In this section
Did you know?
You are legally entitled to time off work to join antenatal classes when recommended by a midwife or doctor. See links below for more information.
Virtual Antenatal Classes
(Saint Mary’s Oxford Road, North Manchester, and Wythenshawe)
What is it?
If you are having your baby with us, you can join the hospital “Your Birth, Your Baby” virtual antenatal classes for free.
It lasts for 5 weeks and is on weekday evenings for 2 hours from 6PM-8PM.
It takes place on Microsoft Teams which is user friendly, and you can access on a desktop, laptop, phone, or tablet.
You will meet midwives and other specialists to make sure you get the information you need to feel ready for Your Birth and Your Baby.
You can start these at any time in your pregnancy.
What do they talk about?
Week 1 - Your Birth (Part 1)
- Making a choice (BRAIN)
- What to prepare
- Physiology and stages of labour
- When to call a midwife
- 1st stage
- 2nd stage
- 3rd stage
- Why changing positions and movement helps labour
- Perineal care
- Keeping you and baby safe (IA vs CTC)
- Homebirth, birth centres and delivery unit differences
Week 2 - Your Birth (Part 2)
- Using your BRAIN and making choices
- Induction of Labour
- Speeding up labour – breaking your waters and hormone drips
- Managing discomfort and how to help yourself
- Pain relief in early and established labour
- Episiotomy
- Assisted Birth – Forceps & Ventouse
- Caesarean Section
- Immediately after birth
Week 3 - Caring for Your Baby
- Importance of getting to know your baby
- How to get to know them
- Baby brain development
- Bonding and attachment
- Your feeding choices
- Value of breastfeeding
- How breastfeeding works and how to know it is going well
- Colostrum harvesting / hand expression
- Expressing and storing breastmilk
- Baby’s feeding and sleep patterns
- Combination feeding and formula feeding
Week 4 - After Your Baby
- Preparing for the hospital (visiting policy, being discharged)
- What to prepare for home (car seats, medicines)
- Wound care
- Pelvic floor exercises
- Becoming parents (transition to parenthood)
- Maternal health
- Putting baby to sleep safely
- Signs of a poorly baby
- Caring for a newborn (skincare, baths, nappy changing)
- Going forward (contraception, support info, midwife visits, Health visitors, children’s centres, family hubs)
Week 5 - Support for Parents and Babies
- HIPPOH Project – Importance of newborn oral care and dental hygiene
- Dad Matters – Homestart
- Mums Matter – Mind Manchester
How do I join?
Please speak to your midwife who can make a referral for you at your next appointment.
The earlier you let us know in your pregnancy, the better your chance of getting a place.
Alternatively, send your name and date of birth to parent.classes@mft.nhs.uk
(Please know that this email inbox is not checked daily)
How will I know I have a place?
You will see your booking and dates on your MyMFT or My Chart app.
The link for each session of the course is different and will be sent to you 24 hours before each session starts.
Bump to Baby: face to face antenatal classes
What is it?
Free antenatal classes for those who live in an area with a Manchester postcode (not including Trafford, Salford or Bury).
These are at your local Children’s centre or Family Hub. (click to find one in your area)
This is a 4-week course on weekdays for 2 hours in the morning or afternoon during term time.
It is delivered by many different health professionals and specialists from different services to support you and your family.
You can start these after 17 weeks of pregnancy.
What do they talk about?
- Preparing for becoming a parent
- Infant Feeding
- Health and wellbeing
- Building a strong relationship with your baby
- Mental Health
- Parenting confidence and parenting skills
- Labour and Birth
How do I join?
To book onto this course, contact your local Children’s centre or Family Hub.
Please note: If the online course with Saint Mary’s is fully booked, you could have your contact details shared with the “Bump to Baby” team.
The team will then contact you to book you onto the Bump to Baby Course.
Your midwife will ask your permission to do this before your details are sent.
(Only your name, due date, phone number and email address are shared)
How will I know I have a place?
Your start date will be confirmed by the Bump to Baby team when you contact them.
They will ring you before the date of starting to remind you of your booking.
What if I cannot join the hospital ‘Your Birth, Your baby’ virtual course, or the ‘Bump to Baby’ face to face course?
Look at this Padlet (link below) to see other free options in your area.
(Disclaimer: there might be other free classes in your area that are not on this padlet yet)
Free antenatal and postnatal classes in Greater Manchester and surrounding areas
Contact Us
Speak to your midwife for more information about these classes.
For any enquiries, please email parent.classes@mft.mhs.uk (Please know that this email inbox is not checked daily)
Visit your local children’s centre or Family Hub to join the face to face Bump to Baby course at your local Children’s centre or Family Hub.
