Welcome to a new kind of antenatal group…

 

Thank you for being here. 

Please explore our website and drop us a line if you want to know more.  We are very friendly!

 

☑  Led by regulated healthcare professionals (and mums)

☑  No judgement or agenda

☑  Sociable

☑  Balanced, detailed, evidence-based  information

☑  Tailored to your needs

☑  Hands-on practical baby-care skills

☑  Focus on taking care of your mental health

☑  Includes baby first aid

☑  For all parents (those who are pregnant, birth partners, couples, singles)

Come join our friendly, non-judgemental, expert-led group.  Run by a clinical psychologist and neonatal nurse, we will provide you with up-to-date information on birth and early parenthood so you will feel prepared and confident as you begin your biggest adventure yet…

What makes our group different?

We are different because we are regulated healthcare professionals, so you know that you are getting honest, evidence-based information without any agenda.  We are accountable and abide by high standards and ethical practice; we want to support you not exploit you!

We are different because we are a not-for-profit organisation, reinvesting any funds into providing more places for parents.

We are different because we prioritise building connections between parents.

We are different because we focus on practical aspects of baby care and give you the chance to practise yourself.

We are different because we don’t push an agenda around feeding or birth choices.

We are different because we focus on parental mental health, infant mental health and help you think about and manage the transition to parenthood.

We are different because we want to co-construct our groups with our participants and our wider local community.

 

As healthcare professionals and mums, we understand how important it is to feel as prepared as possible for the challenges and joys that lie ahead.  We found that some antenatal groups left us feeling that there was a ‘right’ way to birth or parent, which didn’t always match up with our personal values and sometimes left us feeling we had failed if things did not go according to plan, or if we just wanted to do things a different way.

Groups are often standard no matter the audience and cannot take into account the knowledge group members might already have, which can feel patronising or leave us with important gaps in our knowledge.  Having enough time to socialise and develop support networks also isn’t always possible, though most people say this is the most valuable part of doing any antenatal class – so we want to actively prioritise this. We also felt some practical advice was missing (like actually how to change a nappy if you’ve never done this before).

What does it involve?

  • Plenty of time to socialise and meet new parents – develop the friendships that will help you survive those newborn days and beyond.
  • All expectant parents welcome (all genders, singles and couples)
  • HANDS ON practical information and space to think and practise.
  • Information on all types of births (with no agenda about any birth being “better”)
  • Covering both breastfeeding and formula feeding
  • Information on normal baby sleep and different approaches to parenting
  • Covering the basics – how to change a nappy, how to bath your baby etc
  • Choice of modules – you choose what is important to you and the group will be tailored to your particular needs and interests.
  • Focus on parental and infant mental health – space to explore how to adjust to this next chapter of your lives.  Depending on your preferences, this could include topics such as:
      • protecting your mental health postnatally and how to get help if needed 
      • avoiding self-critical thinking and so called “mum guilt”/ “parent guilt”
      • how to deal with all the unwanted advice
      • the impact of becoming parents on your relationships
      • space to think about parenting, what influences our parenting and how you would like to parent
      • introduction to infant mental health and bonding with baby

Where and when do the groups take place?

We do not currently have any courses planned or running but we are still here and organising things behind the scenes.

If you would like us to consider offering a course in your area or online at a time or date to suit you, please contact us and we can try and make it happen 🙂