Antenatal classes with a difference — taught by real midwives.

Our antenatal course gives you honest, practical guidance on pregnancy, labour, birth and life with a newborn — all from an experienced midwife who understands how the maternity system really works.

You won’t just learn what can happen — you’ll learn your choices, how to navigate the NHS, and what genuinely helps during labour and the postnatal period. We prepare you for real life, not just the textbook version.

50% birth. 50% postnatal. 100% supportive.
We believe preparing for feeding, recovery and newborn life is just as important as preparing for labour — so you’ll feel confident every step of the way.

Unlike many mainstream antenatal courses such as NCT, ours is written and taught by practicing midwives. You’ll know exactly who your teacher is before you book, and you’ll be supported by someone who truly understands maternity care.

✔ Evidence-based, non-judgemental information
✔ Inclusive and welcoming to all families
✔ Proper preparation for birth partners
✔ A ready-made group of local friends due at the same time as you

You deserve to feel informed, in control and positive about your experience — whatever path your birth takes.

And yes — you’ll leave with a brilliant local support network for those early newborn days and maternity leave.

Our reviews speak for themselves. Come and see why so many parents say this course changed their birth and postnatal experience.

  • "The course was excellent - Jenni was a wonderful teacher and an endless source of wisdom and encouragement. She put everyone at ease and delivered the course in a very relaxed and accessible way, always making it engaging."

    Genny - Oxfordshire

  • "The course content was extremely informative without being too over powering and Lisa delivered in a really interactive way with a mixture of practical exercises and listening. We came away feeling very well prepared - would highly recommend anyone thinking about this to book now!"

    CR - Worcester

  • "I cannot recommend the Village Midwife enough. Not only has it introduced me to a community of amazing parents, but it armed me with all the knowledge I needed during my pregnancy. Unlike other courses like NCT, it helps to empower woman and know their rights. When to fight back if the care you are receiving isn't good enough, and helps to quantify what is normal in a time which can be completely bamboozling as a new parent"

    Kate - Somerset

  • "Sophie's antenatal group sessions were brilliant. She created a warm environment, shared her expertise and left us feeling empowered heading into the birth of our baby. We also really valued the baby care information too, such as how to use a sling and different feeding options."

    Michaela - Buckinghamshire

  • "My husband and I attended the course with Nikki in North Hants in her cosy barn conversion. She was incredibly knowledgeable, you could tell she was passionate about supporting expecting mums and found a perfect balance between focusing on more "natural" births and offering all the info needed on all types of medications and being prepared. Each session has a distinct theme and we had 2 visitors as well. She setup a Whatsapp group with other mums and to offer advice going forward which is appreciated. Highly recommended!"

    R Seddon - Hampshire

  • "Highly recommend! We took The Village Midwife course in Old Dalby with Laura and cannot recommend it enough to any parents-to-be. We took so much away from the course. Laura was extremely approachable, welcomed questions and shared such a wealth of knowledge (both in the classes and extensive information and links were provided via email to refer back on as well). We are feeling so much more informed and prepared for the birth experience and arrival of our first baby. Thank you so much Laura!"

    Poppy - Melton Mowbray

  • "My husband and I attended Nikki’s classes in North Hampshire (Kingsclere). We found the course really informative and now feel well prepared for both the birth and postnatal period. Nikki was also able to give us invaluable insights into what to expect at the hospital as she is an experienced midwife herself. The course is held in a lovely relaxed setting with tea and lovely cakes! We’re really pleased that we chose this course and that we got to have Nikki leading it"

    Lou - Hampshire

  • "A massive thank you to Lisa. We have just finished our antenatal classes with her and we have learnt so much. Her wealth of knowledge from years of experience working as a midwife meant that she was able to answer all questions and give us honest advice on our future births. Lisa extends her support outside of the group sessions and it was fabulous to have a chat when things started to get slightly complicated in my pregnancy. You can tell that Lisa is passionate about the work she does and that makes the sessions interesting and informative."

    Amelia - Worcester

  • "My husband and I attended the course run by Nikki (North Hants) and it was excellent. She ran the course in a lovely and relaxed setting and the small group size made it so much more intimate. She gave us reams of information but without it being overwhelming. We came away feeling very informed (and I felt much calmer for it). The sessions involved interactive activities and there was always time for questions. We have nothing but positive things to say about the course content and Nikki and we would absolutely recommend this course to anyone."

    Alee - North Hants

  • "Incredible course! We found the course absolutely invaluable. Sophie was relaxed, fun, informative and so generous with her time. Every question we had was answered, the course booklet is a phenomenal resource covering everything you could wish to know about pregnancy, labour and beyond, and Sophie’s passion for midwifery is present in everything she says and does."

    Rebecca - Buckinghamshire

  • "Booking myself onto a course with The Village Midwife was one of the best decisions I've made. The course was so comprehensive and so well delivered. I will forever be grateful to Jenni, who delivered the course, for her words of encouragement in a difficult moment in my pregnancy. The best thing has been the connections with the other mums. The support I got through the WhatsApp group and in person meet ups has been so invaluable! I have already recommended this course to a pregnant colleague and I would recommend it to anyone!"

    Francesca - Oxfordshire

  • "A fantastic course that I would recommend to everyone. Sophie is absolutely amazing and informative. She also comes with a winning personality. If you’re thinking about booking, just book. You won’t regret it."

    Jake - Buckinghamshire

  • "My partner and I took part in Taunton Village Midwife and have enjoyed every part of it. Thank you to Kate for guiding us through this amazing adventure. We have learned so much and are now feeling ready and excited for our due date. Kate is passionate in what she does and it is a joy to hear her transfer her knowledge and experience to us new parents. The Village Midwife is also a great way to meet new parents. I would recommend an antenatal class with Kate to any new parents"

    Rebecca - Somerset

  • "We’re soon to be first time parents and were feeling very anxious on labour and the first few weeks after birth but we’ve come away from the classes feeling so much more relaxed and confident! Each session was informative and interactive and Nikki was a brilliant teacher! She encouraged us to ask questions and share any worries or concerns we had. Even after our sessions have finished, Nikki followed up with emails with lots of information regarding each session, with links to review. I can't recommend these sessions enough!"

    Paris - North Hants

  • "Jenni was an absolute superstar - she was incredibly knowledgeable, approachable, supportive and fun! We learnt so much more than we thought we were going to, and have come away feeling 10 times more confident about our choices, the journey we're embarking on and what to do if (when!) things don't go to plan. Thank you Jenni!"

    Steffi & Ben - Oxfordshire

  • "Our midwife Lisa was AMAZING and we could not have wished for more from this course! She always went above and beyond to help us all and the sessions were so informative and enjoyable. It was a perfect mix of practical and non-practical activities with time to answer the questions on our mind. Lisa is one of those people you are lucky to meet, so kind, caring, experienced and passionate about what she does. Thank you for everything."

    C - Worcester

  • "We had a course in Northchurch with Aimee Lennox. The course was really well run and had lots of valuable information, which answered so many questions we had in the run up to the birth. It was also a lovely way to meet other couples who were expecting. Would definitely recommend!!"

    Maggie - Berkhamsted

  • "Both my husband and I found the course extremely informative and it gave us a realistic but optimistic view of labor. Sophie is highly knowledgeable and has loads of experience as a midwife. She delivered the information in an easy to understand format with a good sense of humour that kept the sessions enjoyable. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us, Sophie. We would highly recommend this course to any new parents."

    Samantha - High Wycombe

  • "I cannot recommend Sophie, The Village Midwife enough. The prenatal course has left my partner and I feeling really confident when it comes to giving birth to our first child. Sophie is realistic, honest but extremely positive and empowering and our whole group felt the same way. We are looking forward to attending the postnatal course once our baby arrives. My parents have even booked onto the course for Grandparents!"

    Emma - High Wycombe

  • "Having a baby wouldn’t have been this easy without The Village Midwife. We felt happy & confident after everything we learned. We were always very relaxed about how the birth would end up being but Sophie prepared us with advice and knowledge for every possible outcome. We also booked in for a 1-1 hypnobirthing session which was super helpful! When we had our baby girl, it wasn’t the way we had dreamed but it all worked out and we felt empowered with knowledge throughout!"

    Alice - Amersham. Bucks

  • "I just wanted to say a massive thank you to Aimee who ran our Village Midwife course in Berkhamsted. She was so approachable and made the course interactive, fun and full of information. I was so worried about finding a course that would be welcoming and not judgemental. I come with an enormous medical history. Aimee was nothing but kind, she listened and made everyone feel included and unique. I am so grateful that we found her. Although still nervous I feel informed and excited for the months ahead. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

    Sam and Sarah - Berkhamsted

  • "Fantastic experience. I'm heading into birth more confident than when I started and I've acquired knowledge to take forward into early parenthood. Aimee is a super knowledgeable and experienced midwife."

    Emma - Leighton Buzzard

  • "My wife and I had our antenatal and postnatal class with Kate in Taunton. Kate's knowledge of the subject is very deep and she has great enthusiasm for all things to do with birth. She helped us with our many questions and the content of the course was invaluable in helping us to prepare our birth plan. Moreover, we were well prepared for all of the different scenarios that can occur with a birth. I particularly recommend this course because Kate is a practicing midwife and has first hand experience."

    John - Taunton

  • "Incredible antenatal & postnatal course led by Sophie and Rebecca in Bucks. Left my husband & I feeling very well prepared for the birth & 4th trimester with our daughter. Genuinely brilliant support, knowledgeable and informative, delivered with fantastic humour. Can also highly recommend baby massage, weaning course and the sling library!"

    Charlotte - Bucks

  • "If you’re having your first baby this course is an absolute must! Absolutely brilliant course! Covered everything I could possibly want to know about birth, pain relief options, looking after baby and recovery. Any questions we had were answered brilliantly. We’ve made some great friends who we will keep in touch with too. Not just useful for the pregnant mum, very beneficial for partners too. If you’re having your first baby this course is an absolute must!"

    Jennifer

  • "Loved it! Highly recommend We had a brilliant time with Sophie on our November antenatal course in Wendover. The course was really informative, and we came away with loads of tools and information that has made us feel much more prepared for what's ahead. Sophie is incredibly passionate about what she teaches and you can tell she really cares about everyone too. We really loved it! We've also met some lovely fellow parents-to-be through the course too which is invaluable. Thank you so much!"

    Pip - Bucks

  • "Thank you Lisa! I am so glad that I attended the Village Midwife Antenatal course in Worcester, and was able to meet Lisa. She was absolutely fantastic and is so passionate about patient care. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience; she is not only extremely knowledgable and up to date with current guidelines and evidence-based practice, she also has so much knowledge of local services. Knowing that I had her support was so reassuring. Lisa is such a caring and lovely person and I would urge anyone considering booking to do so! Thank you Lisa"

    Dannielle - Worcester

  • "Antenatal in small groups - highly recommended Victoria (an experienced midwife) was great - warm, welcoming & very knowledgeable. The course was in a small group of 7 couples at Hughenden village hall on weekends which was very convenient. There is a very detailed handout book and the course covers all aspects of birth, early baby care, (bathing, nappies, bottle feeding etc.) breast feeding & slings. Would highly recommend it and now we have some great parent friends in a WhatsApp group!"

    Jack - Bucks

  • "We signed up for the Village Midwife antenatal classes as an alternative to other antenatal classes. The content of the classes and the fact that it is delivered by a trained Midwife was second to none and really helpful. The support provided by the antenatal instructor once baby is born is invaluable. I honestly don't know where I would be right now had it not been for Nikki answering all my stupid questions. Its definitely got me through the last 10 days. Classes are undertaken in a relaxed atmosphere and Nikki helps you to prepare for all options for birth and inspires you to confidently bring your baby into the world. I would recommend these antenatal classes to a friend."

    Laura - North Hampshire

  • "Can't recommend Lisa enough! Lisa runs an amazing course in Worcester - we are so happy that we booked our antenatal classes with her after hearing 'mixed reviews' about the more mainstream class options. She has such a wealth of experience from her role as a midwife and can talk about all of the difference services/options in Worcester, but what is super empowering is that Lisa is clearly constantly learning new things to stay as up to date as possible (as well as teaching local midwifery students) and she shares this knowledge throughout the course. All of this on top of the support she offers to parents to be/new parents, I'm convinced she must be superwoman! We finished the course feeling really confident that whatever happens when our baby arrives we have the tools to make informed decisions."

    Jess - Worcester

Where can you do our antenatal course?

 Berkhamsted 

in Hertfordshire

 Wallingford 

in Oxfordshire

 Hughenden 

in Buckinghamshire

  Wendover  

in Buckinghamshire

     Bicester in    

  Oxfordshire  

Gerrards Cross

in Buckinghamshire

 Thame & Chinnor

in Oxfordshire

      Bury St Edmunds      

     in Suffolk     

 Kingsclere in

North Hampshire

Leighton Buzzard

in Bedfordshire

      Taunton      

     in Somerset     

      1-1s with Sophie      

   in South Suffolk   

Meet our founder, Sophie

Hi, I’m Sophie!

The Village Midwife was born in 2018 after I had my own son. Hearing mums at baby groups saying “I wish I’d known…” or “I wasn’t allowed…” made me want to reinvent antenatal courses. I wanted people to go into their birth experiences knowing their full range of options as well as feeling empowered, positive and prepared. I also wanted to create a community of new parents who could support each other and bring back that sense of a 'village' that I felt we were lacking. So I sat and wrote a course while my son napped (mainly in coffee shops or in a sling!) and the rest is history.

After lots of midwives started asking to teach my antenatal course in their area, I started training them in the course and now we are constantly setting up new locations across the country which is amazing and something I never anticipated! I'm so proud of where we are and the impact we make on people's birth and postnatal experiences and I feel endlessly privileged to be a small part of so many parent's journeys.

Anyway, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to drop us a message via our contact form and Robyn or myself will reply. Alternatively you can always message me on Instagram (no question is a silly one!) but otherwise - welcome to The Village Midwife community!