Twyford, Berkshire

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!

Hi, I’m Victoria. I’ve been an NHS midwife for almost 10 years, working in various midwifery settings including in the community, hospital and also as a private midwife, being a consistent point of care from the first midwife appointment all the way to delivery either at home, the birth centre, labour ward and theatre. 

The heaviest home birth baby I facilitated the delivery of weighed 4.8kg, or 10.5 pounds - proving that women are absolute super heroes, capable of achieving the most amazing births. 

I am hugely passionate about supporting women throughout their pregnancy journey and postnatally. Choice and education is key. I strongly believe that having an awareness of your options equips you to make the right choices for you, your baby and your family.  I also absolutely love supporting women to breastfeed their babies, especially when this is a worry or becomes challenging for you and baby to navigate together. 

The personal satisfaction I feel from helping women achieve that ‘Eureka!’ moment with breastfeeding their babies is unmatched!

In my spare time I enjoy spending time in nature, going for long walks and hikes. When I get the chance I love to spend time in Devon overlooking the coast.

I'm very excited to be part of the The Village Midwife team and supporting you all in the lead up to the birth of your babies and beyond. 

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

To secure your space on an antenatal course you just have to fill out your details and pay £100 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, we also offer 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 availability for this!

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!