Antenatal classes
Maternity: care during pregnancy
Regular antenatal classes
From November 2022, our weekday, evening and Saturday classes will be face-to-face in the antenatal clinic.
Weekday and Saturday classes include all the topics in 1 session. This includes information about:
- labour progress and stages
- coping methods at home and in hospital
- breastfeeding (baby's needs, colostrum and milk production, benefits, position and attachment)
- 1st days with your baby
Sets of evening antenatal classes are split into 2 short classes.
Part 1 is about stages of labour and coping methods.
Part 2 is about breastfeeding and 1st days with your baby.
How to book
Some midwifery teams provide their own antenatal classes. Please check with your team before booking a class.
You can book on the Eventbrite website for weekday, evening and Saturday antenatal classes.
We recommend you book a class when you're between 32 and 35 weeks of pregnancy.
Please remember to book a space for your partner too.
We recommend that you open all Eventbrite links in Google Chrome.
Weekday antenatal classes take place on Tuesday and Thursday from 9.30am to 3.30pm.
Sets of evening antenatal classes are split into 2 short classes.
They take place from 5.30pm to 8.30pm on the 1st 2 Wednesdays of the month or last 2 Thursdays of the month.
You can book both or only 1. Book your class on the Eventbrite website.
2022 dates:
- Wednesday 7 December (part 1) and Wednesday 14 December (part 2)
- Thursday 22 December (part 1) and Thursday 29 December (part 2)
Saturday antenatal classes are from 9.30am to 3.30pm and include information about:
No need to book, just drop in to the antenatal clinic from 10am to 3pm.
Classes in Spanish
- Thursday 5 January 2023
- Tuesday 7 March 2023
- Thursday 4 May 2023
- Friday 7 July 2023
Classes in Portuguese
- Thursday 15 December 2022
- Wednesday 1 February 2023
- Wednesday 12 April 2023
- Wednesday 7 June 2023
To request an antenatal class in another language, please email [email protected].
Let us know your:
- name
- hospital number or date of birth
- preferred language
Other workshops
Join one of our anaesthetists for a presentation about pain relief options during labour. This is followed by a question-and-answer session. This class usually takes place on the 1st or 2nd Tuesday of each month from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
You do not need to book, just join the session on the day.
- Tuesday 6 December, join on Microsoft Teams
- Tuesday 10 January 2023
- Tuesday 21 February 2023
- Tuesday 28 March 2023
- Tuesday 9 May 2023
- Tuesday 20 June 2023
- Tuesday 8 August 2023
- Tuesday 12 September 2023
- Tuesday 17 October 2023
- Tuesday 12 December 2023
You can attend our twins or multiple pregnancies antenatal classes from 28 weeks of pregnancy. The classes are face-to-face in the antenatal clinic.
There is no need to book a place, just drop in.
- Wednesday 4 January, 9.30am to 12.30pm.
- Wednesday 15 February, 9.30am to 12.30pm.
- Wednesday 22 March, 9.30am to 12.30pm.
- Wednesday 3 May, 9.30am to 12.30pm.
- Wednesday 21 June, 9.30am to 12.30pm
Please remember to also book a place on the regular antenatal classes on the Eventbrite website.
There are 2 different physiotherapy antenatal classes. Both are informal and fun.
The aim is to:
- improve your ability to manage any back or pelvic pain during pregnancy
- educate about the importance of pelvic floor muscle exercises
The classes run on alternate Mondays from 10am to midday. They take place in the antenatal education room at the antenatal clinic, St Thomas' Hospital.
You don't need to have back or pelvic pain to attend. All pregnant women are welcome. You only need to attend these classes once.
Back and pelvic pain class
The class includes a talk and chair-based exercise session led by a specialist physiotherapist.
The talk will cover the changes to your body during pregnancy and how this can cause muscle and joint pain. You'll learn:
- the knowledge and skills to manage or prevent back and pelvic pain at home
- how to recognise the signs that mean you should see a pelvic health physiotherapist
If you are experiencing severe back and pelvic pain, you are still welcome to attend. Please also ask for a referral to the pelvic health physiotherapy department from your midwife, obstetrician or GP.
You should wear comfortable clothing appropriate for exercise.
Pelvic floor class
This class covers pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy and beyond. The aim is to prevent common pelvic floor problems after the delivery of your baby.
It includes a talk about what pelvic floor muscles are, how they work and the effect on them from pregnancy and delivery.
You'll learn:
- how pelvic floor muscle training can help different pelvic floor problems
- how to do pelvic floor muscle training
- when to start exercising following the delivery of your baby
- the signs that mean you should see a pelvic health physiotherapist
If you are experiencing pelvic floor problems, you can still attend the class. Please also ask for a referral to the pelvic health physiotherapy department and named obstetrician.
How to book
Please email [email protected] to book your place.
If you have any questions, please call 020 7188 5084 for further guidance.
Join our home birth workshops online. You don't need to book a place, just drop in.
- Thursday 1 December, 5pm to 6.30pm, join on Microsoft Teams
- Friday 6 January 2023
- Friday 3 February 2023, 4pm to 5.30pm, join on Microsoft Teams
- Friday 3 March 2023
- Friday 7 April 2023
- Friday 5 May 2023, 4pm to 5.30pm, join on Microsoft Teams
Pelvic health workshops are for pregnant women who need advice about pelvic health in pregnancy. Your doctor or midwife will ask you to attend a workshop if you need it.
A specialist midwife and pelvic health physiotherapist will be talking about your pelvic health and how to look after it in pregnancy.
The workshop will include information about:
- what the pelvic floor is
- the effects of pregnancy and childbirth on your pelvic floor
- things to look out for
- how to strengthen your pelvic floor
- caring for your bladder and bowels
- perineal tear prevention techniques
- caring for yourself after delivery
You can choose to attend a workshop on a weekday:
- morning
- afternoon
- evening
Visit the Eventbrite website for a full list of dates and times and to book your place.
Last updated: 21 September 2022
