We offer a full range of antenatal classes which can help to prepare for your baby’s birth and learn to look after and feed your baby. They can help you to stay healthy during pregnancy, and give you confidence and information.
You can learn about the different choices for labour and birth, which can help you to make your own birth plan. You will be able to discuss your plans and worries with our midwives and other parents. Classes are a good way to make friends with other parents who are expecting babies around the same time as you.
These friendships often help parents through the first few months with a baby. We offer a package of three antenatal classes included as part of your maternity care. These are provided by your local community midwives. Please speak to your community midwife about booking onto these.
Main antenatal courses
Our three week face-to-face evening courses are offered at venues in Hastings, Sidley, Eastbourne, Hailsham and Peacehaven. Our evening virtual course allows you to attend from the comfort of your own home. Our sessions help parents to feel more prepared for labour, birth and beyond.
Our courses cover:
- The role of Oxytocin
- Labour and Birth
- Caring for your emotional and mental well being
- Role of the birthing partner
- Decision making
- When pregnancy or labour takes a different route
- Feeding
- Building loving relationships and developing your baby’s brain
- Safer sleep
- Crying baby
- Safety
- Minor ailments
- Bathing
- Nappy Changing
- Plus, lots of top tips along the way
Our courses are a great way to meet other parents to be and to create new friendships.
If an evening course isn’t for you then we also offer a three week virtual day course.
Refresher courses
For those parents that have already had children we offer a refresher course. These courses are available in Hastings, Rye, Uckfield, Crowborough, Denton Island, or as a virtual course via MSTeams.
Each course consists of two, two hour sessions spread over two weeks. We cover a number of the topics included in our main antenatal course but all from the approach of having an older child/children.
To book on to any of our courses, or for further information, please complete our enquiry form, alternatively you can contact bumpandbeyond@eastsussex.gov.uk
Expecting multiples? Let us know via our enquiry form so that we can ensure the course is tailored to your need.
Young parents
For young parents, under the age of 21 but can accommodate anyone up to the age of 25, we offer the opportunity to attend a 3.5hour one-off session as an alternative to our main antenatal course. This session takes a more relaxed approach to discussing some of the aspects of becoming a parent and includes a free gift for all that attend. To find out more please speak to your midwife or complete our enquiry form and tick the box for the ‘Young Parents’ course.
Breastfeeding workshop
Our 2.5 hour virtual breastfeeding workshop is available to all pregnant people/women living in East Sussex, and helps support those wanting to know more about breastfeeding, providing practical and useful advice and information on how to get off to the best start. To book your place, complete our form.
Aquanatal and Aquababes
For those living in Hastings, St. Leonards and Rother we are able to offer a free six week, term time only, aquanatal or aquababes course at Summerfields leisure centre.
For those living in Hailsham, Eastbourne and Seaford we are now offering our six week aquababes course at a local pool.
For any of our courses booking is essential. To find out more please contact bumpandbeyond@eastsussex.gov.uk
Antenatal videos
We have also created a series of videos to help you to feel more prepared for become a parent, that might also be helpful to share with grandparents or anyone else that may be caring for your baby.
For the playlist click here or see the individual videos below:
- Welcome to Health Visiting
- Breastfeeding – Hand Expressing
- Breastfeeding – Position and Attachment
- Breastfeeding – Responsive Bottlefeeding
- Breastfeeding – Responsive Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding – What to Expect
- Building Relationships
- Bump and Beyond
- Caring for your Mental Health
- Coping with a Crying Baby
- Dads and Non Birthing Partners
- Healthy Lifestyle
- Immunisations
- Newborn Hearing Screening
- Safe Sleep
- Safety for Babies and Young Children
- Stop Smoking
- Understand your Red Book
For more information please contact: