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!

Book your antenatal course with Laura here

Hello! My name is Laura and I have been an NHS midwife since 2015. I have experience in all areas of midwifery but I currently work in a stand-alone midwife-led birth centre which includes working as a community midwife providing antenatal and postnatal care as well as supporting women giving birth.

I live in Loughborough with my husband and three teenage children.

I feel that antenatal and postnatal education is so important and am passionate about helping to prepare and empower women and their families with regard to their choices surrounding birth and parenthood in a non-judgemental and supportive way. My aim is to work alongside families to create a community of new parents who are supportive of each other and empowered on their journey through pregnancy and parenthood.

I’m really looking forward to working with Sophie and The Village Midwife team to provide a service that encourages and supports local families in Loughborough.

Find out more about The Village Midwife antenatal course here!

For information about the course dates or to enquire about 1:1 antenatal course/support options, you can email Laura at laura@thevillagemidwife.co.uk

“We had Laura the Melton Mowbray Village Midwife - she was amazing! Her classes were fun, informative and interactive. Her expertise and knowledge is fantastic and this greatly benefited us and the rest of the class. We found her so approachable and kind. We learned a huge amount during the course and are so very grateful we got to have this experience. We highly recommend this to any parents-to-be. Thank you Laura!” - Timothy

“My husband and I would absolutely recommend The Village Midwife; we really enjoyed the experience, and can honestly say it is worth every penny!

Laura, who ran our classes, was an absolute delight. Friendly, down to earth, extremely approachable, compassionate, understanding, and an absolute fount of knowledge! Her enthusiasm, energy and passion for the subject kept the classes engagingly up beat, and all her insightful know how, advice, tips, honest yet positive information was absolutely fantastic. It really did cover what it was advertised (off the website).

It was so thorough, yet clear, every question was answered, and it was just nice to be able to actually talk everything through - sometimes reading this and that, can get a bit much, but actually hearing things discussed, and with an actual midwife, details finally found context. It was excellent.

We had two full day sessions along with a zoom meeting evening; each day was packed full of information, a few activities, and then followed up with emails of really useful links. We couldn't have hoped for more from the program...

Both myself and my husband, (birth partner), found it useful, and empowering in different ways; we were both actively included and involved within the classes, it was definitely worth us both being there! Plus, it was a lovely experience to share the classes 'together'.

One of the most refreshing things that struck us both though, was the positivity, the options that you have, and how encouraging the information was. Everything felt 'pro', and we've finished the classes feeling far more capable and calmer about so much. We've also been able to finalise some decisions, thanks to the information provided from the course.

Genuinely, The Village Midwife is brilliant and we cannot recommend it enough - everyone should have access to this type of support network.” - Eleanor

“Informative, interactive and fun!

My husband and I really enjoyed the antenatal course taught by midwife Laura. She was really knowledgeable, sharing her own experience as an NHS midwife as well as a mum. The classes were fun and interactive, with plenty of breaks for refreshments which gave us a chance to meet and get to know the other couples. We appreciated how she was flexible and could accommodate a catch-up session for us when we couldn't attend one of the classes due to our shift work. We recommend Laura's antenatal class to any first-time parents like us!” - Eden

Antenatal Courses are held at Old Dalby Village Hall, 4 Main Road, Old Dalby, Melton Mowbray, LE14 3LR. Courses are 10am - 4pm with a pub lunch in the lunch break, important for socialising!

January/ February 2025 antenatal course: Perfect for February, March and April 2025 due dates! (Fully booked!)

Saturday 25th January 2025 10am-4pm and Sunday 2nd February 2025 10am-4pm plus an evening Zoom session

March/ April 2025 antenatal course: Perfect for late April, May and June due dates! (2 spaces left!)

Saturday 29th March 10am - 4pm and Sunday 6th April 10am - 4pm plus an evening Zoom session

May/ June 2025 antenatal course: Perfect for late June, July and August due dates! (2 spaces left!)

Saturday 31st May 10am - 4pm and Sunday 8th June 10am - 4pm plus an evening Zoom session

July/ August 2025 antenatal course: Perfect for late August, September and October due dates! (New!)

Saturday 26th July 10am - 4pm and Sunday 3rd August 10am - 4pm plus an evening Zoom session

Book your antenatal course with Laura here

The Village Midwife Group Antenatal Course: £250 as well as the antenatal course this includes a comprehensive 100 page handout, follow up links and ongoing support from midwife Laura

Book your antenatal course with Laura here

When you book your space using the link below you just have to fill out your details and pay £100 now, £50 of which is your deposit. The rest is paid a week prior to the antenatal course starting or can be paid in instalments (email us to arrange this!)

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.

The Village Midwife 1:1 Antenatal Course at your home:£50/hour including ongoing support, a comprehensive handout and sessions at a time that suits you

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!