About Birth & Babies is one of the most popular providers of private antenatal and hypnobirthing classes in Norfolk and Suffolk and winner of ’Best Pregnancy Service 2018 and 2019’.

COVID–19 UPDATE - we understand that this crisis is throwing many expectant parents’ plans up in the air and heightening anxiety but we want to reassure you that we are continuing to support you during this time.

The About Birth & Babies team have developed a number of options for those considering antenatal education; an online antenatal course and a blended online and face to face antenatal course.  All can be combined with our tailor made hypnobirthing course based on the KGHypnobirthing programme.

All online sessions are fun and interactive live versions of our popular, award winning face to face classes. To be clear, these are not pre–recorded! Expectant parents increase their knowledge and confidence whilst getting to know each other with our help via live video conferencing, Q&A sessions, discussion in large and small groups and WhatsApp groups. Practical babycare and breastfeeding classes can still happen onilne through the use of dolls/teddies or babies made from towels and rubber bands!

Some couples have expressed their concern about joining full online antenatal classes as the other expectant parents could be anywhere in the world. We support expectant parents across Norfolk and north Suffolk so our online courses enable friendships to be formed as near as possible to the way that they currently do in our face to face courses so that when this passes, you will have your ‘village’.

PHASED RETURN

Courses originally scheduled to take place in our Thorpe St Andrew venue will remain online for now, however the Sprowston courses and some of the Hethersett courses will be a combination of online and face to face as these venues are Covid Safe. 

We will follow a phased return so if you book a course well in advance, you know which dates will remain online and which dates could be face to face by consulting the list of courses on offer. If government guidelines change, all courses will take place online. 

The phased return will work like this.  Initially, all weekDAY sessions will remain online and all weekEND sessions will be face to face.  Most expectant parents book months in advance so we hope this transparent approach will enable you to plan ahead, book with confidence and know that, if possible, you will meet the others on your course in person.

We would love to support you on your journey to parenthood. Please look at our dates listed under the course dates tab or get in touch. 

Hundreds of expectant parents join us each year on our award winning antenatal courses. We bring together local pregnant women and their birth partners, creating supportive communities of like-minded parents-to-be whose babies are due around the same time.

Our private face-to-face antenatal classes complement the support that midwives and health visitors provide perfectly. Most expectant parents want to learn about birth and parenting in small, interactive groups and be able to ask questions. 

Would you like to understand more about birth and what your birth companion can do to support you?

Have you ‘signed up’ to be a birth partner but don’t feel confident in your role?

Would you like to learn more about how a positive mindset really can help?

Do you know how to handle a newborn baby and change a nappy?!

Here’s why you should sign up for Norfolk’s ’best pregnancy class’ today!

• Our antenatal classes will give you the knowledge, confidence and skills you need to have a calm and positive birth experience no matter how your baby is born. Armed with extensive knowledge, you will feel fully empowered to ask questions and trust your natural instincts in order to make the best choices for you and your baby.
• Courses are 12-16 hours long and combine traditional core topics with the latest evidence-based research. We listened to feedback from dozens of new parents and created an antenatal course that is comprehensive, interactive, unbiased, supportive, competitively priced, sociable and fun!
• Online courses usually provide more ‘essential’ information. All About Birth & Babies courses are comprehensive, interactive, relevant and practical. Expectant parents are able to practice techniques such as massage and nappy changing, discuss topics in groups, ask questions and clarify learning.
• Tools and strategies are provided to use throughout pregnancy, birth and early parenthood to ensure parents are fully prepared.
• Expectant parents can ‘bolt on’ hypnobirthing classes to complete a full combined antenatal and hypnobirthing course
• Meeting regularly is not just about the learning. Strong friendships and a support network are formed. Most parents continue to meet up for many years.
• All our antenatal teachers completed the robust three year diploma training programme in Antenatal Education with the NCT. In addition, Sian holds the KGHypnobirthing Diploma and has completed the Unicef Babyfriendly Breastfeeding Training and Biomechanics for Birth. Ann holds a BA in Educational Studies. We are fully qualified to teach all aspects of antenatal education, are registered, insured and licensed to practice. As conscientious practitioners, we view the requirement to carry out annual Continuous Professional Development as an essential to ensure we remain up to date and provide courses that are relevant. You can therefore be assured of our credibility, knowledge and experience. 
• All our teachers are well-loved, live locally and ensure they have up to date knowledge about the local maternity service. They are almost always available via phone, email or in person.
• Being a small independent business means we can offer comprehensive antenatal education at incredibly competitive prices and payment by instalments. 
• Crucially we receive regular referrals from midwives and previous clients, excellent feedback and our courses are 5* rated. In addition, we have won ‘Best Pregnancy Service’ two years in a row in the 2018 and 2019 Norfolk Pregnancy, Baby & Child Awards. 

Please take a look at our course dates to find a full antenatal course at a location that suits you.

We also offer one-to-one sessions for those who prefer not to be part of a group or whose lifestyles mean they would find it difficult to attend all the sessions on a full antenatal course.  

Our refresher courses cover preparation for birth and parenthood while recognising the challenges you may have faced previously. They also consider the impact of introducing a new baby to your family. Our course dates can be found here.

We would love to support you along your pathway to parenthood. See what parents are saying about us. We think you’ll be convinced!