are held at our Frenchay venue in North Bristol on Thursday evenings 7:00pm to 9:15pm
All courses are limited to just 7 mums, and one birth partner each




Courses are delivered over a 5 week period. Enrolling to begin a course between 28 and 33 weeks of your pregnancy means that the course will conclude before week 37 of your pregnancy giving you time to prepare for the expected delivery date of your baby.
Each course is made up of 5 classes (one class each week for 5 consecutive weeks). Each class covers different topics, is 2 hours in duration, and is interactive within a social environment providing an ideal opportunity to meet other parents to be.
All classes are led by Sharon and Jane, registered midwives with local NHS Trust experience, and select classes also benefit from guest speakers who provide expert knowledge on specialist subjects.

Week 1 - Understanding Labour
Led by Registered Midwives Jane & Sharon
This first antenatal class is designed to provide expectant parents with essential knowledge, support, and practical strategies to prepare for labour and childbirth. The session will be interactive, allowing parents to share their thoughts, ask questions, and gain confidence for the journey ahead.
This first antenatal class is designed to provide expectant parents with essential knowledge, support, and practical strategies to prepare for labour and childbirth, allowing parents to gain confidence for the journey ahead.
Class Outline
- Introductions, Concerns, Ideas & Expectations
- Preparation for Labour
- Coping Strategies for Early Stages of Labour
- Onset of Labour
- Mechanisms of Labour
- Stages of Labour
The session concludes with a Q&A, allowing participants to clarify doubts and feel more prepared for birth. Whether this is your first pregnancy or not, this first class will offer valuable insights and reassurance.
All class sessions are interactive, allowing parents to share their thoughts, ask questions, and clarify doubts to feel more prepared for birth.
Week 2 - Making Informed Choices
Led by Jane & Sharon and includes our Obstetrician Sophie
Our second antenatal class is designed to empower parents with greater knowledge and confidence to ensure a positive birth experience. Led by experienced midwives, with insights from our obstetrician Sophie, the session will cover a range of topics to help you make informed choices about your labour and childbirth.
Our second antenatal class is focused on equipping parents with valuable knowledge and the confidence needed to make informed decisions about labour and birth, supporting a positive and empowering birth experience.
Class Outline
- Coping Mechanisms & Pain Relief Options for Labour & Birth
- Introduction to Hypnobirthing
- Waterbirth
- Induction of Labour
- Making an Informed Decision About Your Birth
- Assisted Birth & Caesarean Sections
The session concludes with a Q&A, where you can discuss questions with the midwives and obstetrician. The class is designed to ensure you feel confident, prepared, and in control of your birth choices.
Led by experienced midwives, with insights from our obstetrician Sophie, the session is designed to help you feel confident, prepared, and in control of your birth choices.

Week 3 - Peanut Balls & Infant Feeding
Led by Jane & Sharon and includes our Specialist Midwives Wendy (Relaxation & Peanut Balls) and Cathy (Infant Feeding Specialist)
The third antenatal class is designed to provide practical techniques to support a positive labour and birth experience, along with essential knowledge on infant feeding. Led by experienced midwives, the session includes Wendy, who will cover relaxation techniques and the use of peanut balls in labour, and Cathy, our infant feeding specialist, who will provide guidance on feeding your baby.
The third antenatal class is designed to provide practical techniques to support a positive labour and birth experience, along with essential knowledge on infant feeding to help you feel confident during early parenthood.
Class Outline
- The Role of Relaxation in Labour & Birth
- How Peanut Balls can Support Optimal Positioning and Progress in Labour
- Practical Demonstrations on How to Use a Peanut Ball Effectively
- Understanding Breast Feeding and Bottle Feeding
- Getting Off to a Good Start
- Recognising Feeding Cues
- Skin-to-Skin Contact and its Benefits for Bonding and Feeding
- Common Feeding Challenges and Where to Find Support
The session concludes with a Q&A, allowing participants to clarify any individual concerns or expectations with the specialist midwives. The class is designed to provide practical, hands-on knowledge to help you feel confident during labour and early parenthood.
Led by experienced midwives, the session includes Wendy, who will cover relaxation techniques and the use of peanut balls in labour, and Cathy, our infant feeding specialist, who will provide guidance on feeding your baby.

Week 4 - Navigating Early Parenthood
Led by Jane & Sharon
Our fourth antenatal class is designed to help parents prepare for life after birth by providing practical guidance. Led by experienced midwives, the session will cover essential topics related to both physical and emotional wellbeing in the postnatal period, newborn care, and the role of the birth partner.
Our fourth antenatal class is designed to help parents prepare for life after birth by providing practical guidance to instill parents with the confidence and knowledge to navigate early parenthood.
Class Outline
- The Important Role of Your Birth Partner
- Caring for Your Body After Birth
- Caring for Your Emotional Wellbeing
- Care of Your Newborn
- Nappy Changing & Basic Baby Care
- Baby Health
The session concludes with a Q&A, allowing participants to address any concerns and will provide expectant parents with the confidence and knowledge to navigate early parenthood.
Led by experienced midwives, the session will cover essential topics related to both physical and emotional wellbeing in the postnatal period, newborn care, and the role of the birth partner.
Week 5 - Care of Your Pelvic Floor
Led by Jane & Sharon and includes our Pelvic Health Physiotherapist Sarah
This final antenatal class is designed to provide essential information on pelvic health, answer any remaining questions from the course, and encourage a postnatal social reunion. Led by experienced midwives, the session will include our pelvic health physiotherapist, Sarah who will offer expert guidance on caring for your pelvic floor during pregnancy and beyond.
Class Outline
- Caring for Your Pelvic Floor with Sarah
- Antenatal Course Q&A
- Encourage a Postnatal Social Reunion
This final session provides a valuable opportunity to reinforce learning, gain expert pelvic health advice, and build lasting social connections with other parents.
Please note that the order of content across the weeks may vary to accommodate the availability of our guest speakers.

Postnatal Reunion
The Boston Tea Party Cafe, Cheswick Village, Stoke Gifford, BS16 1GU
A few months after each antenatal course we host a postnatal reunion and encourage a get together with babies to share experiences and build lasting support networks.
We have arranged a super venue in collaboration with the Boston Tea Party cafe in Cheswick Village which has a reserved space (all on one level) for everyone including prams and car seats, …and is even dog friendly !
Come join us, relax and chat over cakes, coffee, tea, and more. The menu is delicious !!















Course Dates for 2025
Each course of 5 classes costs £185. All courses are limited to just 7 mums, and one birth partner each.
Classes are held on Thursday evenings from 7:00pm to 9:15pm for 5 consecutive weeks
All classes are held at our Frenchay venue in North Bristol























What People Say
We really liked the fact there were guest speakers who could provide expert information on such a range of subjects. In particular it was great to hear lived experience from Amy and Brad and we really liked the format with Jane interviewing.
from our anonymous feedback formJane is a wonderful midwife, she brings empathy and deep knowledge to her work. At the birth of our first child, her light touch and understanding helped me greatly in my first steps as a father.
Darrell Jacobs FatherAll of the information was given in a clear and fun way, no two sessions ever felt the same and all of the information was super helpful to ease the minds of first time parents going in to the unknown! There was plenty of interactive elements as well which helped break up some of the more in depth material, which was great fun!
from our anonymous feedback formThe overall friendly and relaxed atmosphere helped us settle in. Jane and Sharon were so approachable and down to earth. It felt like we got to know them quite quickly and they knew us too, which also meant we felt comfortable asking questions. We really appreciated having such experienced midwives delivering the course, and with local knowledge.
from our anonymous feedback formJane is a warm and compassionate person. Her knowledge around pregnancy and childbirth, and experience in facilitation to healthcare professionals makes her the perfect person for guiding your pregnancy journey and childbirth plans. She is a huge advocate for safe practices and empowering women and their birthing choices.
Beth Attore MidwifeSharon's dedication to excellence is evident in the high level of admiration and respect shown to her from her midwifery team, obstetric, and support staff. They appreciate her leadership, support, caring nature, and extensive midwifery knowledge.
Sandra Reading MidwifeWe liked the anatomy models and practical demonstrations …e.g. turtle neck jumper. They will definitely help me remember what was being talked about!
from our anonymous feedback formJane and Sharon are by far an asset to the course. Very approachable. To sum up Jane in one word it would have to be passionate and to do the same for Sharon, extremely professional which gets a lot of respect from us as too often it feels that many people do a job for the sake of it with no care about it
from our anonymous feedback formWe enjoyed the honest and open minded approach to all the topics around birth. Your expertise with the addition of the speakers made it a well rounded course and we valued very much the information not only about the birth, but also about the post natal period.
from our anonymous feedback formYou cannot fault the energy, knowledge, passion, dedication and professionalism between Jane and Sharon. There was no comparison between this course and the NHS course whatsoever, especially when the NHS course simply stated 'we don't need to know about the physiology of birth,' and skipped over it. This part of the course was another strength and is indeed VERY important in our eyes as the more you understand your body, the less anxious you are.
from our anonymous feedback formJane is an experienced midwife who promotes the highest standard of midwifery care. She is a wonderful communicator and able to share her knowledge in fun, enthusiastic, imaginative and engaging ways.
Kay Harris MidwifeSharon is inspiring professionally and practically, treating people with kindness and respect. She is a positive role model that always strives to give the highest standard of care and make a difference to every woman's childbirth experience.
Julie Wormwell MidwifeThank you both so much! We really enjoyed the classes all the information was so valuable. The sessions were made so enjoyable. It was really great to have the guest speakers come in too as they covered topics that we perhaps hadn't given much thought to. Overall we now feel so much more relaxed going forward knowing we have so much more knowledge under our belts.
from our anonymous feedback formThanks for all the reassurance you both gave me on the course. The birth in the end was beyond perfect and not even worth the anxiety I had. I ended up really enjoying the experience.
Collette, new mumWe put off booking antenatal class for so long as most felt quite commercial and prescriptive. We’re so glad we held out for Midwives for Mothers as we couldn’t have felt more looked after. Everything was pitched at the right level, so not to feel too overwhelming or too much to take in at once, as well as keeping it fun and lighthearted. We both feel as well-equipped as we can be, as well as meeting some lovely other couples.
from our anonymous feedback formBrilliant, just BRILLIANT!. Both Sharon and Jane were great. Highly recommended.
from our anonymous feedback formThank you very much for providing such an informative, yet fun and supportive class! We both feel more ready now and informed going in to the birth of our little boy. You made us feel like no question was silly and supportive throughout. We will 100% be recommending you to friends. You have put in a lot of hard work and we appreciate it. Thank you!
from our anonymous feedback formThank you so much Jane and Sharon and all the powerhouse women who came in to teach us. We loved the chance to learn from such passionate people, and connect with other parents to be!!
from our class whatsapp groupThank you so much Jane and Sharon!! It’s honestly been such interesting and informative sessions. I feel much more prepared going into the last 2 months of pregnancy! Good luck to everyone in the next couple of months and can’t wait to meet up with the babies
from our class whatsapp groupA huge thank you again Jane and Sharon! We have both learnt so much and will be forever grateful for everything you’ve taught us from labour to caring for our newborn. It was also lovely to meet everyone and I can’t wait to see all the little ones.
from our class whatsapp groupThere was a good variety of topics covered, and you have lots of opportunities to speak up and ask easy questions. It was really nice to hear other couples thoughts and concerns as it makes you feel comforted to know we all felt the same and are experiencing this for the first time.
from our anonymous feedback formJane and Sharon made it fun and light hearted, but at the same time really informative and they constantly reassure you and help you to have confidence in yourself. Each session had a focus, what we were learning each week was explained in an easy way to understand.
from our anonymous feedback form
It was nice meeting other couples who were due babies at the same time as us. All the lessons were very informative and detailed. We also enjoyed the Percy Pigs 🙂
from our anonymous feedback form