Antenatal classes are an important part of preparing for the arrival of a new baby. I remember being pregnant with my boy and constantly looking things up on Google or asking friends and family for tips and advice. I eventually attended an antenatal class and it was incredibly helpful as these sessions provided expectant parents with information and guidance on pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting.
Private antenatal classes in London offer a very personalised and flexible approach to learning about pregnancy and childbirth. In this blog post, I’ll introduce you to six different providers in West London – as with everything baby-related, there are plenty of options to choose from!
I will be covering the following providers of antenatal classes in London:
- The Bump Class
- Bundle London
- Bump and Baby Club
- NCT Classes
- Happy Parents Happy Baby
- Classes at Private Maternity Wings
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1. The Bump Class
Founded in 2013 by sisters Dr Chiara Hunt and Marina Fogle, “The Bump Class” is one of the best known providers of private antenatal classes in West London. Chiara is a GP based in Sloane Street, Knightsbridge and her sister Marina is one of the hosts at their South Kensington location.
Over the course of eight 2-hour sessions mothers to be will learn all about the practical elements of pregnancy, child birth, breastfeeding, and parenting from a supportive, pragmatic and unbiased point of view. All classes are in private spaces, where participants feel comfortable and relaxed. Locations include Parsons Green, North Kensington, the Portland Hospital (newly added in 2023!) and Barnes, and there is a possibility to join classes via Zoom as well.
Classes are held on weekday mornings or evenings and are for mothers only. However, there is also a series of other classes that encourage partners to attend, including a partners evening, first aid course or even a private class.
I attended the Bump Class myself and absolutely loved the sessions. In addition to learning all about pregnancy, labour and parenting in the early days, the class provided an invaluable support network. Not only does the Bump team provide ongoing support and has a range of specialist recommended providers, but I also formed life long friendships with other mums. Having a group of friends whose babies are the same age, who share the same concerns and challenges that you will be facing cannot be underestimated. Highly recommend! They also published a book in case you cannot make it to the class, which you can find here on Amazon.
Learn more about The Bump Class here.
2. Bundle London
Bundle hosts small groups and 1-2-1 antenatal classes. All courses are based around five modules. Through small class sizes, Bundle promises to create an engaging and interactive environment for learning in exclusive-use locations.
Founded by Amanda Thompson and Deborah Harrington, Bundle aims to support during pregnancy as well as postnatally, when parenthood can be overwhelming and challenging. Both Amanda and Deborah are parents themselves and are passionate about healthy and happy babies. Classes are delivered by an impressive range of topic experts, including a midwife, a paediatric first aid specialist, breastfeeding specialist and sleep consultant – a perfect combination!
There are several locations for antenatal classes across West London including Parons Green, Wandsworth, Notting Hill and Chelsea, as well as a Zoom option for remote participants. Bundle also offers a range of complimentary classes including first aid, baby massage and “next baby” to continue supporting parents along their journey.
Learn more about Bundle London here.
3. Bump and Baby Club
The Bump and Baby club is is the leading independent provider of antenatal classes in the UK, with over 15,000 expectant parents joining them each year. With plenty of locations in London to choose from, you’ll be sure to find one near you. In West London, you have classes in Notting Hill, Hammersmith, Fulham, Chiswick, Battersea and Clapham amongst others, as well as online.
Antenatal classes run every month, consist of 5 sessions and a social get together. Topics covered include labour, birth, life after birth, feeding and first aid. Bundle London’s classes are taught by experienced, qualified instructors who provide individual attention and support to each couple. They also offer additional services such as doula support, breastfeeding consultations, and postpartum support to help families through the early days and weeks after birth.
Unlike the Bump Class and Bundle, this antenatal course is for both the mother and her partner or birth partner. Mothers are also extremely welcome to come alone or with a friend or relative. Classes have a maximum of 10 couples per course and groups are arranged so everyone’s due dates are roughly within 4 weeks of each other.
In addition to their antenatal classes, Bump and Baby Club also offers postnatal classes, breastfeeding support, sleep consultations, and doula services to help new parents navigate the early days and weeks of parenthood.
Included in the antenatal classes package is what they call the Bumplet, a written guide to having a baby covering essential things to know about becoming a parent and including useful links for further reading.
Learn more about Bump and Baby Club here.
4. NCT
The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) is a UK-based charity that offers a range of services to support expectant and new parents. Their private antenatal classes are a hugely popular option for expectant parents in London and other parts of the UK. There is a large network of classes across West London, including in SW6, SW7, W6, SW1 and others including online.
NCT’s private antenatal classes are designed to provide expectant parents with comprehensive information and support to help them prepare for childbirth and early parenthood.
Classes are spread over 3 or 5 sessions and are open to both the mother and her partner.
5. Happy Parents Happy Baby
Happy Baby Happy Parents is a another great choice for antenatal classes that aims to prepare expectant parents for the journey of parenthood. Renowned for their comprehensive and interactive approach, this class focuses on empowering parents-to-be with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for a confident transition into parenthood. The course covers a wide array of topics including labour, birth, breastfeeding, and newborn care. There are online and in person classes all over London, and they even provide individual classes as well as grandparents classes. To complement their offer, weaning and first aid classes are also available.
In West London, locations include Fulham & Chelsea, Notting Hill, Putney, Clapham and Wandsworth.
Learn more about Happy Parents Happy Baby here.
6. Classes at Private Hospitals
The Kensington Wing at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, as well as The Portland Hospital also offer private antenatal classes. These are run by their midwives and there is usually options to choose from a full course or handpick individual classes that you are particularly interested in. These also cover all essential topics from what to expect during pregnancy to the different stages of labour.
Learn more about the Kensington Wing classes here.
Learn more about the Portland classes here.
Your antenatal journey
Are you planning on attending any of the above, or perhaps know other private antenatal classes in West London? Drop me a message or a comment below, I would love to be able to expand my list of local course providers.
I hope this post has helped you learn a bit more about some popular providers of private antenatal classes in West London. As you progress through your pregnancy, you might also be researching maternity photography and enjoy this article about the Best 5 reasons for having a Maternity Photoshoot | London Maternity Photographer.
About me
I am a London maternity photographer specialising in timeless and natural lifestyle images. If you’d like to capture your motherhood journey through photography, please don’t hesitate to contact me here. Not quite ready to book? Follow me on Instagram and let’s stay in touch.
Over the next few weeks, I’ll feature blog posts from some other motherhood photographers around the world that you might like to check out. This week, check out this post on maternity photography Birmingham by US based photographer Virginia. She shares what to consider when choosing an OB or Midwife for prenatal care.
These all sound like great classes to prepare for welcoming a baby. Thanks for sharing this list.
These would be great classes to take while waiting on baby to arrive!
This is a great resource for London antenatal classes in West London! It’s so important to get educated about childbirth and early parenting.
This post is such a great resource! As a birth photographer, I highly recommend these types of classes and learning!
Such a great blog post. Thanks for sharing! ♡