Small-group antenatal classes • St Albans

Pregnant and wondering how you're supposed to know all this stuff?

You're definitely not alone.

My small-group antenatal classes in St Albans will help you understand birth, feeding, your new baby and those first few weeks of parenthood, without overwhelming you with information or telling you there's one "right" way to do things.

Come with questions. Leave feeling much more prepared. ❤️

The Nest, by Love Montessori, St Albans
Maximum 6 couples
Two Saturday sessions
Birth partners included
Taught by Midwife Holly

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You don't have to know it all already

There is a lot to think about when you're having a baby.

How will I know I'm actually in labour?
What do contractions really feel like?
What pain relief can I have?
What happens if I'm induced?
What if birth doesn't go to plan?
How do you actually feed a newborn?
And how am I supposed to know what to do with a baby when I get home?!

We'll work through it together.

Over two relaxed Saturday sessions, we'll cover labour and birth, your choices, interventions, feeding, newborn care, recovery and early parenthood.

Each session runs from 9am to 1pm, giving you 8 hours together across the two Saturdays.

And because I keep the groups to just 6 couples, there's time to talk, ask questions and actually understand the information rather than simply sitting through hours of slides.

Preparing for different possibilities

Good antenatal education shouldn't only prepare you for your ideal birth.

We'll talk honestly about what might happen, what your choices may be and how you and your birth partner can feel involved in decisions if circumstances change.

My job isn't to tell you how to give birth.

It's to help you feel prepared for however birth unfolds.

Birth partners included

Useful ways to support, not just stand and wonder what to do.

Birth partners are very much part of Midwife Holly antenatal classes.

We'll talk about practical ways you can help during labour and birth, from creating the right environment and supporting different positions to coping techniques and emotional support.

We'll also talk about how you can support your partner when choices or decisions need to be made.

So rather than standing there thinking “What am I supposed to be doing?”, you'll have some genuinely useful things in your toolkit.

Meet your teacher

I'm Holly.

I'm an experienced NHS Midwife, antenatal teacher and the person behind Midwife Holly.

Meet Holly

I've spent my career supporting families through pregnancy, labour, birth and the early postnatal period.

I've worked across labour wards, birth centres, community midwifery, antenatal and postnatal care, Homebirth services and higher-risk maternity care.

So I don't just teach birth from a textbook.

I bring years of real clinical experience to the classroom, alongside evidence-based information and an understanding that birth doesn't always follow a predictable path.

My approach is warm, practical, honest and non-judgemental.

What the course covers

Two relaxed Saturdays, from labour and birth to baby and beyond.

Saturday one

Labour, birth and the different paths birth can take

Our first session is all about labour, birth and helping you understand the different paths birth can take.

Signs that labour might be starting
The stages of labour and what to expect
Birth hormones and what's happening in your body
Positions for labour and birth
Breathing and practical coping techniques
How your birth partner can genuinely help
Pain relief options
Induction of labour
Monitoring and interventions
Making informed decisions
Assisted birth, including forceps and ventouse
Caesarean birth
Birth preferences and choices

Saturday two

Baby is here. Now what?!

Our second Saturday is all about feeding your baby, those first slightly surreal days as new parents and the practical things you really want to know before bringing your baby home.

Breastfeeding
Bottle feeding
Expressing
Mixed feeding
Responsive feeding
Where to find feeding support if you need it
Newborn behaviour and what's normal
Nappies and practical baby care
Safe sleeping
What to expect during those first few days
Recovery after birth
Emotional wellbeing
Adjusting to early parenthood
What the postnatal period can really feel like

Feeding your baby, your way

Informed. Prepared. Supported. Not judged.

Feeding is something lots of parents worry about before their baby arrives.

We'll look at breastfeeding, expressing, bottle feeding, mixed feeding and responsive feeding so you can understand your options and feel practically prepared.

We'll talk honestly about what feeding a newborn can actually look like, some of the challenges you might encounter, what can help and where to find support if you need it.

You don't need to decide exactly how you're going to feed your baby before you come.

Small groups

Because antenatal education should feel like a conversation, not a lecture.

I deliberately keep my St Albans antenatal classes small, with a maximum of just 6 couples.

There is time to ask questions, talk through the things you're unsure about and explore different options without feeling rushed.

Ask the question you think is silly.

Ask the oddly specific question you've been Googling all week.

Ask the one your birth partner has been wondering but hasn't quite known how to ask.

Chances are, someone else wanted to know too.

Where the classes are held

The Nest, by Love Montessori

17 Central Dr
St Albans
AL4 0UX

Get directions

Small, friendly classes in St Albans

A welcoming setting for two relaxed Saturday sessions, practical learning, honest conversation and plenty of questions.

Is this course right for you?

Find an antenatal course that suits you.

There are lots of different ways to prepare for your baby's arrival. Midwife Holly classes might be right for you if you'd like:

✓ A genuinely small group of no more than 6 couples
✓ Classes taught by an experienced practising Midwife
✓ Two focused Saturday sessions
✓ Practical, evidence-based information
✓ Honest conversations about birth and what happens if plans change
✓ Balanced preparation for breastfeeding, expressing and bottle feeding
✓ Plenty of opportunities to ask questions
✓ A relaxed and non-judgemental environment

Frequently asked questions

Before you book.

How many couples are in each class?

Just 6 couples maximum. Keeping the groups small gives us time for questions, conversation and practical learning and helps create a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Is my birth partner included?

Yes. Your birth partner is included and the classes are designed with both of you in mind.

How long is the course?

The course takes place over two Saturday morning sessions from 9am to 1pm, giving you 8 hours of teaching in total.

Do you cover Caesarean birth?

Absolutely. Caesarean birth is part of the course alongside vaginal birth, assisted birth, induction and other interventions. Whatever kind of birth you're planning, the aim is to help you understand your options and feel prepared.

What if I don't know how I want to feed my baby?

That's absolutely fine. We'll cover breastfeeding, expressing, bottle feeding, mixed feeding and responsive feeding without judgement, so you can understand your options before your baby arrives.

Where are the classes held?

My antenatal classes are held at The Nest, by Love Montessori, 17 Central Dr, St Albans, AL4 0UX.

Get directions to The Nest

What should I bring?

Just yourself and your birth partner.

Come and learn with me

You don't need to know everything about birth and babies already.

You don't need to know what kind of birth you'll have. You don't need to have written a perfect birth plan. You don't need to know exactly how you're going to feed your baby. And you definitely don't need to know everything about babies. That's what the classes are for. ❤️

Two Saturdays • 8 hours • Maximum 6 couples • Birth partners included • The Nest, by Love Montessori

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