Thame, Oxfordshire

Our antenatal course covers what your choices are in pregnancy, labour and as a new parent from the perspective of an honest, friendly midwife. Plus, you’ll make a group of local friends who are also preparing to meet their baby!

Our reviews speak for themselves - this really is an antenatal course with a difference.

Making a group of local friends during an antenatal course is a given, but you deserve to come away feeling informed and positive about your birth experience too!

What we cover:

• All types of birth experience, including what happens during vaginal, caesarean and assisted births, how to prepare for giving birth to your baby, and how to write preferences for every birth

• How to make your labour as comfortable as possible and how to keep active, including using a rebozo scarf and massage techniques for pregnancy and labour - equipping your birth partner as well as you!

• The many choices you will most likely come across during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period

• The birth partner’s vital role throughout the labour process and the postnatal period

• Postnatal recovery after vaginal and caesarean births and how to prepare for the postnatal period, including writing a postnatal plan

• Different methods of feeding your baby, including how to establish breastfeeding and common issues that can occur. We also discuss formula feeding, how to bottle feed and expressing

• Plus- you get ongoing support via WhatsApp from a midwife as well as a thorough handout with all of the information in to refer back to which is invaluable!

Why is our course different from more mainstream antenatal courses?

• It’s written, developed and taught by a midwife, unlike lots of antenatal courses out there. We believe that it’s important that you know how to navigate the maternity system and what actually helps during labour as most people give birth within the NHS! Someone with experience in the maternity system is best placed to help you with this and can help prepare you for whatever happens.

• It’s 50% focused on giving birth and different birth experiences and 50% focused on postnatal, feeding and baby care as we believe preparation for the postnatal period is equally as important!

• You know who your antenatal teacher is before you sign up! An important part of the course is the support you get from the midwife running your course so this is important! Check out the about me sections for our locations around the UK to get to know who’s in your area!

• The antenatal course helps you know what all of your choices are around birth, the postnatal period and feeding your baby. We believe that decisions should be presented in a non-judgemental way and that you deserve all of the information! All births are different but you deserve to feel in control and supported whatever you decide and whatever happens.

• You get a fab group of friends expecting a baby at the same time as you in your area which is important, especially during maternity leave!

• Our course is super inclusive! All types of family are welcome and there are no old-fashioned patriarchal messages here! Birth partners are prepared just as much for birth and the postnatal period and given important tools to help!

  If you want to find out more about parents’ experience of the antenatal & postnatal course though, check out our reviews over on our Facebook page, ourTrustpilot pageand on Google!

Hello, I am Alessia, a midwife working at a local health trust.

I have been working in the UK for over 8 years, in two different NHS Trusts holding various positions. I also enjoy my role as Midwifery Assistance Academic Lead Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University.

I am very proud of my job and believe that with compassionate care we can improve everyone’s experience during pregnancy, at birth, and throughout the postpartum period. I am very fond of creating a welcoming space for everyone to learn how to navigate through the exciting times ahead. I am very excited to support you all during our antenatal and postnatal classes.

I hope that our sessions will help you feel empowered and more confident in embracing your journey of parenthood.

I am looking forward to meeting you all!

The Village Midwife Group Antenatal Course: £320 as well as the antenatal course this includes a comprehensive 100 page handout, follow up links and ongoing support from midwife Alessia

To secure your space on an antenatal course you just have to fill out your details and pay £128 now. The rest is paid a week prior to the antenatal course starting or can be paid in instalments (email us to arrange this!) The price includes you plus your birth partner.

Please note: We offer a £25 NHS discount for healthcare professionals, a £15 return discount for previous clients and a 35% single parent discount. We also offer discounts and payment plans to parents who are struggling financially - contact us for more information about The Village Midwife Accessibility Fund, no questions asked.

If you’re looking for something more personalised, Alessia also offers 1:1 antenatal courses that are at your home and flexible according to what you want to cover. This is £50/hour including ongoing support, a comprehensive handout and sessions at a time that suits you. Please contact us to enquire about Alessia’s availability for this!

Lots! Alessia offers:

• Birth debriefs at your home

• 1-1 postnatal and feeding support

• 1-1 antenatal courses, personalised to what you want to cover

Drop us an email at admin@thevillagemidwife.co.uk or use our contact form. Alternatively if Instagram is easier - reach out to our founder Sophie here!