Antenatal education

Antenatal education can help you prepare for your baby’s birth as well as supporting you on how to look after your baby and feed your baby.

It can help you to keep yourself fit and well during pregnancy and give you confidence as well as information. It is a great opportunity to be able to talk over any worries and discuss your plans, not just with professionals but with other women and their partners as well. Classes are also a really good way to make friends with other parents expecting babies at around the same time as you. Classes are usually informal and fun.

Community midwives will discuss the local Antenatal/Parentcraft sessions at your booking appointment. Here at the Northern Trust we facilitate the Getting Ready for Baby Programme which is an Evidence based Solihull approach of group based antenatal education.

Please read: Getting Ready for Baby Zoom Classes

Antenatal Breastfeeding Zoom Workshops

Breastfeeding has many proven health benefits for you and your baby. Breastfeeding is also not just for nutrition as it provides your baby with love, comfort, and security, helping them make the transition between life inside the womb and the world outside.

The infant feeding coordinators are hosting online breastfeeding workshops to assist you in your breastfeeding journey. You and your partner can attend from 36 weeks gestation. The classes take place via zoom and booking is not required.

This is a two-hour, group-based class delivered via virtual platform. Partners are welcome to attend.

The workshop includes information on:

• Getting to know your baby and relationship building
• The benefits of breastfeeding
• How breastfeeding works – ‘Getting off to a good start’
• Positioning and attachment
• Skin to skin contact
• Feeding cues, responsive feeding, importance 1st feed and rooming in
• How can I tell breastfeeding is going well
• Expressing your milk or Colostrum harvesting
• Breastfeeding challenges
• Support available

Dates and times

• 4th January 2023 11:00am – 1:00pm
• 8th February 2023 11:00am -1:00pm
• 8th March 2023 11:00am – 1:00pm
• 5th April 2023 11:00am – 1:00pm
• 3rd May 2023 11:00am – 1:00pm
• 31st May 2023 11:00am – 1:00pm

Meeting ID: 2350461754 Passcode: 840980

Antenatal Education Classes

Virtual Midwife-led Hypnobirthing programme

Join our ‘Calm and Confident’ Hypnobirthing Zoom programme, suitable between 27-33 weeks of pregnancy (applications must be made after week 20 of pregnancy).

**This course is delivered via a virtual platform and consists of 4 x 2 hour sessions. You need to be able to commit to all 4 sessions to become fully trained in the evidence based KGH method (Katherine Graves Hypnobirthing).

Hypnobirthing techniques encourage deep relaxation to help a pregnant woman feel physically, mentally and spiritually prepared for the birth of their baby. It is an evidence-based form of antenatal education designed to help facilitate a more positive birth experience.

To book your place please email hypnobirthing@northerntrust.hscni.net and include your;

• Full name/partners name
• Due date
• Mobile number
• Number of previous births
• Causeway/Antrim hospital number

Antenatal Midwife-led Yoga classes

Pregnancy Yoga can benefit lots of pregnant women in many different ways. Classes are now available in Causeway Hospital for those who have booked their birth at the NHSCT Maternity Services.

The classes are delivered face-to-face from 12 to 32 weeks of pregnancy. It is a 6-week course facilitated by midwives specially trained in pregnancy yoga.

**Spaces are very limited to ensure Covid safety is maintained. Please try to attend all sessions and inform the team if you need to cancel ASAP so the place can be offered to someone from the waiting list.

To find out more or to request to book a place please email Antenatal.Yoga@northerntrust.hscni.net

Multiples Support

If you are expecting Twins, Triplets or more the Twins support groups meet 3 monthly in Antrim. These sessions are currently being held via a virtual platform.

For more information, dates and times please speak to your Midwife at the Multiples clinic.

Useful resources

Twins Trust
Twins Trust Facebook NI
Multiple pregnancy – care checklist
TinyLife

Young Parent Education Classes

The NHSCT have a dedicated Young Parent’s Midwife, who specialises in the care of young mums/parents aged 19 and under.

The Midwife will organise to see the expectant parent/parents;

• Causeway area – At home and at the clinic in the Causeway Hospital.
• Ballymena or Antrim – At home or at the antenatal clinic in Ballymena Health and Care Centre.
• Trust wide – For all young parents in the NHSCT, the Midwife is available for advice and support through a texting service.

For more information please email denise.bennett@northerntrust.hscni.net

Surestart

Aquanatal classes are offered in conjunction with Surestart so any Young mum or mums within the Surestart area can avail of these classes.  Aquanatal are currently cancelled due to COVID-19.

More information is available at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/sure-start-services.